A best Practice in Water Treatment (Portugal)
July 7, 2009
Water supply systems are responsible for 2 - 3 % of the world’s energy consumption. Efficiency savings are crucial to meet national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and to decrease EU dependence on imported energy sources. The first step to energy management is to conduct an energy audit in order to assess energy performance and identify energy saving opportunities. Therefore it is necessary to establish a cost-effective methodology for conducting energy audits. This fact is reinforced even further by the new desired legislative framework for energy demand management (Directive on End-use Efficiency and Energy Services), which states that energy audits are fundamental in the promotion of energy efficiency and energy services in buildings and industry.
A new approach to energy management was tested on two water utilities in the North of Portugal. The analysis of the 21 pumping stations allowed the identification of electricity cost savings by better procurement, potential changes to pumping regimes and load management, future pump replacement programmes and the need for a computer-based energy monitoring system.
Results
Costs savings by reducing electricity price and tariffs
Improved understanding of the electricity demand profiles of the installations, enable a reduction in electricity costs from 3% to 12% from new tariff option, interruptible contracts and change of electricity supplier.
Improve equipment and operation efficiency
The energy analysis techniques were used to identify periods of different electricity consumption patterns and to quantify costs of these changes. This allowed the calculation of how much could be saved by avoiding the use of several pumps at the same time. This information was used to inform and encourage operators to reduce, as a much as possible, the time pumps are running simultaneously. However this is not always possible, due to limited water storage capacity and other constraints associated to management of water reservoirs. Nevertheless, it was possible to quantify savings from increased pumping energy efficiency achieved by an extended water reserve capacity.
The investment cost associated with typical energy efficiency measures for these type of installations, such as: the replacement old motors for new higher efficiency ones, installation of variable speed drives to control pump speed and flow, refurbishment of pumps and the coating of internal components of pumps was found to be quite high. Most of the installations in this study are quite new, under 4 years-old, and more importantly, the water utilities were not interested in financing energy efficiency measures associated with high investment. Pumps are replaced only when seriously damaged. This fact alerted us to the importance of promoting energy efficiency at an early stage, when the initial planning and design of the ductwork, pumping and water treatment stations is being prepared.
Energy efficiency and operation monitoring
The implementation of a computer-based monitoring system was not in place at the time of the study. The use of time series energy analysis techniques informed the operators and managers on the advantages of energy M&T. In consequence the utility managers decide to integrate in the existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) an energy management module.
The new energy management system will collect short-time series data, typically in 15 minutes intervals, on a large range of signals, such as energy consumption, pressure, flow, reservoir levels, etc, from several sites. Energy and production information is synchronised and integrated in the same 15 minutes intervals. All this information is then collected and monitored real-time at a base station and then stored on a computer database.
The energy management system includes graphic analysis tools, using energy M&T techniques (bivariate analysis together with CUSUM); it also has the facility to perform electricity tariff analysis, power demand monitoring and assess individual pump/motor performance and global efficiency of the water supply system. This computer-based energy monitoring system triggers alarms for unexpected values of the measured parameters. In summary, the energy management system will enable a continuous and timely detection of cost saving opportunities in these multi-municipal water supply systems.
Energy management action plan
The output of the study was an energy policy statement and a management action plan for the two water utilities. The energy policy was integrated in the environmental policy of the companies and signed by top managers. The creation of an energy management team in both utilities, which includes a representative from all the departments (operation, infra-structures, environment and finance) and external experts, was responsible for the development of an energy management plan. This energy management plan was based on the outputs of the energy study conducted. Some of the energy management measures are: provide training in energy management to head of departments and technicians, regular electricity procurement activities, continuous integration of energy issues into the quality and environmental management systems, regular assessment of water pumping efficiency, investigate opportunities to integrate renewable energy technologies in the water supply system, develop a new methodology for the design for future water pumping stations and establish energy reporting procedures. The energy management system, will act as the support tool for all the future energy management measures in the future
President Obama for Energy Efficiency (29th June 2009)
July 1, 2009
President Barack Obama and Energy Secretary Steven Chu, announced major energy efficiency initiatives that will save consumers billions of dollars every year. With the buzz still in the air from Friday’s historic vote, the President explained that energy efficiency and renewable energy are as important for the economy as they are for the environment. In terms of jobs created and money saved, he said, “One of the fastest, easiest, and cheapest ways to make our economy stronger and cleaner is to make our economy more energy efficient.”Noting that 7 percent of all U.S. energy is used for lighting, the administration announced that new minimum efficiency standards for fluorescent tube lighting will save more energy than any other single standard issued by the federal government. The new standards require increased efficiency in the hundreds of millions of fluorescent tube lamps used in commercial buildings, while phasing out conventional incandescent reflector lamps. In 30 years, this change alone will offset the carbon emission equivalent of 166 million cars and save customers between $1 billion and $4 billion.
The administration also announced the release of $346 million of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding to advance energy efficient technologies in new and existing commercial and residential buildings. Recognizing that the building sector consumes 40 percent of all U.S. energy and accounts for 40 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions, this money will support research into new building technologies as well as the retrofit of existing homes with today’s energy efficient techniques and products. Secretary Chu commented, “When it comes to saving money and growing our economy, energy efficiency isn’t just the low hanging fruit; it’s fruit lying on the ground. The most prosperous, competitive economies of the 21st century will be those that use energy efficiently. It’s time for America to lead the way.”
Hempstead Company
March 12, 2009
American Hemp Start Up Program 2009 (AHSUP)
Hemp is considered the most strategic super crop ever grown for food, fiber and clothing; AHSUP outlines the key components and logistics for the revival of an Industrial hemp industry in the USA.
Written by Christopher J. Boucher
This outline is a blueprint for the establishment of a viable American Hemp Industry that creates new jobs in a new green industry in the USA.
First we ask you to contact President Obama at www.change.gov
http://citizensbriefingbook.change.gov/
Write your question in support of hemp and the current federal industrial hemp legislation, Congressional bill HR 1009, the Industrial Hemp Farming Act.†See Congress Bill HR1009. The legalization and growing of hemp for food and fiber. This law should be passed in order for the American Hemp Start Up Plan to be viable. Congress should also institute and fund a USA hemp program through the USDA and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Agriculture is essential to a strong economy. And hemp, needs to be recognized as one of the most sustainable and economically viable crops which can create core jobs from the farm to the factory
Presidential Executive Order 12919;
http://www.acq.osd.mil/ip/docs/eo_12919-highlighted.pdf
(Part IX GENERAL PROVISIONS sec. 901 page 8 under food resources) was signed in 1994 by former President Clinton. It is a protocol that mandates FEMA has an ample supply of seeds in the US, including the hemp seed, to insure the national food supply against natural or other disasters. Unless hemp loses its identity as an agricultural commodity or agricultural product.
The US Government must take an active part in promoting and financing loans for industrial Hemp through the USDA and other affiliate agriculture programs including The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), a Government-owned and operated entity that was created to stabilize, support, and protect farm income and farm commodity pricing, to maintain balanced and adequate supplies of agricultural commodities, and to aid in their orderly distribution.
In this capacity, the CCC, or other government entity, could regulate the development, construction and operation of industrial facilites to process hemp seeds for food, protein, and animal feed. Hemp fiber mills which can used in the automotive (Currently Ford Motors uses Canadian hemp fiber in automotive door panels), plastics, construction, and clothing industries.
In order to facilitate a large-scale domestic production of hemp seed and fiber, US farmers must also compete with mainly Chinese and Canadian hemp farmers who supply 95% of the imported hemp products into the USA.
According to the Natural Foods Industry Association, hemp seeds and hemp products are the fastest growing new food category. They are considered a super food for protein and essential fatty acid (EFA) intake. (Hemp oil has the highest ration of EFAís of any dietary oil available on the market today).
The American Hemp Start Up Program (AHSUP) promotes the potential production of the following acerage needed to establish a viable USA industry.
50,000 acres of seeds to grow for production for food and health cosmetics industries. One seed mill can process approx. 5,000 acres of seed.
15,000 acres of fiber for the textile, automotive, paper and plastics industries.
One fiber mill can process approx 10000 acres to (approx 40,000 tons of raw hemp to operate a mill in 1 year.
According to our program 30-50 hemp processing mills would generate up to 8,000 jobs from farm to industry.
The Hemp seeds you would need to start this program would be approx. 270,000-300,000 pounds of viable industrial hemp seed.
The different kinds of harvesting equipment used and processing plants in Canada and China have been analyzed critically. The most desired features of seed and fiber processing plants are incorporated into AHSUP plan. Iinitially the core immediate plan is to set up in a pilot mills in several States to be revised as necessary.
Clear observations have also been made into soil conditions in hemp growing USA locations and on methods of seeding, harvesting retting and seed handling legalities. Materials and publications made for use in educating and training farmers, producers as well as plant operators.
USA Farmers potential contracts to perform massive growing program:
California.- 25,830 acres, N Dakota.- 5,000 acres, Vermont- 4500 acres, New Mexico- 5000 acres, Maine- 5000 acres, Wisconsin- 3,679 acres,Kentucky- 5937 acres. These states have hemp legislation and are a estimation based on state farmers support.
American Hemp Start Up Program (AHSUP) could be used as an negotiating agency to help aquire and distribute hemp seed and hemp fiber contracts. Help find farmers and USA companies to build and acquire production facilities.
We have experienced hemp farmers and engineers to advise and acilitate the success of this historical new eco-economy while creating new jobs and enhancing the American family farmer.
