According to the project of “Promoting Energy Efficiency in Small and Medium Enterprises” implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology under supervision of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and assistance of the Global Environment Fund (GEF), the Dong Thap Province Center for Industry Promotion and Development Consultancy has carried out an energy audit program at the Ba Tang Ice Company (in Long Thanh Hamlet, Phu Thanh A Commune, Tam Nong District, Dong Thap Province).

The energy audit program results show that application of energy conservation methods will help the company save VND126 million annually by reducing 135,000kWh electricity. In addition, the company can reduce 84,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted to the environment. It is estimated that these methods cost VND210 million which will be paid back within 20 months.

In 2009, the company spent VND94 billion on energy. In the first four months of this year, 106,000kWh electricity was consumed. The main type of energy used by the company is electricity, 99.8 percent of which is used for icing with remainders to run lighting system. Therefore, icing system is given priority to apply energy conservation methods. There is just one electricity meter at the company. The electricity bill is issued based on this electricity meter. Separate areas do not their own electricity meters.

Therefore, the company has difficulty in managing electricity consumption. Experts said that to reduce electricity consumption, there is a need for the company to install an electricity meter for the compressor to manage energy consumption of the machine. It is necessary for the company to record figures of electricity consumption and productivity, accordingly the company can calculate electricity consumption level to produce an ice plank.

Like other ice company, heat isolation plays an important part in reducing electricity consumption. However, the Ba Tang Ice Company does not pay attention to this issue. In reality, gas pipes and intermediate pots do not have good heat isolation materials. Heat isolation materials of the blocks that contain ice planks are from rubber. In addition, the blocks are not covered. Therefore, a large amount of heat is leaked out, that means the company has to consume a large amount of energy.

To solve the situation, the company should improve heat isolation materials which cover gas pipes. The gas pipe cover should be 25mm thick that will protect heat of gas pipe from leaking out and help the company to save energy.  In addition, the company should use polystyrene instead of rubber as isolation material. Polystyrene plates should be at the same size as ice planks. Polystyrene plates will protect temperature of salt water in the ice block from rising, reducing energy consumed at icing stage.

These simple methods which cost just VND 17 million will help the company save nearly VND16 million annually.

If the condensing units are cleaned once a week, heat will be easily relieved and the company will save VND21.5 million per year thanks to reducing 23,200kWh electricity. If the company installs a filter for the salt tank, cleans ice moulds and maintains suitable salt concentration in water, it can save more than VND42 million annually. These methods cost VND51 million which will be paid back within 14 months.

The method that brings the biggest benefit to the company is the replacing existing compressor’s engine with a higher efficiency engine. At present, the company has two ice backward compressors with low efficiency. If these 180kW engines are replaced with 132kW engines which have efficiency of 95.8 percent, the company can reduce 50,000kWh electricity per year, equal to VND47 million. This method costs VND135 million, thus it is difficult for the company to apply. However, in long term, it is the most effective way to decrease electricity consumption and production costs, as well.

By Hoang Minh