Energy efficiency industry: best practices for reducing your energy consumption

Energy efficiency is a key issue for modern industry. Companies are looking to cut costs and reduce their environmental impact. Better management of energy consumption enables industries to remain competitive while limiting their greenhouse gas emissions.

Plants and industrial facilities consume a lot of energy. They therefore have great potential for improvement. Energy efficiency in industry is a complex but important challenge. It requires investment and change, but brings economic and ecological benefits. Companies that commit to it are preparing themselves for the future.


Energy efficiency definition

Energy efficiency is a key concept in modern industry. It aims to reduce energy consumption while maintaining or improving production.

In the industrial sector, energy efficiency meansoptimizing manufacturing processes. This involves the use of more efficient energy metering instruments and the implementation of best practices.

Energy efficiency, on the other hand, focuses on the relationship between the energy consumed and the results obtained. A process is considered efficient if it produces more with less energy.

Energy efficiency is therefore an essential issue for manufacturers concerned with their competitiveness and ecological responsibility.


The importance of energy efficiency in industry

Energy efficiency is fundamental to the industrial sector. The challenges associated with this efficiency are numerous, particularly with regard to the competitiveness of companies and the energy transition. It enables manufacturers to reduce their energy consumption while maintaining production levels.

The energy savings achieved through energy efficiency actions have a direct impact on the operating costs of industries, by optimizing energy consumption and reducing waste. This improves their competitiveness in the highly competitive global marketplace.

On average, industry accounts for 30% of final energy consumption in many countries around the world. Improving energy performance in this sector is therefore essential if we are to achieve our climate objectives.

In this sense, energy metering and combustion analysis instruments offer many advantages:

  • Controlling greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Electrical and thermal energy management.
  • Industrial process optimization.
  • Savings on energy costs.

In addition, many governments are introducing incentives to encourage industries to invest in energy efficiency.


Regulations, standards and certifications for industrial energy efficiency

Governments are introducing laws and regulations to improve energy efficiency in industry. These rules aim to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Regulatory compliance is essential. Any company that fails to comply can face fines. So it's important to keep abreast of legislative changes, and adapt quickly.

Certifications also exist to validate the efforts and commitment made towards energy efficiency. These include :

  • ISO 50001 certification, certifying the deployment of an efficient energy management system within a company.
  • LEED certification, which rewards energy-efficient buildings and promotes environmentally-friendly construction.
  • HQE certification, which aims to promote the environmental quality of buildings by minimizing their ecological impact while ensuring optimum comfort for their occupants.

To help manufacturers comply with these regulations,energy audits have become a key solution enabling companies to assess their energy consumption, identify concrete improvements and thus effectively comply with current regulations. In some countries, such audits are mandatory for large companies.

In addition, the use of dedicated instrumentation, such as energy metering and gas analysis systems, further optimizes energy and environmental performance, providing the precise data essential for rigorous monitoring and continuous improvement.


Best practices in industrial energy analysis and management

1. Opt for innovative, high-performance instrumentation

Industry is particularly energy-intensive, consuming large quantities of electricity, gas and other fuels. In order to optimize this consumption, Fuji Electric offers a wide range of metering instruments, power regulators and oxygenanalysers adapted to numerous industrial applications.

Energy metering systems

  • Electricity metering to precisely monitor electricity consumption, detect anomalies and anticipate consumption peaks.
  • Gas metering to accurately measure the consumption of natural gas and other fuel gases essential to industrial processes.
  • Water metering for precise monitoring of water consumption to optimize use and identify any leaks.
  • Compressed air metering for precise measurement of air consumption to optimize industrial pneumatic installations.
  • Thermal energy metering dedicated to precise metering of steamhot water or thermal fluids, essential for assessing the energy efficiency of boilers and thermal distribution networks.

Industrial process optimization systems

  • high-precision combustionanalysers combustion analyzers, also known as oxygen analysers , designed to monitor gaseous emissions, detect leaks, control industrial processes and optimize energy performance.
  • SCR power controllersSCR power controllers enable precise and efficient management of electrical power, ensuring optimized energy consumption and reduced operating costs, while improving the stability and reliability of industrial processes.

Fuji Electric's comprehensive energy metering and process optimization solutions provide industries with detailed and rigorous monitoring of their energy consumption, significantly reducing their operating costs while sustainably improving their environmental performance.


2. Set up an energy performance management and monitoring system

To ensure optimum management of their energy performance, industrial companies can rely on Fuji Electric's advanced energy metering systems. These instruments enable real-time monitoring of consumption, quickly identifying energy peaks and anomalies so that effective corrective action can be taken.

In addition, energy audits carried out by Fuji Electric experts offer a precise assessment of the energy performance of installations. These audits clearly identify opportunities for improvement and facilitate the implementation of concrete strategies to achieve ambitious energy reduction targets.

In addition, the definition and rigorous monitoring of Energy Performance Indicators (EPI) further reinforce the effectiveness of the actions undertaken, enabling proactive and continuous energy management.

Thanks to the combination of precise instrumentation monitoring and audit recommendations, Fuji Electric is able to help manufacturers achieve continuous improvement in their energy efficiency, guaranteeing significant savings and reduced environmental impact.


3. Optimize industrial processes

The energy audit is an essential tool for accurately identifying energy-saving opportunities in industrial processes, thanks to an in-depth analysis of installations and processes. It enables companies to optimize their industrial processes, cut operating costs and reduce their environmental impact. Combined with regular, preventive equipment maintenance, it also guarantees ongoing plant performance, avoiding energy losses due to wear and tear or malfunctions.

Fuji Electric's energy metering and process optimization solutions enable companies to obtain detailed data on their energy consumption. In this way, they can fine-tune their industrial processes, effectively reducing operating costs and minimizing their environmental impact.

What's more, intelligent industrial process automation, supported by Fuji Electric equipment such as temperature controllers, power controllers or variable speed drives, optimizes energy use by precisely adjusting consumption to actual production needs, guaranteeing constant, sustainable performance.


4. Integrate renewable energies

In addition to its energy analysis solutions, Fuji Electric supports companies in their energy transition. The integration of renewable energies such as solar, wind or biomass can be optimized thanks to Fuji Electric energy meters, which guarantee rigorous monitoring of their efficiency.


Environmental impact and sustainable development

Energy efficiency in industry is essential for sustainable development. It makes it possible to significantly reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

By adopting Fuji Electric's energy metering, combustion analysis and energy audit solutions, companies can significantly improve their carbon footprint.

Energy savings achieved through more efficient processes reduce the consumption of natural resources. This helps preserve the environment for future generations.

This approach is part of a broader approach to social responsibility. It combines economic performance with respect for the environment.


Financing and investing in energy efficiency

Investing in energy efficiency is becoming a strategic lever for industrial companies wishing to combine economic performance with environmental responsibility. Several schemes exist to facilitate such investments:

  • Bank loans: to spread the cost of an energy improvement project over several years.
  • Public subsidies and grants: these reduce initial expenditure and accelerate return on investment.
  • Third-party financing: an external partner bears the initial costs and is repaid via the energy savings generated.
  • Energy leasing: access to high-performance equipment with no immediate impact on cash flow.

These financing solutions support the adoption of high-performance technologies such as Fuji Electric metering systems, oxygen analysers , power regulators and energy auditing services.

The benefits are many: reduced operating costs, improved competitiveness, regulatory compliance and enhanced brand image.

Thanks to a well-conducted cost-benefit analysis, companies can select the most appropriate investments, with payback times that vary according to the complexity of the project, from a few months to several years.


Frequently asked questions

What are the best practices for improving energy efficiency in the industrial sector?

To improve their energy efficiency, industrial companies need to adopt a global approach combining modernization, intelligent management and regular audits.

Theintegration of metering and data analysis systems, such as those offered by Fuji Electric, enables real-time monitoring of consumption and rapid detection of anomalies.

Combining these levers with a professional energy audit enables us to precisely identify the most energy-intensive items and draw up a customized action plan for measurable, lasting results.

What's the difference between energy efficiency and energy effectiveness?

Energy efficiency refers to the ability to reduce the amount of energy needed to perform a given task without changing the result.

Energy efficiency, on the other hand, goes a step further, seeking not only to reduce energy consumption, but also to maximize the useful use of that energy. It's about globally optimizing the way energy is consumed, by integrating best practices and technologies to achieve the best possible result with the minimum amount of energy.

In short, energy efficiency is about doing the same thing with less energy, while energy efficiency is about doing better, by consuming intelligently and in an optimized way.

What is the role of energy efficiency experts for industrial companies?

These specialists carry out detailed energy audits. They identify sources of waste and propose appropriate solutions. Their expertise helps prioritize the most profitable investments.

They also train staff in best practices. Their ongoing monitoring enables us to adjust the measures implemented if necessary.

How do you measure energy efficiency in an industrial plant?

The installation of energy meters and combustion performance analysis systems is essential. They enable consumption to be monitored in real time. Analysis software compares data with overall industry data.

The calculation of key indicators, such as energy intensity, is recommended. Regular audits complement these measures to provide an overall view.


Outlook and conclusion: towards a smarter, more sustainable industry

Industrial energy efficiency is entering a new phase, marked by the rise of smart factories, the integration of renewable energies and the adoption of connected measurement technologies.

To remain competitive and sustainable, companies need to anticipate these changes. By combining intelligent energy metering solutions, industrial process optimization andtargeted audits, they have the tools they need to optimize their consumption, comply with regulations, and benefit from personalized advice on energy efficiency.

Fuji Electric is a key partner in this transition, providing reliable, precise solutions and advice tailored to tomorrow's energy challenges.


Optimize your energy performance now with Fuji Electric's expertise!