Five Ways to Reduce the Energy Consumption in Your Food Processing Company...
The food processing sector is already known for its competitveness, and the current volatile energy market has placed more pressure on already tight operating margins. Now more than ever, manufacturers are turning to technology to gain a better understanding of their energy consumption with a view to retain or regain a competitive advantage.
In this article, David Bean, Solutions Group Manager at Mitsubishi Electric Automation Systems UK, outlines his top five technology-led energy reduction tips for food processing applications.
Tip 1 - Switch it Off!
Whilst it might sound obvious, one of the quickest wins for food processing plants looking to cut down unnecessary energy consumption is to turn off any equipment when not in use - we said it was obvious! For many plants though, the thought of the energy consumption of powering up or down equipment regularly seems greater than leaving it on, but idle, in between cycles. However, unless this is backed up by data then the idea is likely just that.
Implementing an energy management platform into your production line will take your data, that is probably already being collected somewhere, and extract it in a way that helps to visualise the specific energy use of individual applications. In turn, this data-led insight can help you to identify potential inefficiencies to address and optimise both demand side management and workflows accordingly.
Tip 2 - Optimise the Performance of Existing Plant
Another easy-to-implement solution that can deliver significant energy savings is installing variable speed drives (VSDs) where applicable. Whilst, again, this is not a ground-breaking solution, it is always a shock when sites are still utilising direct online (DOL) motors throughout the plant instead.
Mitsubishi Electric was able to reduce the weekly electricity consumption of a large food processing plant in Ireland by 89% - from 6113 kWh to 664 kWh - through a demand management system and the replacement all DOL motors with VSDs!
Tip 3 - Consider a Third-Party Energy Audit
It is simple, you can't measure what you don't know. Using an independent, third-party energy consultant such as 'MyCarbon' will give you an impartial overview of your current energy usage and turn it into actionable insights. Not only will this provide a holistic view of opportunities to improve your energy consumption, which will in turn impact profitability; but it can also support in reducing both scope two and three carbon emissions whilst also contributing to the Courtauld Commitment.
Tip 4 - Go Beyond the Production Line
Extending the energy management platform remit beyond the production line provides even more opportunities to cut back usage. Whether it is HVAC or lighting systems, applying the same approach to critical building infrastructure and services can help contribute to reducing the plant's energy consumption. The PropTech industry continues to group exponentially and many of the emerging technologies - from machine learning to digital twins, both of which form part of Mitsubishi Electric's ICONICS Intelligent Building Software - can be just as effectively used in an industrial environment as a commercial building.
Tip 5 - Diversify the Energy Mix
Whilst optimising the energy performance of plant equipment and workflows will help improve demand side management, another option for food processors to consider is to diversify the source of the energy itself. The use of microgrids in production environments continues to grow, driven both by the impact of the energy crisis and ESG commitments. From solar PV and on-site wind generation through to battery storage systems, introducing local renewable energy resources into the energy mix can give food processors more flexibility and control when it comes to managing energy generation, usage and cost.
Looking for more information? We can help with that...
If you want to know more about Mitsubishi Electric energy saving solutions, or have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch on 01254 685900 and our Internal Sales Advisors or Technical Support Engineers will be happy to chat!
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