Consulting - Energy Management
Electricity availability is a way of life – this should be obvious to all who use it but there is a more sinister ring to it for those companies and individuals that were restricted by the load restrictions and shedding starting in January 2008. Although the direct primary causes of the restrictions have been dealt with and the problems seem to have been solved, there is a fundamental discrepancy between electricity supply and demand in South Africa – with demand outstripping supply. The potential solutions are mostly costly and can be complex to implement but it is generally acknowledged that energy efficiency interventions and demand-side management initiatives are the least costly and quickest to implement.
With the current state of the electricity supply industry in South Africa and the fact that most if not all, industrial production processes require electricity to operate, it is important that management give attention to the effectiveness of the supply of this important resource. In order to insure optimal use of the energy input, an energy analysis is the backbone of the process of optimising energy consumption. Energy wastage can be broadly allocated to below of the causes.
- Poor design of buildings and installations that require energy to maintain a particular environmental condition.
- Control systems that are functioning sub-optimally (air-conditioner control, lighting systems, etc.)
- Inadequate and inefficient operation and working practices which can be interpreted as including inefficient industrial control, maintenance and housekeeping issues.
- Inefficient plant operation which is normally a function of the technology of a process. Particularly in the case of older processes there may be more efficient technologies available which provides potential opportunities to investigate and maybe invest in them. There may be government financial incentives available for companies migrating to more energy efficient technologies.
- Maintenance procedures that are not always optimal.
The state of the energy supply industry in South Africa (and worldwide) is necessitating a detailed consideration of energy efficiency. Rising energy costs and national energy conservation policies are forcing consumers to become more energy efficient. There are numerous advantages to becoming more energy efficient - reducing input costs, ensuring legislative compliance, reducing carbon footprint, to name but a few.
There are various techniques applied in order to find the optimal solution in respect of a pattern and type of energy consumption. Sheba Consulting can undertake the entire range of services noted below.
- Energy auditing – industrial and domestic
- Energy management system design
- Electricity tariff studies and analysis
- Power Conservation Program (Electricity Conservation System) consumer analysis
- Design of electricity consumption control systems making use of real-time inputs.
- Measurement & Verification programme design and data analysis.
- With registration as a Professional Engineer in South Africa and accreditation as an Energy Manager and Measurement & Verification Professional with AEE in the US.
Contact us for more information.
