Industrial Newsbriefs
March 2011
Welcome to this edition of Industrial Newsbriefs, produced by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program, and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Please forward this issue to those of your colleagues interested in industrial energy efficiency. View archive
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INDUSTRIAL EFFICIENCY RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
Pumping System Assessment Tool
The Pumping System Assessment Tool (PSAT) is a free online software tool to help industrial users assess the efficiency of pumping system operations. PSAT uses achievable pump performance data from Hydraulic Institute standards and motor performance data from the MotorMaster+ database to calculate potential energy and associated cost savings. The tool also enables users to save and retrieve log files, default values, and system curves for sharing analyses with other users.
COMBINED HEAT AND POWER
Washington paper plant to acquire CHP facility
A new biomass-fueled cogeneration plant will be installed at a Nippon Paper Industries plant in Port Angeles, Washington. The system will use advanced steam turbine technology to provide both power and steam for plant operations, and will utilize local timber harvest waste products as a fuel source. More information is available in "Biomass CHP Project for US Paper Mill," published February 21, 2011, in Power-Gen Worldwide.
COMPRESSED AIR
"Compressor Sequencer Problems and Solutions," written by Compression Engineering Corporation president Tim Dugan, provides information about sequencers and their integral role in efficient compressor operation. The article presents an overview of the types of compressor sequencers, explains the problems inherent to each type, and offers solutions and advice for how to manage compressor operation for optimum efficiency.
LIGHTING
Next Generation Luminaries competition highlights bright ideas in lighting
Winners of this year’s Next Generation Luminaries (NGL) design competition were announced on February 23, 2011. The competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and two major lighting associations, evaluates architectural lighting designs based on their performance, appearance, construction, and photometric attributes. See the list of winners, complete with photographs of the winning designs, on the Next Generation Luminaries winners’ page.
PLANT EFFICIENCY
Case study describes automaker’s strides toward greater efficiency
"Driving for Green," written by Karen Heyob, an associate chief engineer at Honda, was published in the January 2011 issue of ASHRAE's High Performing Buildings. This case study describes the changes in auto manufacturing processes to reduce energy use, emissions, and waste at two Honda plants in Ohio. These changes were achieved through compressed air optimization, motor efficiencies, more efficient air conditioning during auto body painting, and new energy consumption practices based on what was learned from real-time electricity metering. The case study includes various illustrations and sidebars.
POLICY AND LEGISLATION
EPA sets final air pollution rules for boilers and incinerators
On February 21, 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set final emission standards for industrial boilers and incinerators. The new standards were developed to prevent thousands of air pollution related deaths and reduce health care costs, while keeping costs down for industry. Read about the new rules in "EPA Scales Back Emission Rules," published February 23, 2011, in the New York Times; in "What Does the Boiler MACT Ruling Mean for the Industry?," published February 23, 2011, in PowerGen Worldwide; or access the standards on the EPA website.
Industry representatives stand up for EPA carbon regulation
Representatives from business and industry took part in a panel, held in Washington, D.C. on February 9, 2011, to dispel the myth that industry and business interests are unilaterally opposed to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carbon regulation under the Clean Air Act. The panel presented evidence that pollution control measures could help, not hurt, industry’s bottom line. Read more in "Industry Voices Support U.S. EPA Action on Clean Air Act," published on the World Resources Institute website.
NEWS
Oregon PV plant receives DOE boost
SoloPower, Inc., a producer of thin-film solar panels, will receive $197 million in guaranteed loans from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a building retrofit and equipment upgrade. The plant produces highly efficient, lightweight, and flexible solar PV modules for rooftop applications. For more information, read the press release.
Progress is underway on Global Superior Energy Performance
The Global Superior Energy Performance (GSEP) Partnership is an international initiative to significantly improve energy efficiency in industrial facilities and large buildings. The program is designed to cut global energy use by accelerating the implementation of comprehensive energy management systems in industry, and by promoting public-private partnerships between government and industry in participating countries. The initiative was introduced at the first Clean Energy Ministerial, held in Washington, D.C. in July 2010. To learn more, visit the GSEP page, the U.S. Superior Energy Performance website, or read a summary by the Alliance to Save Energy.
Winners of the 2011 ENERGY STAR® CHP Award announced
Three facilities, located at Cornell University, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and the National Institutes of Health, were recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for successful, energy-saving implementations of Combined Heat and Power (CHP). Read about the winning systems on the EPA CHP Partnership website, or read the EPA press release.
RESOURCES
Promoting Energy-Efficient Buildings in the Industrial Sector, published by the Alliance to Save Energy, examines the energy performance of industrial buildings, provides an analysis of potential energy efficiency improvements, and quantifies the carbon emissions reduction potential of these changes. Read a summary, or download the full report, at the Alliance to Save Energy website.
GRANTS AND FUNDING
Wind Power Drivetrain Development
DE-FOA-0000439
Letter of Intent Date: 3/7/2011
Through this Funding Opportunity Announcement, the Wind and Water Power Program within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is interested in developing next generation wind turbine drivetrain technologies to reduce the cost of energy (COE) produced by wind turbines. DOE seeks projects that will produce conceptual designs and conduct risk reduction analyses for innovative, next generation drivetrain systems.
Superior Energy Performance Program Administrator
DE-FOA-000435
Close Date: 3/10/11
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Superior Energy Performance Program Administrator Technical Assistance. This RFP will fund an administrator and technical assistance provider for a new American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited Superior Energy Performance (SEP) Certification program. SEP is a planned certification program that will provide third party verification of continual improvement in energy efficiency at industrial and commercial facilities. Once launched, the program will provide a transparent, globally accepted system for validating energy intensity performance improvement and management practices. Up to $5 million expected to be available, 1 award anticipated.
Power Electronics for Electric Utility Applications
DE-FOA-0000461
Close Date: 3/18/2011
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for Power Electronics Research and Development for Electric Utility Applications. Through this RFP, DOE seeks applications focused on developing Gallium Nitride on Silicon power electronic devices with the power levels and switching frequencies required for enabling the next generation of high-powered utility applications. $15 million expected to be available, up to 5 awards anticipated.
Offshore Wind Technology Development
DE-FOA-0000415
Pre-applications Date: 4/11/2011
The U.S. Department of Energy requests proposals for U.S. Offshore Wind: Technology Development. Through this RFP, DOE seeks proposals which address Technology Development through Modeling & Analyses Tools to Assess Offshore Wind Technologies and Innovative Hardware System Concepts. $5.1 million expected to be available, up to 8 awards anticipated.
UPCOMING EVENTS AND TRAININGS
Wind Power Supply Chain Workshop
March 24, 2011, Little Rock, Arkansas
This event highlights domestic wind energy manufacturing successes and strategies that build the wind energy industry supply chain, with a special focus on transportation and logistics issues in the wind energy industry.
Industrial Refrigeration Systems Energy Management
March 23, 2011, Boise, Idaho
March 24, 2011, Spokane, Washington
With a focus on industrial refrigeration systems that use ammonia as the refrigerant, this training will equip attendees with the knowledge and tools to reduce energy usage and operating costs, and improve the reliability of refrigeration systems. Training will focus on technical basics, operation of refrigeration systems, energy efficiency potentials, and case studies of successful energy efficiency projects and implementation strategies.
Industrial Strategic Energy Management Workshop
March 29, 2011, Seattle, Washington
Strategic Energy Management (SEM) has been identified as a key tool Northwest utilities can use to reach industrial energy efficiency goals. BPA, the Energy Trust of Oregon, NEEA and others will present new ideas and strategies you can immediately use to implement SEM in your utility territory.
HVAC Energy Efficiency: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration
March 30, 2011, Seattle, Washington
You need your HVAC systems to run safely and efficiently because when your system goes down it costs your organization money. In this course you will learn how to maintain peak efficiencies of your systems to keep costs down.
Pumping System Assessment Tool (PSAT)
March 31, 2011, Port Angeles, Washington
Developed for plant engineering and operations staff, this course discusses performance problems encountered in everyday applications. The workshop covers practical issues involved in field measurements of fluid and electrical data and presents the Pump System Assessment Tool (PSAT), used to assess the performance of pump systems. Learn how the software functions, what data is required, how to use the software when measured data is not available, and what the assessment results mean. This course is sponsored by the City of Port Angeles, Clallam County PUD, Puget Sound Energy, Seattle City Light, Bonneville Power Administration, Washington State University Energy Program, and Northwest Food Processors Association.
GLOBALCON 2011
March 30-31, 2011, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Globalcon 2011, presented by the Association of Energy Engineers, is designed specifically to facilitate those who need to get up to speed on the latest developments in the energy field, explore promising new technologies, compare energy supply options, and learn about innovative and cost-conscious project implementation strategies. The multi-track conference covers a variety of topics, and gives you the opportunity to hear first-hand from some of the major players in the energy field.
Steam End User Training – E-Learning
Self-paced online workshop
This course covers the operation of typical steam systems and discusses methods of system efficiency improvement. A brief demonstration of the BestPractices Steam System Tool Suite software is highlighted to help identify and quantify savings from selected potential improvement examples. The training is designed for plant personnel, such as energy managers, steam system supervisors, engineers, and equipment operators, who have steam system responsibilities in industrial and institutional plants.
Steam Systems E-Learning
Self-paced online workshop
This training course will provide an overview of the BestPractices Steam Tool Suite. The training course will begin with a navigational tutorial to guide you on how to move through the three modules. Each training module will demonstrate the capability of one tool and its interactions with the other tools. Interactive quizzes will be used to test your basic understanding of the tools after you complete the course.
Pumping Systems Management
March 9, 2011
Stockton, California
This 1-day workshop discusses performance problems encountered in everyday applications and presents the Pump System Assessment Tool (PSAT).
Dryer Technology
April 11-12, 2011, Madison, Wisconsin
This course provides information and methods that you can put to use immediately. Attendees will learn how improve drying operations, reduce operating and energy costs, select proper equipment to fulfill the process objectives, estimate process design requirements, apply practical knowledge to drying problems, and conduct dryer surveys as an aid to problem solving and improving operations.
Energy/Facilities Connections conference
May 11-13, Leavenworth, Washington
The event brings together facility professionals from schools, universities, municipalities, state and provincial agencies, tribes, non-profits and utilities. Attendees benefit from a focused environment to share best practices, learn innovative technologies, and learn from top-of-the line facility experts. Presented by the WSU Extension Energy Program’s Plant Operations Support Consortium, the conference theme is "Now…More than Ever!" and stresses creative "out-of-the-box" thinking.
Industrial Energy Technolgy Conference
May 17-19, 2011, New Orleans, Louisiana
The IETC, hosted by the Energy Systems Laboratory at Texas A&M University, is a one-of-a kind conference that focuses on a wide variety of topics of current importance to industrial energy managers, utility experts, government program managers, vendors and others. The latest technologies and expertise on combined heat and power, smart manufacturing, energy opportunity analysis, and case studies of successful, real-world industrial efficiency projects are presented.
MORE TRAININGS IN INDUSTRIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY
For a listing of other upcoming industrial energy efficiency trainings, visit the following websites:
Energy Events Calendar
Northwest Regional Training Calendar
U.S. Department of Energy Industrial Best Practices Training Calendar
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