foodRegio Project: Energy Management
An Energy Management System for the Food Industry
Second Project Cycle, 2013/2014:
The aim of foodRegio’s energy management project is to find ways to optimise energy consumption, taking current market developments and new statutory requirements into account. The project also looks at rising energy costs, the often limited scope for optimising procurement, and steps already taken in the past to minimise energy consumption.
A broad approach is taken, encompassing all important types of energy consumption. The approach was chosen especially in order to obtain results that can prepare companies for certification according to DIN EN ISO 50001.
Action Plan for Corporate Energy Management
First Project Cycle, 2011/2012
Rising energy costs are placing an increasing burden on food-producing companies in Germany, making it harder for them to compete on the international market. In addition, German production companies will soon have to establish energy management systems certified according to DIN EN ISO 50001 in order to qualify for energy tax reductions.
Energy Management, a cross-company foodRegio project, was carried out from September 2011 to November 2012 to prepare foodRegio companies for these new statutory requirements and to help them avoid the anticipated extra expense.
Besides helping these companies to optimise their energy management, the project provided a basis for certification that will go beyond what is currently required by ISO 14001 and EMAS III.
The 13 workshops explored potential savings in the following areas:
- LED lighting
- Compressed air
- Combined heat and power plants
- Electrical drives/motors
- Pumps
- Refrigeration and air conditioning
- Steam
The knowledge gained was used to frame a company action plan in order to implement the potential savings as quickly as possible, thus improving the prospects for certification according to ISO 50001. A concise guide summarising the results of the project was also prepared for the participants.