Cases & examples
New batteries with modern chargers to save time, reduce cost at warehouse operation
May 2021 [Cases & examples]
Alfa-Beta (AB) Vassilopoulos S.A. is a supermarket chain based in Greece. Their value proposition is to provide a great shopping experience that meets consumers’ changing needs and builds loyalty, all provided with 24-hour technical support. They aim to inspire customers to make healthier choices, increase product transparency, and eliminate waste. Part of AB Vassilopoulo’s goal is to target smarter and more efficient operations. Given the staff’s time constraints and the fact that an energy audit was not legally required at the warehouse in focus, participating in the
Multiple Benefits project offered a unique opportunity to investigate energy saving opportunities and additional benefits. This case focuses on the deployment of Li-ion batteries and new charging infrastructure to optimize warehouse operations, improve time management, and reduce costs namely maintenance and energy.
Rooftop solar, heat exchanger to deliver on Supermarket chain’s sustainability ambitions
May 2021 [Cases & examples]
Alfa-Beta (AB) Vassilopoulos S.A. is a supermarket chain based in Greece. Their value proposition is to provide a great shopping experience that meets consumers’ changing needs and builds loyalty. They aim to inspire customers to make healthier choices, increase product transparency, and eliminate waste.
Part of AB Vassilopoulo’s goal is to target smarter and more efficient operations. Given the staff’s time constraints and the fact that an energy audit was not legally required at the warehouse in focus, participating in the Multiple
Benefits project offered a unique opportunity to investigate energy saving opportunities and additional benefits.
Electrification of compression system improves reliability, contributes to utility's sustainability vision
Apr 2021 [Cases & examples]
Eni S.p.A. is an Italian multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Rome. It has operations in 66 countries with a market capitalization of US$55.61 billion (as of 31 December 2019). An energy audit of an upstream gas plant in Fano, Italy was conducted in 2019. The audit highlighted the opportunity to electrify the compressor driver instead of using the gas turbine. Electrification of the compression system would shift the main energy consumption of the plant from natural
gas to electrical energy. However, the project proposal including the economics were not favorable until multiple benefits were considered.
Furniture maker improves reputation, reduces cost with heating upgrade
Apr 2021 [Cases & examples]
DEKOR-MEBLE, a small-scale furniture manufacturer located in Wyszków, Poland, requires an individual heating system to provide hot water and space heating for its staff and operations. Prior to the project, hot water and space heating services were provided by an old and inefficient wood/coal boiler. To maintain these services, a highly qualified employee prepared fuel (coal in winter, wood in summer) and kept the boiler working year-round. The situation was especially undesirable in the summer, when the boiler only provided hot water (no space heating necessary).
By switching to a maintenance-free, solar hot water system the company improved its reputation with the community, freed up 5 hours/week during summer months (otherwise required for maintaining the old boiler), and reduced the project payback by 9x!
Compressed air optimisation yields new line of business, safety improvements
Apr 2021 [Cases & examples]
When energy and noise audits revealed safety issues associated with Perardi e Gresino (PeG)'s manufacturing plant, they sprang to action. PeG started by right sizing the components e.g., fittings on the production machines, then optimising the compressed air distribution line, and finally introducing a condition monitoring system. These measures led to significant competitive advantages including a safer and higher-quality environment. PeG even plans to invest in a new line of business to enable their industrial customers and partners reduce costs and risks through compressed air optimisation!
Industrial bakery, chromium plating and building example (part of US DOE presentation)
Jan 2021 [Cases & examples, External reports]
This presentation, given by Dr. Catherine Cooremans at the US DOE Better Buildings webinar on 12 January 2021, outlines the multiple benefits logic and method. Several examples are included, an industrial bakery in Switzerland, renovation and optimization of chromium plating facilities, and renovation of windows and lighting in an office building, which show how the approach identifies and quantifies competitive (non-energy) benefits including: improved employee comfort, process safety, better customer service, employee satisfaction and loyalty, reduced risk (health, legal, commercial), increased operational efficiency, lower costs, and enhanced financial attractiveness.
Industrial high-precision mechanical example
Nov 2019 [Cases & examples]
This is a case study applying the Multiple Benefits approach to an industrial company focused on high-precision mechanical work. The suggested project involved changing the milling washer water supply by switching from municipal cold water supplied at 20°C to domestic water at 55°C (heated by recovering waste heat from compressed air production). Supplying the milling washers with water at 55°C presents two major advantages: 1) thermal shocks due to cold water are eliminated, as well as the related risks of tank splitting, which has a disruptive effect on production; 2) the two storage tanks are no longer necessary, since water heating from 55 to 75°C only takes a short time. Therefore formic acid (a highly dangerous chemical used to clean the storage tanks) can be removed from the factory. Increased staff safety (lethal product no longer used), production reliability (reduced breakdowns) and higher productivity (reduced time dedicated to tank washing and replacement) are the major benefits of this energy-efficiency measure, identified by the energy-efficiency experts. In addition several costs are reduced: equipment cost (tanks, formic acid and protection equipment), maintenance cost (tank replacement after splitting), water and energy costs. Non energy benefits (NEBs) thus significantly improve the financial attractiveness of this investment.
Metal surface treatment industry example
Nov 2019 [Cases & examples]
This is a case study applying the Multiple Benefits approach to an metal surface treatment company, First Industries, located in Switzerland. The project involved the replacement of rectifiers with new, highly efficient units. Key multiple benefits identified and valued in the analysis include more stable product quality, higher production capacity (higher accuracy), space gain, reduced raw material use, less material waste along with reduced energy, cooling water and labor costs.
