Australia has come to the forefront in energy efficiency with two major initiatives aimed at reducing energy demands by the industrial sector. The Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program has been recognised by the International Energy Agency (IEA) as a ‘leading-edge’ energy management program, while the recently launched Energy Efficiency Exchange website aims to help Australian businesses increase their energy efficiency. Read more

Published on June 4, 2012

Government reports:

The Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program has been recognised as a ‘leading-edge’ energy management program by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The ‘Energy Management Programmes for Industry: Gaining through saving’  report profiles Australia’s EEO program alongside industrial energy management programs in Denmark, Sweden and Ireland, and cites EEO as a model for improving energy efficiency outcomes and addressing information failures.

The IEA report states that opportunities to improve energy efficiency are still under exploited in the industrial sector, which accounts for one third of global energy demand and more than 40 per cent in countries such as Australia and developing economies like China. The report notes however, that this requires the development of effective policies to address key information, organisational and capability barriers.

IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said the EEO Program was a successful example of how government can work with industry to reduce energy use.

“The IEA considers energy efficiency as the most cost effective option in the short to medium term to reduce global emissions. Australia’s EEO Program provides a leading-edge example of how best to reduce energy use and improve energy management systems,” Ms van der Hoeven said.

The report cites EEO’s assessment framework, support mechanisms for participants and public reporting requirements as being successful in reducing energy use, improving energy management systems and changing the way in which energy efficiency is viewed within participating organisations.

The program’s industry support strategies were also highlighted as key elements in the program’s success. Industry Support Officers, annual workshops and development of case studies and guidance material has ensured companies have a clear understanding of program requirements with best practice approaches and learnings shared among participating companies.

For more information on the IEA report visit http://iipnetwork.org/publications .

Source: www.eex.gov.au

The Energy Efficiency Exchange website has been officially launched to assist Australian businesses to implement energy efficiency practices.

eex.gov.au has been developed by the Australian, state and territory governments in response to industry research that highlighted the need for quality information on energy efficiency in one central location. For more information on eex.gov.au government partners, see the About Us page.

Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, who launched the website at the Future of Energy Forum at the Queensland University of Technology, says the Energy Efficiency Exchange is one part of a suite of measures being implemented to support energy efficiency in Australia’s medium and large energy-using businesses. See Minister Ferguson’s media release.

The design of eex.gov.au is based upon ‘user centred’ research. During the site’s development, interviews with a range of company representatives were held in their workplaces. Potential users were asked about their energy efficiency knowledge, information needs and the way they source information.

From this research, the site has been designed for the ‘energy champions’ in companies. The layout of the website incorporates four key content streams: Energy Management, Industry Sectors, Technologies and Business Support.

The Sectors and Technologies streams are designed for technical users such as engineers and site staff, who can access practical examples of energy efficiency opportunities, detailed technical resources and case studies.

The Energy Management and Business Support areas enable corporate and head office staff to find information on energy management, financing options and business case development skills.

Sector-specific content

A range of industry sectors are covered in the Energy Efficiency Exchange, including manufacturing, transport and commercial buildings. Further sector pages on mining and resource processing will be published in coming months.

Under Manufacturing (which covers the chemicals and plastics, pulp and paper, and food and beverage subsectors), energy efficiency opportunities focus on the optimisation of production processes, supported by case studies and examples from related industries. Users can scan the opportunities with the fastest payback or progress through the list to those with longer term savings and higher upfront costs.

In the Commercial and Services sector, opportunities focus on the management of energy in buildings using metering and monitoring, lighting, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and other strategies to minimise energy use. Where relevant, these opportunities are linked to related technology pages, providing comprehensive and detailed options for the sector.

The Transport pages currently focus on road and air transport. It will be useful for freight and haulage companies and airlines wishing to take advantage of cost-saving opportunities in areas such as eco driving, maintenance practices, aerodynamics and fleet management.

Technologies

As technologies are commonly deployed across industry sectors, a stream of the website is devoted to the energy efficiency benefits of different technologies and process systems. Technologies on the website presently include HVAC, lighting, motors, pumps and fans, compressed air and process heat. Sections on comminution, materials movement and energy management systems are due for release soon.

The Technology pages, like the Sector pages, incorporate referenced opportunities listed in order of payback potential, as well as case studies and detailed technical resources for users wanting to undertake further analysis.

Energy Management

Information is designed for companies who may be new to energy management, drawing on best practice materials from EEO and other government programs. It covers the identification of energy efficiency opportunities, how to assess and select opportunities and how to engage with staff and stakeholders so they can see the merits and benefits of energy efficiency.

Guidance on developing successful business cases for energy efficiency projects outlines effective approaches to securing resources for project implementation, using real life examples from EEO companies.

The Energy Management stream also provides an introduction to the energy market outlining a range of demand management strategies which can assist in negotiating energy supply contracts and reducing energy costs.

On-going improvement

The Energy Efficiency Exchange will continue to evolve as new information becomes available. Pages will be peer-reviewed and regularly updated with the latest research. New sector and technologies pages are also planned to expand the site into new areas.

Users are encouraged to provide feedback to improve the site further. A protocol is being developed to support the peer review process of third party resources recommended by industry.

Suggestions on new content areas and other site enhancements are also welcomed – use our Feedback form or email eex@ret.gov.au

Source: www.eex.gov.au