Introduction to Panel 3 Energy management: the nuts and bolts

摘要

Energy Management in industrial organisations is a combination of a number of activities. These activities can largely be grouped into three core areas: management of people, management of energy related data and management of technology. Energy performance can be improved by improving any of these three areas, but by having a management program or system incorporating all three is shown to offer large savings in most organisations. A systematic approach to energy management, such as that described in the international energy management system standard, ISO 50001, is proving especially effective in identifying areas of energy waste and in identifying low cost opportunities to improve and in sustaining the savings made from these improvements. Effective management of energy requires a combination of abilities in these areas. This panel featured papers on a diverse range of topics related to energy management. There were a few common threads through the papers and sessions. These included: 1. International experience is demonstrating very significant potential for low cost energy savings through improved control of operations and behaviour change. A number of case studies here reinforced this experience. This behaviour change is typically required at all levels in the organisation, especially at middle and senior management levels. 2. One of the reasons that so many low cost opportunities exist is that most organisations have difficulty knowing their actual energy efficiency. A number of papers address this issue and show the limitations of accepted methods of measuring energy efficiency in organisations. Indeed some common methods such as energy intensity and specific energy consumption are often barriers to energy efficiency improvement. 3. There is growing research and evidence of the additional benefits of improved energy efficiency. The non-energy benefits (NEBs) of energy saving improvements often outweigh the financial savings. These extra benefits range from reduced maintenance costs, improved reliability, improved process stability, improved production capacity and many others. 4. There was a very lively discussion of energy management in the context of recent doping and cheating during the Olympics. It was agreed that ISO 50001 presents significant potential to contribute to improved energy efficiency, reduced costs and reduced carbon emissions from energy consuming processes. However this potential is threatened by very diverse approaches to certification. The level of competence of certification bodies needs to be improved.