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Ecofys identifies rapid payback in industrial insulation
4 minutes min

Climate protection with rapid payback

Ecofys study identifies a large energy efficiency potential of industrial insulations in EU27.

02/09/2014

 

 

The European study “Climate protection with rapid payback” published by Ecofys and EiiF proves the high potential of the insulation industry concerning energy and CO2 saving. Moreover, the majority of this estimated potential could be used immediately. It means that the European industry wastes everyday not only energy and money, but produces at the same time tons of avoidable CO2 too.

“Two-thirds of energy and CO2 saving potential could be realized thanks to improved maintenance measures and the consequently insulation of industrial installations”, Ecofys Professor Kornelis Bloc scientific director explains. “And because the investment in insulation is normally paid off in less than one year, this is also economically meaningful”.
The EU energy efficiency guidelines plan a 20% reduction in energy consumption before 2020. However, Europe will actually reach only the half with current development. This is why the “Best Available Technics”, which can contribute to an energy consumption reduction within EU, are essential.

Technical insulation of industrial installations is one of the best available such technology, and has been developed numerous years ago. Its saving potential exists in all regions, industrial sectors, technical facilities and process temperatures. The study says that fuel consumptions of all European industries could be reduced of 620 PJ and their CO2 emissions of 49 Megatons thanks to technical insulation.
This yearly saving potential of 620 PJ is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 10 million households.
This yearly saving potential of 49 Mt is equivalent to the CO2 emissions of 18 million cars.

Practice proves, that at least 10 percent of industrial installations are not insulated or have a deficient insulation. Moreover, most existing insulation systems are designed according to following criteria: a as low as possible price (minimum investment), respect of minimal allowed surface temperature (security), guarantee of the process or on the basis of general and today significant to high heat lost rates.

Requirements such as economy or maximum energy efficiency of insulation systems are and will be mostly not considered.
“In the past, when fuel prices were significantly lower, energy-efficient insulation solutions would probably not have made a big difference”, CEO of EiiF Andreas Gürtler declared. “But today, the price of energy is higher, and is expected to still increase. The consequence is that the difference between current insulation standards and economically meaningful solutions increases more and more. Additional costs for CO2 emission rights will accelerate this trend”.

If the industry reacts and uses the existing saving potential by means of technical insulation, this trend can be stopped. It can be in a first step relatively simple thanks to the insulation of not yet isolated plant parts and the replacement of damaged insulation. Nevertheless, if the European industrial companies continue to ignore this also economically attractive saving potential, it will continue to grow. 

For more information:

To order the study please contact the EiiF:

 Andreas Gürtler
 Foundation Director 
 Avenue du Mont-Blanc 33
 1196 Gland, Schweiz
 T.: +41 22 99 500 70
 E: info@eiif.org
Yvonne Kettmann
 Pressestelle Ecofys
 Am Wassermann 36
 50829 Köln
 T: +49 (0)221 27070-110
 E: press@ecofys.com
 The European Industrial Insulation Foundation (EiiF) is a European non-profit foundation registered in Switzerland. It has been set up to promote and establish the use of industrial insulation as a widely understood and accepted means of achieving sustainability.
 Since its foundation EiiF has established itself as a resource for industries that need to reduce CO2 emissions and save energy.
 (www.eiif.org)
 Ecofys – Experts in Energy
  Ecofys has been founded in 1984 in order to achieve “a sustainable energy provision for everyone”. As leading consultancy company, Ecofys is today the expert in renewable energies, energy & CO2 efficiency, energy systems  & markets, as well as ernegy & climat policy.
The success is based on the combination of these areas of expertise. Ecofys creates smart, effective and sustainable solutions for and with international clients in public and econiomical sector. In the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, US and China, more than 250 experts are working by Ecofys on solutions to the current energy and climate issues.
(www.ecofys.com)