Do you know what energy efficiency is?

Energy efficiency is about achieving the best performance from everything that consumes electrical energy, with the least possible expenditure. Imagine an electric motor with 100% efficiency. This means that all the electrical energy it receives is converted into axle power (HP).

We know that this engine is not real, as there are, at the very least, mechanical losses and an increase in temperature, however, we deal with this and aim to have the minimum of losses, converting the maximum amount of energy into mechanical power.

We then say that a motor is as efficient as it is when it has fewer losses and provides more use.

If it's not so clear with motors, let's imagine something more banal: a refrigerator. The most efficient refrigerator is the one that maintains the desired temperature, say 2°C, while consuming the least amount of energy. And since we're talking about refrigerators, you've probably seen this somewhere:

This is the PROCEL seal, present on equipment, household appliances, buildings and other goods and services. The National Electric Energy Conservation Program was established in 1985 with the aim of promoting the efficient use of electricity and combating its waste. It is no longer a novelty.

Returning to our refrigerator, if it is classified as “C”, for example, you can be sure that there is a refrigerator “B”, or “A”, more efficient, which maintains the same 2°C, using less energy, and reducing the energy bill. And oh! obviously newer….. and probably more expensive ?.

Understanding what energy efficiency is is essential to identify opportunities to optimize consumption, therefore costs, and considering that we do not yet have a fully sustainable generation of energy, we contribute to the environment.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY?

The greatest and most latent benefit of energy efficiency is the reduction of electricity costs, because, as we make our companies, homes, or systems in general, more efficient, there is less waste, making consumption optimized.

In this case, we consume what is necessary to guarantee the operation and we save money. This eases the burden on our pockets, and in the case of companies, industries, etc., it increases competitiveness.

As a second benefit, still as a natural consequence, we have the reduction in environmental impact, since in many cases, there is still an environmental cost for generation. A hydroelectric plant needs dams, reservoirs, etc., and the creation of these alters ecosystems, often sweeping a region. A thermoelectric plant releases gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, such as sulfur oxides and dioxides, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and dioxide, among other gases and particulates. Even a so-called clean wind farm has as a consequence the alteration of ecosystems because it can affect the migration of birds, for example.

With the environmental impact clear, we currently have certification bodies that attest sustainability seals to institutions engaged in energy efficiency and continuous improvement processes, in addition to PROCEL.

The Chico Mendes Institute, for example, is also one of them, which provides the seal through its Certification Program for Commitment to Social and Environmental Responsibility. Note that in addition to helping nature, this is a notable differential that draws the attention of consumers, investors, the press, and society in general. This is a mutual benefit.

Finally, we still have a benefit that is less visible in our daily lives, but is easy to understand: the reduction in demand.

Improving efficiency helps to reduce the need for energy generation, and therefore, demand is reduced. We live in a constant increase in the demand (consumption need) for electricity. More and more people, more and more devices, more industries, and ever-increasing consumption. So, this increase requires an increase in the expansion of generation, and we return to the environmental impact.

This is a chain reaction. Below, to illustrate the constant increase, we have the graph of the average annual energy load of the SIN and the annual increase per subsystem (average MW) predicted in the ONS Energy Operation Plan, which even considering pandemic times, predicted an increase.

Energy efficiency brings direct and rapid financial benefits and brings long-term benefits in matters that go beyond each individual. There is no plausible reason not to pay attention to efficiency, managing consumption appropriately.

HOW TO IMPROVE ENERGY EFFICIENCY?

As the saying goes: “What is not measured cannot be managed”, here we have an important step to optimize energy consumption: MEASUREMENT.

For proper energy management, it is extremely important to store important information about energy consumption. With this information, we can analyze behavior and trends based on historical analysis, adjust contracts, and estimate an initial reduction target. Collecting information is the first step in Energy Management.

To our delight, energy management has been the subject of studies for a long time, and ISO 50001 is an international method for optimizing this resource, based on energy management systems. But don't worry! We will soon talk only about this ISO!

 Initially, we all have the initial measurement kick: energy bills.

The energy bill itself is already a measurement, and it can help us a lot to understand our overall consumption profile and how our energy performance is. From there, we take the first step: assessing surpluses and contracting and adapting contracts. Here alone, in most cases with large customers, we already have some opportunities for reduction, mainly in controlling reactive surpluses (which is an unwanted cost and can be eliminated from the bill), and in adapting/controlling demand, which is also a high cost and can be optimized.

Unfortunately, the energy bill is a “late” measurement, because when we evaluate the costs, they have already occurred, so we move from a management system that reacts to an invoice, to an online monitoring system, with equipment dedicated to monitoring consumption in real time, identifying anomalies, and allowing actions in time of occurrence, which do not allow exceedances and surpluses.

For example, in terms of contracted demand costs, a 15-minute slip in the month is enough for exorbitant amounts to appear on the invoice in the billing window. The demand is charged as the highest amount measured in the month.

By evolving our system, we increase our level of measurement, allowing comparisons. Knowing who our ideal consumers are (loads, sectors, machines, etc.) allows us to choose our optimal consumption point, taking maintenance, replacement, adjustment, process adaptation actions, etc.

Based on consumption mapping, numerous reduction actions are possible, such as: replacing inefficient loads with more efficient ones, adjusting parameters, raising awareness, among other possibilities. And all of this with a clear payback, that is, an assertive estimate of investment and return.

It is known that replacing incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs reduces energy consumption, however, given the initial investment value, is lighting the main culprit? Based on the Pareto principle, which action will generate the greatest impact on efficiency?

This is where we need systems and metrics that provide data to support decisions. And this is where the key to success lies for a continuous, rather than a static, improvement process.

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