Department of Energy Announces the Compressed Air Challenge
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Jan. 14 the "Compressed Air Challenge," a public-private partnership, to help U.S. manufacturers take advantage of the cost-saving opportunities in efficient compressed air systems. Compressed air systems use $1.5 billion per year in electricity -- equal to Connecticut's overall electricity consumption or one percent of total U.S. generation.
"The primary objective of the Compressed Air Challenge is to stimulate industry to reduce the inefficiencies in compressed air systems and capture the large energy savings and emissions reductions," said Dan Reicher, assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
Compressed air systems are considered industry's "fourth utility," after electricity, gas and water, and are a major cost in manufacturing plants. They are used extensively as a source of power for tools, equipment and industrial processes in the chemicals, plastics, glass, pulp and paper, electricity generation, textiles, petroleum, automobiles, and aircraft industries. Most compressed air systems do not operate efficiently; they are often modified over time, are frequently oversized and poorly maintained, according to the DOE. Inefficient compressed air systems often result in wasted energy, reduced quality control, and lower productivity.
There is a need for reliable information to assist staff in improving compressed air systems. According to the DOE, optimization of these systems using existing technology could mean energy savings of 20 to 50 percent. The Compressed Air Challenge has set an initial goal of 10 percent improvement in efficiency -- a savings to industry of $150 million per year (in 1997 dollars), greenhouse gas emission reductions of about 700,000 tons of carbon per year by 2010, equivalent to removing 130,000 cars from the road and tens of thousands of tons of reductions in criteria pollutants.
Compressed air system improvements can be achieved by: eliminating air supply leaks, lowering air supply pressures, and properly maintaining components, supply lines, and filters. More complex measures, such as better system control strategies and operating compressors to match process demands, can achieve further savings.
Manufacturers, representatives of the compressed air system industry, utilities, and research organizations have joined with the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to sponsor this initiative with a mix of public and private funds. Each partner, including the department, will contribute $30,000 for a total of $300,000 to implement the challenge. The Compressed Air Challenge will:
- develop and deliver information and training so that end users can target and capture, with existing technology, the large savings available in compressed air systems;
- work to transform the market so high-efficiency is the norm;
- contribute to meeting U.S. Climate Change goals.
In addition to the DOE, other project sponsors include: the Compressed Air and Gas Institute; Compressor Distributors Association; Consortium for Energy Efficiency; Energy Center of Wisconsin; Honeywell Inc; Iowa Energy Center; NEES Companies; New York State Research and Development Authority; and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance. The Energy Center of Wisconsin will help implement the project, rather than offer financial support.