What is an Energy Efficiency Audit?
An Energy Efficiency Audit is a study aimed at describing the achievable energy savings for a company. This is an optional audit, usually performed when a given company plans to modernize its power system.
Performing an Energy Efficiency Audit before starting the investment opens the way to obtaining additional funds in the form of energy efficiency certificates, the so-called “White certificates“.
What are “white certificates”?
It is a document confirming that a certain minimum level of reduction in annual energy consumption has been achieved as part of the modernization.
After receiving the certificate, it becomes a commercial commodity (acquires the nature of a property right), which can then be sold on the Polish Power Exchange (Towarowa Giełda Energii). For investments aimed at improving energy efficiency, the obtained white certificates may be worth from 20 to 50% of the financial expenditure. The number of issued white certificates depends on the achieved average annual energy savings, where 1 toe (11.63 MWh) = 1 white certificate.
The very way to properly prepare an application for certificates is complex (requires time, commitment and understanding of existing procedures). That is why we offer extensive assistance in identifying projects that will allow you to apply for white certificates, both in terms of performing the necessary energy efficiency audits and submitting complete applications for funding.
How is an Energy Efficiency Audit carried out?
An Energy Efficiency Audit must be prepared prior to the commencement of a planned investment, usually prior to signing the contract. Only then an audit and an application for white certificates may be submitted to the Energy Regulatory Office (Urząd Regulacji Energetyki). The method of conducting an Energy Efficiency Audit is defined in the Ordinance of the Minister of Energy of October 5, 2017.
The audit should include:
- technical inventory of the facility, device or installation prior to the commencement of modernization
- results of measurements of operating parameters and assessment of the technical condition
- estimating energy consumption using analytical methods and taking into account rated or catalog data and factors influencing energy consumption
- describing a project, and it’s improvement of overall energy efficiency, results of calculations of energy consumption after modernization, in particular the average annual energy savings
- selecting the best solution with variant analysis
Examples of projects which may result in acquisition of energy efficiency certificates
- insulation of heating installations
- replacement of lighting with energy-saving ones
- renovation of the building with installations and technical devices
- replacement of old coal boilers with modern gas ones
- application of heat recovery
- reduction of losses related to reactive power consumption, energy transformation