The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED – 2012/27/EU) was adopted on 25 October 2012, repealing the Energy Services Directive (ESD – 2006/32/EC) as well as the Cogeneration Directive (2004/8/EC), and is to be transposed by all Member States (MS) by the beginning of June 2014.
The new EED Directive establishes a common framework of measures for the promotion of energy efficiency within the Union in order to ensure the achievement of the Union’s 2020 20 % headline target on energy efficiency and to pave the way for further energy efficiency improvements beyond that date. Rising fuel prices, increasing regulation, and aging equipment have made energy conservation a key area of focus for process industries. Automation can help significantly lower energy costs for almost any kind of industrial process in two areas: by reducing process energy demand, and reducing supply costs.
The Energy Efficiency Directive reminded me of a good article from Doug White, “Trading Silicon for Carbon: how to reduce energy usage through automation”. Doug indicates the average plant can conservatively achieve 15% energy savings through this technology.
“…Advanced control and real-time optimization of process can yield significant savings. Improving basic control loop performance can have very high payback. Maximizing heat and steam recovery, minimizing pressure drop, and minimizing waste and recycle are all target areas for automation. Improved control of the steam boilers, power turbines, and plant steam system are also likely high-priority areas.”
Read the full article by Doug White and published in Hydrocarbon Processing magazine here.
How are you reducing energy usage at your plant?