Optimisation énergétique dans l’industrie : nos conseils pour réussir un audit

In the current context of rapid evolution towards a more sustainable future, energy efficiency has become a priority for many industries. To understand how to best leverage the benefits of energy efficiency, we interviewed Cyril Quemeneur, an energy engineer at Dametis. With his extensive experience in conducting energy audits and implementing energy efficiency measures, he shares valuable insights on how companies can optimize their energy consumption and transform their practices for a greener future. Discover the interview below.

One of the main challenges I face when implementing recommendations from an energy audit concerns **resources**. Often, industrial employees lack time to take care of these recommendations, as they are fully absorbed by their daily production obligations. Machines must keep running and there is usually no time allocated for these additional tasks.

The lack of investment in the energy sector is also a challenge. This lack of investment is closely related to the first point, as the human resources needed to implement the recommendations are often already allocated to other crucial tasks for production.

Currently, with the increase in energy costs, companies are starting to take a closer look at the energy cost of their finished products. They are seeking to understand and control the additional costs associated with production in order to improve their profitability.

Another challenge lies in the lack of meters on the sites. Often, companies know how much they consume overall each month, but they do not have enough data to understand consumption variations. For example, they may not know if an increase in factory consumption from one month to the next is normal or not, or if the energy-saving actions they have implemented have been beneficial.

Energetic audit therefore allows to assess energy consumption. It provides a detailed breakdown of energy consumption and identifies the main consumption points of the factory. Once this information is obtained, a more precise analysis can be made to identify what is working well and what needs to be improved, in order to implement measures to reduce energy consumption.

The ultimate goal for the client or the industry is to be able to have a roadmap to improve the energy or environmental performance of their factory in the short to medium term, to help prioritize these investments and identify investment support mechanisms, often unknown to industrial players.

In the context of regulatory energy audits, which have become a requirement for certain large companies, we have identified a common mistake made by these companies. Perceiving this obligation as a mere constraint has led some companies to rush to the first available online audit firm, often without verifying the expertise of the auditors. Their main objective was simply to obtain the approval stamp to comply with regulations, without really expecting any tangible benefits from the energy optimization audit.

Due to this regulatory context, many companies did not take the recommendations from the audit seriously, whether they were beneficial or not. However, it should be noted that we cannot entirely blame them for this, as these audits were introduced in a different energy context at the time.

Another common mistake that companies make when undergoing an energy audit is lack of preparation. An energy audit requires a crucial upstream data collection phase, which is essential for its success. Often, companies do not dedicate enough time to this preparation phase, which can impact the quality of the audit. To obtain the best possible audit, it is important to allocate preparation time for data collection, and perhaps also to meet with various stakeholders within the company (CSR, Maintenance, Quality, …)

Finally, as energy has been somewhat neglected in companies, this regulatory audit has come as an additional burden for individuals in the company who were not adequately prepared or trained (maintenance, CSR, QHSE, …)

First and foremost, it is important to properly prioritize recommendations and actions to be implemented based on the company’s objectives and expectations. This may include return on investment, maintenance criteria, as well as the time and skills available internally.

Financial planning is another crucial factor. Some actions may require significant investments, ranging from hundreds to millions of euros. Such decisions cannot be taken lightly. A solid case must be prepared, with the help of experts if necessary, to present to management. This case should highlight all selection criteria, including investment costs, environmental impact, and equipment lifespan. Each company will weigh these criteria differently when making decisions.
The audit will also help identify any investment incentives (CEE, ADEME, …).

During an energy audit, Dametis’ experts identify several potential actions to save energy and develop an action plan. These actions can have different variations and scopes depending on the level of investment. Dametis’ experts focus on proposing energy optimization actions tailored to each factory, taking into account its specificities, business sector, operating mode, and needs. Each factory is unique, and energy efficiency measures must be adapted accordingly.

Investing in energy optimizations after a thorough audit offers many long-term benefits for industries.

Firstly, it allows to establish a roadmap or an action plan to be implemented within a relatively short timeframe. This gives companies a clear vision of the measures to be taken to improve their energy efficiency and helps them track their progress.

Furthermore, the energy audit provides initial guidance to industrial players to enhance their consumption monitoring by defining key indicators. These indicators enable the measurement and regular evaluation of the company’s energy performance, facilitating informed decision-making and identifying areas where improvements can be made.

Regarding short-term benefits, the energy audit provides an overview of the company’s current consumption patterns. This includes identifying the main energy-consuming areas, allowing the targeting of areas where efficiency gains can be quickly achieved. By optimizing these consumption areas, companies can achieve immediate energy savings and reduce operational costs.

Finally, energy auditing allows companies to assess the short-term efficiency of their production methods. By identifying energy bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the production process, companies can take corrective actions to improve their energy performance. This results in a more efficient use of resources and a reduction in production costs, enhancing the company’s competitiveness in the market.

These measures enable them to improve their profitability, reduce their carbon footprint, enhance their reputation, and position themselves competitively in the market.

In order to adopt a proactive approach to energy efficiency in the context of energy transition and sustainability, I would advise industries to focus on accurately measuring their energy consumption. Before implementing solutions to improve energy efficiency, it is essential to have clear and precise data on the equipment that will be affected by these projects. This involves measuring their energy consumption before and after the implementation of solutions.

In addition to that, I would recommend installing meters and using a tool like MyDametis (energy management software). This tool will allow for a more efficient use of this data and a detailed understanding of consumption areas within the industry. This facilitates the identification of areas that require improvements and helps establish more effective and targeted energy efficiency strategies.

The MyDametis software helps understand operational modes, maintenance, and prevent any drifts that may occur.

For companies considering conducting an energy audit for the first time, I would recommend a few key steps to optimize the process.

Choose your consultant carefully: Don’t settle for the first auditing firm you come across. Take the time to look for consultants with relevant experience and specific skills in the field of energy efficiency.

Clearly define your objectives: Before starting the audit, it is essential to clearly understand what you expect from this exercise. What deliverables are expected? What are your goals in terms of energy savings and efficiency?

Prepare thoroughly: It is crucial to gather as much information as possible before the auditor arrives. This includes energy bills from the last three years, production data, results from any energy efficiency studies, as well as your dashboards and monitoring reports.

Involve your entire team: Energy management should not be the responsibility of just one person. Involve different departments such as maintenance, quality, management for the financial aspect, and environmental departments in the information collection and auditing process. This will ensure a more holistic perspective of your energy practices.

Accompany the auditor on-site: Your team knows your site better than anyone else. Help the auditor understand the various aspects of your facility and guide them to relevant areas. This will enable the auditor to quickly grasp your specific issues and identify more effective solutions.

The main asset of Dametis lies in our comprehensive approach to energy efficiency. While energy audit is often the first step in any energy optimization process, our expertise goes far beyond.

Our experts, with extensive audit experience, are able to offer a comprehensive audit tailored to each site, based on its activity and specificities. Our ability to propose relevant improvement actions, based on our concrete experience, is a major asset. But what truly sets us apart is our ability to implement these actions and commit to their long-term performance.

This is where our tool MyDametis comes into play. When a client decides to implement one or more of the actions identified during the audit, we start by taking measurements to fully understand the operation of the current equipment. Once the work is completed, we continue to measure to optimize the new installations and ensure that the projected energy optimizations and energy savings are achieved.

Lastly, we have an in-depth knowledge of the various financial incentives related to energy. Therefore, we can help you maximize your investment by guiding you through the application process for these incentives.

In short, choosing Dametis means selecting a partner capable of supporting you throughout your industrial energy optimization journey, from audit to action implementation, performance monitoring, and financial incentive optimization.