FEATURE ENERGY EFFICIENCY


Keith Findlay, AIRScan manager, Atlas Copco Compressors, talks to Electrical Engineering about the impending Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) and how companies can ensure they experience the real life benefits of acting upon it


he clock is ticking down towards December 2015. That is the date by


which all UK companies with 250 or more employees, or annual turnover in excess of £42m, must have completed a comprehensive audit of their energy use. Some firms are still unaware of the


requirements, which have been introduced by the government under the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) in response to the EU’s efficiency directive. Every four years after the first audit, all aspects of energy use must be assessed and reported, including compressed air.


ACTING ON INFORMATION The ESOS initiative can help organisations establish a much better understanding of their energy use. What it doesn’t do however, is oblige participants to carry out any improvements. This could essentially see firms diligently completing the administrative exercise without experiencing the real life benefits of acting upon recommendations to reduce energy consumption. It begs the question, why would firms


invest in meeting the requirements of ESOS without taking the next logical step and implementing changes that result in genuine day to day efficiency and financial savings over the long term? One strategy to both comply with the regulations and reap the benefits is to work proactively towards a more comprehensive and results orientated voluntary framework for energy saving, such as the worldwide energy standard ISO 50001, which not only encourages practical improvement by requiring that an audit is carried out and recommendations are acted upon, but would automatically incorporate compliance with ESOS regulations. Covering the full extent of energy consumption across a business, ISO 50001 comprises specific guidelines for different areas of energy, including lighting, boilers and compressed air. It is within these areas that specialist advice and coordinated activity can produce demonstrable savings. Under ISO 50001, for example, is ISO 11011, a worldwide standard introduced in 2013 for compressed air, a large consumer of electricity that is often overlooked as a target for efficiency measures but offers


26 NOVEMBER 2014 | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING


Left: AIRScan is a detailed and objective compressed air audit carried out by a


SECURING ENERGY SAVINGS T


specialist team focused on specifying and calculating the potential savings


scope for significant savings. A compressed air audit carried out under the conventions of ISO 11011 would assess the entire compressed air system, from the supply that emanates from the compressor room, to the way air is distributed via pipework, and finally the handling of demand from end users. Under ISO 11011, this data must be


analysed, reported and documented along with an estimate of energy savings. The standard specifies that ‘the overall goal of the assessment shall include identification of performance improvement opportunities in the compressed air system being assessed using a systems approach’. In doing so, it is possible


to eliminate wasteful practices, leaks, artificial demand and inappropriate use. Instead, the standard aims to create an energy balance between supply and demand, as well as optimising storage and control.


SIX STEPS TO OPTIMISATION


This proactive approach can be summed up by the ‘six steps of optimisation’ that Atlas Copco recommends for compressed air users. The process begins with a site visit to estimate the potential energy savings at stake, based on an overview of the size and complexity of the plant. Next comes AIRScan, a detailed compressed air audit carried out by a specialist team focused on specifying and calculating the potential savings, based on an accurate measurement of current status using an array of tools that


Below: while some firms have been proactive in terms of their energy management, some remain unaware of the requirements, which have been introduced by the government under the Energy Savings Opportunities Scheme (ESOS) in response to the EU’s


efficiency directive


quantify flow, pressure, electrical current input, ambient conditions, air quality, dew points and leakages. Once potential energy savings in the


compressed air system have been estimated and identified as part of a comprehensive audit, the third step towards optimisation is to deliver a detailed report recommending system improvements, which are then carried out under step four of the process. The priority is that the potential savings detailed in the audit are delivered as projected. Process leaks are another reason for overspending on energy and these can be corrected by replacing production line equipment, for example, establishing greater control of pressure or shutting down systems when they are not in use. Another energy saving measure that can go under exploited among compressed air users is the concept of energy recovery. As much as 94% of the electrical energy used by an industrial air compressor is converted into heat, which can be redirected into process applications or for general heating purposes within the building. Step five seeks to maintain optimised performance over the long term. With the introduction of a monitoring system such as Atlas Copco’s SMARTlink, energy performance can


be continuously measured and assessed.


The sixth stage of the optimisation cycle involves repeating the original audit at


regular intervals to ensure that new saving opportunities can be identified and acted upon, rather than being overlooked. By following these six steps in a coordinated manner, compressed air users can not only begin to fulfil the requirements of ISO 50001, as well as meet the ESOS obligations, but also implement a pattern of good practice that can deliver calculable financial and sustainability benefits year on year.


Atlas Copco www.atlascopco.co.uk T: 0845 601 0001


Enter 214 / ELECTRICALENGINEERING


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