Energy audit is one of the first tasks to complete the program to control the use of energy economically and efficiently.
What is an energy audit?
According to the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy in 2010, the concept of energy audit (KTNL) is as follows: "KTNL is the activity of measuring, analyzing, calculating, and evaluating to determine the level of energy consumption, potential for energy savings and proposing solutions for economical and efficient use of energy for energy-using establishments".
According to the national standard TCVN 50002:2015, KTNL is: "Systematically analyzing energy use and energy consumption within the scope of KTNL to identify, quantify and report on opportunities to improve energy efficiency".
Thus, KTNL is an activity aimed at identifying and establishing a comprehensive energy management program. Energy audits, based on appropriate measurement and monitoring of energy use, establish a balance between total energy input and energy use, and help identify all energy flows within a unit, quantify energy use by separate activities. This allows for detailed analysis of the energy efficiency of the unit, equipment, system or process, identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency, reduce energy loss and obtain related environmental benefits. The results of energy audits include recommendations and solutions for improvements related to energy efficiency, and these recommendations and solutions need to clearly indicate energy and environmental benefits as well as financial performance indicators.
Enterprises in the group of key energy users must conduct energy audits.
Which enterprises need to conduct energy audits?
Entities required to conduct energy audits are all in the group of key energy users according to Decree 21/2011/ND-CP dated March 29, 2011 of the Government on detailed regulations and measures for implementing the Law on economical and efficient use of energy, including:
Industrial and agricultural production establishments, transportation units with a total energy consumption in one year converted to one thousand tons of oil equivalent (1000 TOE) or more.
Construction works used as headquarters, offices, houses; educational, medical, entertainment, physical training and sports facilities; hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, stores with a total energy consumption in one year converted to five hundred tons of oil equivalent (500 TOE) or more.
The Draft Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval at the 9th session of the 15th National Assembly (expected to open in early May 2025).
According to the Draft Law and the Draft Decree detailing and implementing measures for the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, key energy-using establishments are establishments with adjusted energy consumption levels as follows:
- Industrial and agricultural production establishments, transportation units with a total energy consumption in one year converted to one thousand tons of oil equivalent (800 TOE) or more.
- Construction works used as headquarters, offices, houses; educational, medical, entertainment, physical training and sports establishments; hotels, supermarkets, restaurants, and stores with a total energy consumption in one year converted to five hundred tons of oil equivalent (300 TOE) or more.
Benefits of energy audit
Reducing energy costs: For a facility, especially a manufacturing facility, energy costs are regular and not small. This cost affects the cost of products and profits of the business. Energy audit helps to cut down on lost energy, thereby reducing energy costs, reducing the impact of rising energy prices, reducing production costs, and improving the competitiveness of the unit;
Reducing emissions: Burning coal, natural gas, crude oil, etc. leads to pollution and increases the content of greenhouse gases in the air. Other wastes from the combustion process, such as ash, are the cause of soil, water and air pollution, which are very toxic to human life. Reducing energy consumption and fuel combustion will help reduce environmental pollution, ensure and improve the quality of life;
Conserving natural energy resources: The industrialization process in recent decades has been increasingly using fossil energy sources in nature, such as coal, crude oil, natural gas, while these energy sources are finite. Many studies have shown that the world's oil reserves as well as fossil energy sources are only enough for use in the next few decades. Therefore, energy audit will help preserve fossil energy resources;
Ensuring energy security: Energy security is one of the vital issues to ensure prosperity and sustainable development of each country, region and the whole world. Conducting energy audits and implementing the recommendations that auditors point out to energy-using facilities is a very important solution that contributes significantly to ensuring energy security.
