Economizing potentials for more energy efficiency in industrial operations
The expanding share of grid fees, taxes and levies embedded in today‘s energy tariffs is gradually curtailing the scope of costs over which companies are still able to maintain direct control – by way of optimized purchasing, for instance. Hence, it is becoming more and more important for companies to enhance their energy efficiency and to optimize the energy aspects of their production processes and technical sequences.
1 Introduction
In trade and industry, energy expenditures constitute a substantial cost factor. In the paper and metal processing sector, for example, energy expenditures often account for 20% to 50% of prime costs. In the brick and tile industry, fuel is required to generate process heat for tunnel kilns and dryers. Depending on the nature of the product and the respective production technology, the cost of energy represents a substantial portion of the overall cost of production. According to BMWI* statistics, energy expenditures account for, on average, 2% of the gross production value (as...
