How To Implement Industrial Electrical Energy Audits


Post By: Tom Rowse On: 21-08-2024 - Industry Trends - Manufacturing


An industrial electrical energy audit is designed to find ways of optimising your energy usage. It will evaluate the energy levels currently being used at your facility, identify any inefficiencies and suggest where reductions can be made. It will enable you to improve the overall efficiency while reducing energy wastage and saving on costs. 

What Is An Industrial Electrical Energy Audit?

An industrial electrical energy audit will analyse your facility and its energy usage patterns to pinpoint areas of excess use and wasted energy. It will then use this analysis to improve your energy efficiency by upgrading systems and cutting operating costs. If you’re concerned about your operation’s carbon footprint, it will help to create a healthier and more energy-efficient working environment.    

In the UK, energy audits are governed by the British Standard BS EN 16247 (2022). This is divided into four parts, the first of which relates to the general requirements of all energy audits. The subsequent parts outline the specific energy audit requirements in the categories of buildings of various types, industrial processes and related transport. In most industrial facilities, an electrical energy audit will require an assessment of all three of these primary areas. 

How To Implement Your Industrial Energy Audit

First, a competent auditor will conduct a simple walk-through analysis, assessing the most obvious energy-saving alternatives to present consumption practices, such as replacing light fixtures or fine-tuning temperature controls. 

The next step is a more comprehensive energy consumption analysis of your facility, which will audit each major area of operating equipment and systems. It will assess the relative cost-efficiency of existing processes and propose energy-saving measures, including an estimate of the costs to implement them. It might include replacing environmental management systems like heating and cooling, or more technologically advanced process equipment.

Replacing capital-intensive equipment and systems requires the most detailed level of industrial energy audit. It will probably rely on data-driven information collected from your existing devices, big-data analysis and possibly computer-based simulations. It will help you make more serious investment decisions involving capital-intensive projects like retrofitting your building insulation infrastructure.

How Long Will It Take To Implement An Industrial Electrical Energy Audit?

An audit could take from a few hours to several days, according to the type of operation you’re running and its equipment. Contributory factors include the size and complexity of your premises, how easy it is to access the relevant areas for assessment and how much detail you want to go into. The manual inspection and measurement method is more time-consuming and often a better choice for smaller and simpler operations. 

For larger and more complex operations, you’ll probably opt for a more tech-based audit. This means using specialised software and automation tools for data collection and analysis. Areas of energy wastage will be identified, as well as possible fixes to cut your energy spend. If you don’t have competent personnel with the skills to leverage these tools, it will also mean employing a third-party agent or service. 

How To Conduct A Successful Energy Audit

These are some of the steps involved in implementing an effective industrial electrical energy audit:

Electrical Audit

1. Documentation

As a first step, you should collect together any relevant documentation for the premises, equipment and occupants. This includes up to three years' worth of energy bills, utility rates and staffing levels, plus building plans, maintenance histories and equipment manuals. This will give you an overview of your past and current energy consumption, based on levels of activity and energy costs.

2. Walk-Through Analysis

This is essentially a visual inspection and measurement of all your facility's systems. It will include meter readings and performance statistics of machinery, lighting, insulation, building structure, etc. This will indicate what scope you have for optimisation.

3. Energy Usage Analysis

Using your documentation and perhaps some energy management software, you can collate all the relevant data for analysis of your current energy usage patterns.

4. Identify And Evaluate Optimisations

Combining the above steps will show you the potential for reducing your energy consumption. Leveraging data analytics will enable deeper and more actionable insights and provide a cost analysis of potential energy-saving measures. You can then evaluate what capital investment would be required, the probable ROI for each measure and the potential energy savings.

5. Prioritise And Plan

Use your calculations of the possible optimisation costs to rank the importance of individual energy conservation measures, so you can determine what needs immediate attention and what can be implemented at a later date. You can then use this list to develop a detailed implementation plan, including the processes involved, costs and timelines.

6. Implementation

By now, you should have a detailed and actionable report containing all your findings and recommended optimisations. Once you’ve put them into practice, you should set up a tracking and review process to measure their efficiency. Conduct a progress review at least twice a year and revise it when necessary.

How Will My Business Benefit?

Your business will benefit in many ways from implementing electrical energy audits. You’ll be more aware of how each part of your operation contributes to your overall energy consumption and how something as simple as fixing a leak in your heating/cooling system offers considerable savings. You can trace your energy consumption and costs through your documentation to help you make better-informed decisions.

You’ll be able to identify ways of reducing your energy consumption with no compromise to your productivity, such as switching to variable-speed drives or high-efficiency compressors. Upgrading your facility’s infrastructure to create a more energy-efficient operation will also add value to your property and improve your brand positioning. Transparently working towards net zero goals and reporting on your environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance demonstrates your proactive energy outlook. This will enhance your fundraising opportunities and have a direct impact on stock values.

By complying with energy standards and regulations you will avoid the risk of fines. For example, the government’s Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme carries significant penalties for non-compliance. However, if you are able to take advantage of this scheme, it will help you carry out your energy audit and achieve cost savings as you work towards net zero. An industrial electrical energy audit can identify the necessary upgrades and investments you’ll need on the journey towards renewable energy.




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