Benchmarking of energy consumption internally (historical/trend analysis) and externally
(across similar industries) are two powerful tools for performance assessment and
logical evolution of avenues for improvement. Historical data well documented helps
to bring out energy consumption and cost trends month-wise/day-wise. Trend analysis
of energy consumption, cost, relevant production figures, specific energy consumption,
help to understand effects of capacity utilization on energy use efficiency and
costs on a broader scale.
Energy performance permits:
- Quantification of fixed and variable energy consumption trends vis-à-vis production
levels
- Comparison of the industry energy performance with respect to various production
levels (capacity utilization)
- Identification of best practices (based on the external benchmarking data)
- Scope and margin available for energy consumption and cost reduction
- Basis for monitoring and target setting exercises
Energy Performance parameters can be:
Gross production related
- Eg. kWh/MT clinker or cement produced (Cement plant)
- Eg. kWh/kg yarn produced (Textile plant)
- Eg. Kcal/kWh power produced (Heat rate of a power plant)
- Eg Million kiloCals/MT Urea or Ammonia (Fertilizer plant)
- Eg kWh/MT of liquid metal output (in a foundry)
Equipment/Utility related
- Eg kWh/Ton of Refrigeration (on Air Conditioning plant)
- Eg %Thermal efficiency of a boiler plant
- Eg % Cooling tower effectiveness in a cooling tower
- Eg kWh/NM3 of compressed air generated
- Eg kWh/litre in a diesel generating plant