Chemical Facility Energy Assessment

SSOE made more than 30 recommendations to reduce energy use, equaling a combined total annual savings of more than $2 million.

For more than 20 years, SSOE has been providing a leading chemical manufacturer with quality process and facility engineering. When the client wanted to examine ways to decrease the energy consumption at its U.S. manufacturing facilities, they called upon SSOE’s energy management expertise.

SSOE conducted a full-scale energy assessment of one of the client’s largest production facilities. The goal of the assessment was to generate energy saving opportunities based on industry best practices, with paybacks of fewer than five years. The client also wanted to use the results from the assessment as a benchmark for its other U.S. plants.

As part of the assessment, SSOE interviewed plant personnel, collected utility and equipment information, and conducted field observations. The team examined all major sources of energy generation and use. SSOE assessed system performance, condition, and operational maintenance practices.

A unique challenge of the project was that all field observations had to be complete before a scheduled plant shutdown, leaving SSOE with a short amount of time to examine the 150 acre facility. SSOE moved quickly and worked closely with the client to meet this aggressive schedule. The field work, assessment, and report generation were completed in less than six weeks.

SSOE’s final deliverable was a detailed report consisting of more than 30 energy saving opportunities, along with their estimated cost and payback. This report was reviewed with Corporate Energy Management for concurrence.