By applying a suite of cost-effective power and automation solutions from technology leaders, currently in use power generation facilities can achieve substantial energy savings today without waiting for the “alternative fuels” of the future.
Through these continuous improvement methods, existing plants and factories can systematically reduce both energy requirements and their impact on the environment. Such improvements will become increasingly valuable as fuel costs continue to rise due to today’s global supply and demand dynamics, and pressures grow for environmental compliance. Products that deliver equal or greater performance while reducing energy consumption will bring greater flexibility in overcoming these pressures.
By selecting proven products and operations strategies that feature built-in energy savings, new plants and factories can start with highly efficient production and immediately begin reaping the rewards of lower costs without sacrificing functionality. Existing plants can achieve the same benefits with techniques for asset optimization that deliver greater performance from installed systems.
I guess I've beaten that horse to death, so -
The actual movement of energy itself can become more efficient, illustrated by research that now allows moving large amounts of electric power efficiently to where it is needed without building new power plants. For example, power can be transferred from one power grid to another safely and cost effectively using proven technology such as High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC). This approach reduces cabling costs versus conventional alternating current links, and allows power to travel in either direction to compensate for demand variations.
Energy Efficiency as an Energy Solution
With dramatic surges in fuel costs, procrastination in adding fuel efficiency to existing operations can be an expensive error. Hoping that the current energy crisis is temporary, and that price spikes will eventually become valleys of lower costs, is most likely wishful thinking. Today’s crisis has manifested itself through a host of different dynamics.
While yesterday and today's energy crises were / are often the ramifications of politics, the situation NOW is driven by classic market forces of supply and demand, and the world-wide perception of peak-oil (more about that in later posts) The thirst for fossil fuels in the developed world is barely quenched by known reserves. Added to this is the growing demand from nations in the developing world, be it Asia, Latin America or Africa, who are putting ever-increasing demands on dwindling energy reserves.
Surely, one can assume that necessity is the mother of invention, and greater demand and lessening supply will result in new energy resources being introduced. Even if new alternative fuel sources appear promising, they are not a quick fix. It will take years, if not decades (see Energy Overview below), to create substitutes for current fuels. Additionally, chances are good that alternative fuel sources will not bring down the cost of energy much at all. Indeed, while alternative fuels may make energy more plentiful in the years to come, it is very likely they will be even more expensive than current fuels due to the highly technical processes required for extracting and processing them.
In the meantime, what can companies and organizations do? They can take control of the situation and install proven fuel efficient products and applications that increase their return on investment in today’s economic climate. The technology for achieving this energy efficiency is here today. The products and applications are available, and the expertise from technology leaders are in place to bring optimization methods to the plant and factory floor without delay. Investing in energy efficiency will not take the place of searching for new energy resources. It will, however, help industry to blunt the effects of higher fuel prices and develop the mindset that “the other alternative fuel” is already in hand.
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