How to reduce energy costs in the food industry? Solution Overview

White Certificates

White Certificates are one-time energy efficiency certificates issued for the obtained energy effect resulting from the planned project. This system stimulates the development of pro-efficiency investments, while affecting the possibility of reducing the costs associated with the operation of the enterprise. Activities eligible for the White Certificates system include modernization or replacement of production lines, boilers, compressors, refrigeration, thermal insulation of pipelines or installation of heat recovery.

Overview of solutions — case studies

1. Improving energy efficiency through increasing the efficiency of the boiler

The optimization of the thermal management of the company, in connection with the replacement of an inefficient coal boiler with a new unit with higher efficiency, directly affected the reduction of coal consumption in the enterprise.

2. Improving energy efficiency by Modernization of the boiler in operation

Modernization of the boiler in operation, consisting in the installation of an economizer, allowed to reduce the chimney loss and translated into an increase in the efficiency of heat generation.

3. Improving energy efficiency by Modernization of the compressed air system.

The modernization, involving a change in the way of controlling the compressor plant through the installation of a variable speed compressor together with the master controller, allowed to reduce the operating time of the compressors at idle, which was associated with a reduction in electricity consumption.

4. Improving energy efficiency by Modernization of lighting

Modernization of lighting consisting in the replacement of energy-intensive luminaires with luminaires with better parameters is a basic activity allowing to increase the energy efficiency of the enterprise.

Equipping the lighting system with a simple control system, based on the operation of motion sensors, allows to further reduce the consumption of electricity in places with periodic lighting needs.

The inclusion of structural solutions such as skylights or light bands at the design stage of objects maximizes the use of natural light in buildings.

5. Improving energy efficiency through use of waste heat

Optimization of the thermal management of the enterprise consisted in the installation of heat recovery. In the investment, the waste heat can be used for heating the premises of the enterprise (in the further stages of the process), as well as for the generation of electricity for the needs of the enterprise.

Heat recovery from compressors air — the use of recovered heat in the subsequent stages of the production process has resulted in a reduction in the consumption of network heat.

Heat recovery from the product — the use of recovered heat in the subsequent stages of the production process has resulted in a reduction in the consumption of natural gas in the company's boiler room and the electricity consumed so far by the refrigeration plant.

Done replacement of an inefficient heating system, characterized by the generation of high costs and emissions, for a system composed of gas heaters, which is characterized by high efficiency of heat generation.

Replacement of energy-intensive autoclaves steam powered by more efficient units has contributed to a reduction in the consumption of hard coal in the boiler room of the enterprise.

6. Improving energy efficiency by replacing a coal boiler with a heat pump

Optimization of the heat management of the enterprise resulting from the installation of an underground heat pump is associated with a reduction in the consumption of hard coal and a simultaneous increase in the demand for electricity.

7. Improving energy efficiency by installation of a system using waste heat from the refrigeration system

Reducing the consumption of hard coal in a traditional boiler room due to the use of waste heat coming from the cooling system. Modernization is based on the operation of a heat pump, for which the lower source is waste heat.

8. Investment in Photovoltaic installation

Investing in an electricity generator based on renewable energy sources allows you to limit the purchase of the energy medium from the power grid. The most important aspect is the proper location and selection of the power of the photovoltaic generator to the needs of the company.

It is worth remembering

The examples mentioned above are not exhaustive of the list of possible actions that, taken as part of the search for savings, can contribute to increasing the energy efficiency of enterprises. Each plant is characterized by different parameters.

In order to individually determine the possibilities of implementation of the indicated solutions and to identify other activities, it is worth conducting a proper energy audit of the enterprise.

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