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T
here are no indicators to suggest
a reversal of the trend of rising
energy prices in the medium term.
This is partly due to the huge
growth in demand for energy from emerg-
ing BRIC countries and the finite supply
of fossil fuels. The uncertainty as
to whether fossil fuels can ever be fully
replaced by renewable energy sources
is also a contributing factor. The figures
speak for themselves. In the past dec-
ade, industrial energy prices have risen
by approx. 12.5% year on year. These
costs are therefore rising between two
and four times faster than personnel
costs, which are another key strategic
cost for businesses.
Exploding energy prices
It is surprising that so many companies
do not have a detailed breakdown of
their energy costs. Although most are
aware of the energy costs per year,
energy consumption is rarely documented
with a view to evaluating cost-cutting
measures relative to total expenditure.
It is also common practice to add energy
costs to fixed costs or variable production
costs rather than to report them individu-
ally. Initiatives such as Green Carbody,
Blue Competence, Energy Eff iciency
in Pneumatic and Electric Production
Systems (EnEffAH), the German Electrical
and Electronic Manufacturers’ Associa-
tion (ZVEI) and the Society for Meas-
urement and Automatic Control (VDI/
Energy efficiency@Festo
Every industrial application has its own specific require-
ments when it comes to technical and financial criteria.
Examples include speed, load capacity, precision,
efficiency or robustness as well as acquisition costs
(price, commissioning, installation) and operating costs
(maintenance, service life, energy costs). The importance
of energy efficiency can vary depending on the applica-
tion. “The task at hand must be clearly defined before
deciding whether to choose electric or pneumatic drive
technology – or a mixture of both,” explains Festo energy
efficiency expert Dr. Axel-Andreas Gomeringer.
Even a small number of measures can have a positive
effect on energy efficiency. These include Energy Saving
Services, training courses, air-saving circuits, weight
reduction and energy recovery as well as the correct siz-
ing of drives or the reduction of leakage, pressure levels,
tube volumes or friction. Customers specify the applica-
tion and experts from Festo then check and find the most
efficient alternative.
The “Energy Efficiency@Festo” brochure provides a
useful introduction to this topic. Tools for the optimum
configuration of drives and the new energy efficiency cal-
culator are available on the Internet. These allow users to
calculate the costs for compressed air production using
different variables and to determine the savings potential
for compressed air consumption.
www.festo.com/energyefficiency
Leakage detection with ultrasound detector:
With Festo Energy Saving Services, companies
have energy consumption under control.