Energy Audit

Energy today has become a key factor in deciding the product cost at micro level as well as in dictating the inflation and the debt burden at the macro level. Energy cost is a significant factor in economic activity at par with factors of production like capital, land and labor. The imperatives of an energy shortage situation calls for energy conservation measure, which essentially mean using less energy for the same level of activity. Energy Audit attempts to balance the total energy inputs with its use and serves to identify all the energy streams in the systems and quantifies energy usages according to its discrete function. Energy Audit helps in energy cost optimization, pollution control, safety aspects and suggests the methods to improve the operating & maintenance practices of the system. It is instrumental in coping with the situation of variation in energy cost availability, reliability of energy supply, decision on appropriate energy mix, decision on using improved energy conservation equipment’s. Instrumentation’s and technology.

Objectives of Energy Audit?

The Energy Audit provides the vital information base for overall energy conservation program covering essentially energy utilization analysis and evaluation of energy conservation measures. It aims at:

Identifying the quality and cost of various energy inputs.
Assessing present pattern of energy consumption in different cost centers of operations.
Relating energy inputs and production output.
Identifying potential areas of thermal and electrical energy economy.
Highlighting wastage’s in major areas.
Fixing of energy saving potential targets for individual cost centers.
Implementation of measures for energy conservation & realization of savings.

Benefits of Energy Audit from United Engineering Consultants

Benefits of Energy Audit from United Engineering Consultants, since its inception in the year 2012, has been actively engaged in formulating strategies to promote energy efficiency and conservation of energy security and environment protection.
UEC has a qualified and well experienced pool of manpower to undertake such Projects.
During the last 5 years, UEC conducted more than 50 energy audits in small, medium and large industries and buildings.

Is it mandatory as per Energy Act?

The Energy Conservation Act empowers the Government of India to regulate energy efficiency and energy conservation. Under the ECA, the Government has assigned energy-intensive industries and other larger consumers as Designated Consumers, for which specific regulations on energy efficiency are adopted.
Companies in nine energy-intensive sectors have been identified as Designated Consumers, including 7 sectors in industry. Companies in these sectors with an energy use over a certain threshold are subject to ECA regulation.
Under the ECA, it is mandatory for all the designated energy consumers to have energy audits carried out by an accredited energy auditor, to designate or appoint an energy manager and to report annually on energy consumption.
The ECA also provided for the establishment of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). BEE is authorized by the Government to implement and monitor the regulation under the ECA and support the Designated Consumers. The Indian Industry Programme for Energy Conservation (IIPEC), a voluntary initiative, was established to encourage sharing of best practices and undertaking specific energy consumption targets by industries.

Methodology

Phase-I:
Collections of data on operational parameters, energy consumption both normal and electrical, coal and power quality etc., through a questionnaire

Study the existing plant capacities and their performance to assess plant operations.
Study of the specific energy consumption (both thermal and electrical) department-wise and plant as a whole.
Study of the power sources, distribution system and drive controls, load factor and efficiency of large motors (above 10 kW), process automations, plant illuminations etc.
Collection of requisite data and analysis and identification of specific areas with potential for conservation of thermal and electrical energy.
Field measurements of operational parameters and carrying out heat and mass balance.
Study of limitations, if any, in the optimal use of thermal and electrical energy.
Formulation of specific recommendations along with broad system concept for conservation of thermal and electrical energy.
Preparation of capital cost estimates and establishing techno-economic feasibility for recommended measures.
No investment and/or marginal investment by doing system improvements and optimization of operations.
Major investment due to incorporation of modern energy intensive equipment and up gradation of existing equipment.
Formulating tentative time schedule for implementation of the recommendation.
Undertaking broad cost benefit analysis in terms of savings in energy consumption per unit of production and pay-back period.

Phase-II:
Follow-up with the industry on periodic basis to ascertain the level of implementation of recommendation and assist, if require, in implementation of the measures to achieve energy user efficiency.

The detailed audit goes beyond quantitative estimates of costs and savings. It includes engineering recommendations and well-defined project, giving due priorities. Approximately 95% of all energy is accounted for during the detailed audit. The detailed energy audit is conducted after the preliminary energy audit. Sophisticated instrumentation including flow meter, flue gas analyzer and scanner are use of compute energy efficiency.