Plenary DiscussionEnergy Efficiency – a challenge forsustainable Development

ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR

Hans ZeinhoferEnergie Allianz Austria,Energie AG Vertrieb GmbH & Co KGVienna, 22nd of October

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Eurelectric – based in Brussells – represents the interests of the

electricity industry of the European member states and coordinates the

single and sometimes different points of view of its members and

dicusses all relevant matters with policy makers in the EU.

Energy efficiency belongs to the core business of electricity generators

and suppliers. The industriy therefore supports a policy to optimise

energy efficiency. High energy efficiencies contribute to cost efficient

operation, to conservation of fuels and to minimizing both dependence

of fuel imports from outside Europe and all kinds of emissions.

General Remarks

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A special point of attention for Eurelectric is focussed on the

tuning with all relevant directives and guidelines, especially on:

Large Combustion Plants Directive a BREF LCP Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services Promotion of Cogeneration Energy performance of buildings Renewable Energy Sources Emission Trading of Greenhouse Gases

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As figure 1 demonstrates, the efficiency is strongly depending on the type of generation and the fuel.

However, not all the types like hydro, nuclear and solar plants are IPPC installations. For this reason the following paragraphs only deal with thermal power plants above 50 MW. 1)

1) Nuclear plants excluded

Fig. 1Energy efficiency of power generation

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Typical average values of electric efficiencies of combined cycles(VGB, 2001)

1985 2000 2010

(estimation)

Combined Cycle 48 58 60

Typical average values of electric efficiencies of new coal plants

1985 2000 2010

(estimation)

Single Steam cycle 38 47 50

Integrated Gasification

Combined Cycle

(emerging technology)

40 49 55

Retrofiting existing plants may provide also interesting efficiency improvements, but are

mostly rather expensive. Typical values of 36-40% are attainable.

Development in the Efficiency of

Thermal Plants

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We conclude that high energy efficiency has always been a primary goal of the electricity industry during many decades. As the economy in a free market also requires optimum (energy) efficiency, this attitude will not change. The CO2-emission trading to be introduced within the EU in

2005 will effectively mean higher fuel costs and so provide an extra incentive to improve energy efficiency. The need for extra rules to improve energy efficiency in power installations is therefore very limited. The main effect of such rule will be the public demonstration that energy efficiency has already been optimised indeed as much as economically feasible.

Conclusions on trends in energy efficiencyconcerning generation

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Energy Efficiency on the Demand side

significant improvements in the efficiency of domestic applications

high potential in lighting

relative small dpecific improvements by electric motors and drives (ca. 50 % of the total electricity consumption

significant potential of electric technologies used in transport

great potenital for (primany) energy savings from heat pumps

energy savings (and product quality) improvement achieved by industrial applications

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Industrial applications:examples for energy efficiency

Electroheat technologies comprise high-power heating processes which are powered through electrical energy. Electroheat technologies cover a large percentage of industrial electricity consumption, ranging from 20 to 40 % within the EU.

Due to the possibility of precise control of electroheat installations there is less material wasted and the electroheat process results in better product quality.

In general, electroheat technologies lead to energy savings, reduced costs, reduced CO2 emissions, product quality improvements and production of new materials, e.g. thixo-forming of aluminium.

In many cases, electric-heating applications are more energy-efficient than their alternatives, especially at high temperatures, where gas furnaces are less efficient. Optimal efficiency of an electric furnace can reach up to 95 % process efficiency, whilst the equivalent for a gas furnace is only 40 to 80 %.

In the long term, electroheat processes will play an important role in supporting the development of new technologies such as nanoelectronics and optoelectronics.

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In many cases the use of modern electrotechnologies can reduce the energy consumption by 90 percent compared to conventional technologies.

Other industrial applications using electricity for a better efficiency

Electrodeposition (e.g. for recycling of metals present in liquide waste)

Electrolysis (e.g. for the synthesis of nylon)

Membrane technologies: micro-, ultra-, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis

Industrial refrigeration, heat recuperation, heat pumps

Mechanical vapour compression