ENERGY CONSERVATION IN INDUSTRIAL SECTOR

The rate at which the energy demands and prices are increasing it may be impossible to pursue the present rate of development. Developing countries, like India, will be forced to retard its development / industrialization program for want of sufficient energy reserves. Besides this the environmental implications of haphazard energy utilization also need to be closely studied. In-efficient use of energy has stretched the global environment to its limits as can be seen from unpleasant responses of the nature. Green house effect, acid rain, smog, deforestation, shift in climatic conditions, etc., are some of the indications. Setting up additional generating capacities to meet increasing energy demands is not only a very expensive alternative but also very time consuming approach.
Additional Power Plants, meaning additional pollution and further degradation of the environment. While Energy Conservation, besides being a quick and economical approach has the potential to provide an effective solution to emerging environmental hazards.
Considering the scenario of the Indian Industrial sector and its energy utilization efficiency, there is urgent need to review manufacturing technologies and the present energy management approach.
Owing to old and obsolete industrial technologies and machinery the extent of energy wastage is very high. Energy Conservation potential in the industrial sector of our nation has been projected between 30 to 40 %. Energy conservation measures range from simple good house-keeping practices to plant modernization.To know extent of energy is being wasted it is very essential to know what amount of energy is being consumed. Monitoring industrial energy utilization on continuous basis and relating it to the production is the first step of any energy conservation programme
The industrial sector is a major energy-consuming sector accounting for about 50 % of the commercial energy available in the country. The total energy consumption, including non-energy uses about 103.1 mtoe. Of the commercial sources of energy, coal & lignite account for 56%, oil & natural gas – 40%, hydroelectric power 3% and nuclear power 1%.