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Modelling energy consumption in a manufacturing plant using productivity KPIs
Panel: Panel 5. Energy efficiency in industry
Authors:
Brian Ó Gallachóir, Sustainable Energy Research Group, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland
Caiman Cahill, Sustainable Energy Research Group, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University College Cork, Ireland
Abstract
Energy efficiency initiatives in industrial plants are often focused on getting energy-consuming utilities and devices to operate more efficiently, or on conserving energy. While such device-oriented energy efficiency measures can achieve considerable savings, greater energy efficiency improvement may be achieved by improving the overall productivity and quality of manufacturing processes. The paper highlights the observed relationship between productivity and energy efficiency using aggregated data on unit consumption and production index data for Irish industry.
Past studies have developed simple top-down models of final energy consumption in manufacturing plants using energy consumption and production output figures, but these models do not help identify opportunities for energy savings that could achieved through increased productivity. This paper proposes an improved and innovative method of modelling plant final energy demand that introduces standard productivity Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) into the model.
The model demonstrates the relationship between energy consumption and productivity, and uses standard productivity metrics to identify the areas of manufacturing activity that offer the most potential for improved energy efficiency. The model provides a means of comparing the effect of device-oriented energy efficiency measures with the potential for improved energy efficiency through increased productivity.
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Panels of
Panel 2. Policy implementation: learning from the past, improving the future
Panel 1. The foundations of future energy policies: Initiating change and breaking walls
Panel 3. Monitoring & evaluation: understanding change and how to deliver energy efficiency
Panel 4. Residential and commercial sectors: delivering lower energy use in buildings
Panel 5. Energy efficiency in industry
Panel 6. Energy efficiency in transport and mobility