Variable-Frequency Drives Drive Energy Costs Down

By Brian Traff

Fuel and Electricity Prices Are Rising But Energy-Efficient Control Technologies Are Here to Help Offset the Costs

According to utility industry estimates, in February 2002 natural gas prices in the U.S. were approximately $2.50/Btu. By February 2004, the price per Btu stood $3 higher at $5.50. Because of increased industrial and utility consumption of natural gas, the U. S. Department of Energy estimates fuel demand will increase 50% over the next 20 years, with nearly 1/3 of all power plants using natural gas as the main source of fuel.

 

Manufacturers are particularly vulnerable to rising energy costs because they are such big consumers of power. As the demand for natural gas continues to rise, the price of electricity may follow as power generators pass on the increase in fuel prices to its customers.

 

Why Gas-Fired Power Plants?

Why the move to natural gas? Gas burns much cleaner than coal, and gas-fired power plants are often cheaper to build because it costs much less to control the greenhouse gasses they do emit. Ryan Stensland, program manager for Midwest utility Alliant Energy, estimates that a coal plant can cost nearly $1 billion depending on its size, output and the type of coal it uses for fuel. Alliant Energy is about to complete construction of a new gas-fired power plant in Mason City, Iowa. According to Stensland, the new plant will come in at just under half that amount.

 

"It's also a matter of timing," said Stensland. "Coal plants can take up to seven or eight years to build, but we'll have our plant up and running in around two years from groundbreaking to generation."

 

Most regulated utilities in the United States have set rates that cover the cost of delivering electricity to end-users, which include a set rate of return, often in the range of 8-12%. When fuel prices rise, those costs are passed on to utility customers.

 

"The biggest drop in energy use comes from just lowering speed or flow by about 20%."

 

Manufacturers are most affected by this volatility in pricing, particularly heavy energy-users that run multiple shifts. If demand and pricing generally rise in the winter, it would cost that much more to produce goods in January than it would in May.

 

"Unfortunately, there's not much end users can do about pricing volatility," said Jodi Palmer, product manager for Alliant Energy's Performance Edge program, which helps large energy users implement energy efficiency programs. "What they can do is minimize costs by improving efficiency throughout their facility."

 

Whole-Facility Energy Efficiency

Whole-facility energy efficiency is a way manufacturers can take control of their energy costs. There are many processes manufacturers can take advantage of to increase their facility's energy efficiency. Palmer points to lighting systems, compressed air systems, and HVAC systems as prime examples

 

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, domestic manufacturers spend more than $33 billion on electricity each year and motor systems consume roughly 63% of all energy in the U.S. industrial sector.