What is an Electrical Energy Audit?

Electrical Energy Audit forms an integral part of an Industrial Energy Audit. It is one of the 2 main forms of energy that is being audited and accounted for during Energy Audit. For some of the Industries which do not have Thermal Utilities an Energy Audit will only consist of Electrical Energy Audit.

Electrical Energy Audit consists of Studying, Assessing, Measuring and Analyzing electrical utilities. In a typical  Plant the electrical utilities consists of

• Substations and / or Transformers
• Power Distribution System (PCC, MCC)
• Metering and Monitoring System
• Motors
• Blowers, ID / FD Fans
• Compressors
• Pumps
• Lighting

Etc.

[Suggested Read - Does Energy Audit really Save Energy?]

Additionally Electrical Energy Audit also consists of Power Quality Analysis. Study and Analysis of Harmonics forms the main constituent of Power Quality issues. Other Power Quality issues include Sag, Swell, Voltage Fluctuations etc. During the audit sophisticated instruments such as Power Analyzer (Single phase and Three Phase), Harmonics Analyzer, Megger etc. are used by Certified Energy Auditors and Energy Managers to carry out measurements of various electrical utilities. Analysis of electrical consumption is done based on these measurements.

Further to this analysis of electricity bills, energy consumption trends, bench-marking inline with process requirement is also carried out.

[Suggested Read - What is Solar Energy (focus on Solar PV)?]

The report mainly consists of detailed analysis of the measurements, tables, pictures, graphical depictions and important calculations. Energy saving recommendations along with payback / RoI calculations are also included in the Energy Audit report. The recommendations may range from operational changes to retrofits and major changes. However based on our past experience it has been observed that Energy Audit itself may result in overall savings of 2-7% and with retrofit and other recommendations can result in savings of around 20%.

What is Energy Audit Report?

Energy Audit Report is a Comprehensive report which is submitted at the end of the Energy Audit. It generally covers up all the phases of Energy Audit including Walk-through Energy Audit, Preliminary Data Analysis, Detailed Energy Audit, Detailed Data Analysis, Savings Calculations and Recommendations.

In case of Industrial Energy Audit it is imperative to study and analyze the data in advance before carrying out actual Energy Audit by site visit.

It consists of various aspects of Energy including :

• Non-technical aspects such as Energy Consumption Pattern, Billing Details, Metering and Monitoring Systems, Trends etc.
• Technicalities about Electrical Utilities beginning with Transformers, Motors, Distribution Systems, Compressors, Blowers, Pumps, Fans etc.
• Technicalities about Thermal Utilities including Boilers, Cooling Towers, Heat Exchangers etc.
• Mechanical Analysis of Utilities such as Blower, Compressor, Pump - Performance, Efficiency Analysis, Process requirement etc.
• Power Quality Study and Analysis (Harmonics, Sag, Swell, Flicker etc.)
• Industry and Sector Bench marking.
• Saving recommendations with appropriate Observations and Calculations.
• Vendor List for Recommendations

Etc.

This is a general content of a Energy Audit Report. The actual content may vary from Industry to Industry. Needless to say an Energy Audit Report should contain necessary graphs, tables and calculations which support the recommendations.

[For first timers or beginners - the Energy Audit Checklist will prove beneficial.]

Energy Optimization - here to stay....

Energy Optimization is here to stay and there are reasons to believe it - atleast in India. With 15% peak deficit which is expected to widen further with rapid growth and Industrialization. Well this is just not the reason but one of the most startling facts that should ensure that Energy Optimization becomes a routine rather than a specialized exercise.

Reason # 1 : India continues to grow rapidly with several expansions and new Industries seeing the light of the day. To support these Industries by relying only on power generation will not be possible and we can certainly see renewed and long-term interest in Energy Optimization. Perhaps it will result in further interest in the form of Government initiatives.

Reason # 2 : With nearly 70% of power from Fossil fuels there is a huge dependence on the same. It has been witnessed in the past (Gulf War etc.) that certain instances can certainly influence the pricing and availability of fossil fuels. There is a gradual shift in focus from reducing dependence on fossil fuels by going for alternative options like Solar Power. However without Energy Optimization a holistic approach to solving the power problem may not be seen. It therefore makes considerable sense to adopt Energy Efficient approach by initiating an Energy Audit.

[Suggested Read - Does Energy Audit really Save Energy?]

Reason # 3 : Large-scale initiatives require Government support. Energy Saving Certificates or E-Certs are Government initiatives to encourage Industrial Plants (especially Energy intensive Industries) to opt for Energy Optimization. This is just the beginning and hence we expect greater action going forward. Moreover there is already a Government directive to penalize Industrial plants which are not adopting energy efficient means of operation.

Reason # 4 : Power deficit and increased demand translates into increased prices. The power prices have already risen several times in the past. This will continue to rise further thanks to coal shortage and freeing up of Coal prices. In a nutshell there would be no option but to go in for comprehensive measures to optimize energy usage and most of it would be outsourced to experts.

There are other reasons which shall be discussed in the next posts.....