Energy efficiency studies: discover where you can save energy and costs
As a business, you must meet various energy requirements. What these requirements are depends on several factors, including the energy intensity of your company. What do you already know? There are undoubtedly valuable strategic and financial benefits to be discovered. Energy efficiency studies help you identify how you can fill your company’s energy supply more purposefully. Because the greenest and cheapest kilowatt-hour is the one you don’t use. That insight is a powerful asset: from a lower energy bill and a stronger competitive advantage to a more sustainable image thanks to your active contribution to a smaller CO2 footprint.
How do you approach energy efficiency within your company?
The first step is to determine whether your company is energy-intensive. Companies with an annual final energy consumption greater than 0.1 PJfinal are considered energy-intensive, according to the Energy Decree. That means drawing up an energy plan and updating it every four years. Such a plan analyses the energy performance of the current installation and formulates concrete technically and economically feasible proposals to become more energy-efficient.
Non-energy-intensive companies with an annual final energy consumption between 0.05 PJfinal and 0.1 PJfinal are required to conduct an energy audit. Large enterprises (non-SMEs) with consumption of less than 0.1 PJfinal must also conduct an energy audit. If you are an SME with an annual final energy consumption between 0.02 PJfinal and 0.05 PJfinal, then you only need to draw up an energy balance.
Other legal obligations to consider: for energy-intensive companies (final primary energy consumption greater than 0.1 PJfinal), an energy study is mandatory when applying for an environmental permit if it leads to an increase in primary energy consumption of ≥10 TJfinal/year.
Are you unsure about the category your company falls into or what the legislation specifically requires? Feel free to contact one of our energy experts. We provide quick clarity and guide you through the process.
Energy-intensive company? Go the extra mile!
Energy-intensive companies can voluntarily participate in the Flemish energy policy agreements. A recommendation for those who want to lead with their energy strategy: you contribute to the Flemish CO2 and energy goals while enjoying additional financial benefits. Specific conditions apply to companies with ETS obligations. We support both companies with and without ETS obligations.
What can you expect from an energy study?
We start with what you have: we create a technical description of your processes and installations. At the same time, we draw up energy balances for relevant energy vectors (electricity, natural gas, steam, cooling water, etc.). We apply the Pareto principle to identify the largest consumers and compile a long list of energy-saving measures. That list immediately receives preliminary screening from us for technical and economic feasibility.
After consultation with the stakeholders in your company, we develop the promising measures into a more detailed techno-economic evaluation. We assess potential, complexity, and technical and economic feasibility (IRR). We also examine operational continuity and impact on the workplace to create as broad a support base as possible. Where necessary, we set up additional monitoring campaigns with our in-house measuring equipment, e.g. for temperature, pressure, flow, electricity consumption, etc.
To achieve the best result, we work in tandem. Your knowledge and our expertise form the basis for realistic, feasible measures. The result: a techno-economic evaluation with a set of selected and rejected measures, each documented with a fact sheet and substantiated argumentation. Finally, for the most promising measures, we clearly describe the concrete next steps for implementation. Because the goal is to put proposals into practice.
Increasing your energy efficiency: our role in your story
Energy efficiency doesn’t stop at the study phase. And that’s why we not only support the creation of your energy study, but also guide you further towards implementation by further developing the agreed measures.
What else can you expect from us?
- Concept design: we develop a preliminary design into a calibrated concept with CAPEX and OPEX cost estimates (in accordance with AACE) to arrive at a detailed business case.
- Detailed design: we develop the concept in basic and detailed engineering into a tender-ready detailed design.
- Procurement: we guide you through the procurement phase (procurement management).
- Execution: we provide guidance during the construction phase (construction management).
- Alternative procurement strategies: we offer classic EPCm (engineering, procurement, and construction management) and guide you in Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) or ESCO guidance; ideal if you want to invest without your own capital. We also review your energy contract to ensure competitive energy prices.
In short, you can count on us for full support in following up and implementing your energy plan, including monitoring, study measures, measurement campaigns, feasibility, engineering, etc. We deploy our broad pool of experts to create all aspects of your specific design in-house.
More efficient processes with energy and cost-saving results.
