We begin today to present the 2017 nominations for the energynomics Awards, with the Energy Efficiency category. Only one of the projects below will be awarded during the Gala from December 5th, but every company and everyone involved in these projects deserve our respect and the widest promotion. We thank all the companies and personalities involved in this effort to draw the image of the Romanian energy industry in 2018 through its achievements!
CEZ Romania – Modernization of lighting system at TMK Hydroenergy Power
CEZ Romania entered the competition with the modernization of the lighting system at TMK Hydroenergy Power, part of the CEZ Group in Romania. The main objective was to reduce the consumption of electricity by up to 50% for indoor and outdoor lighting. In the context of a minimum annual consumption of 145,000 kWh, such an energy efficiency project was necessary in order to optimize operational costs. TMK Hydroenergy Power will pay the project costs through the monthly savings rates of over 45,000 lei (energy and maintenance).
Replacement of light fixtures implied, in accordance with the technical solution indicated by the beneficiary, the purchase and installation of 476 luminaires of 11 kW (total installed power) equipped with LEDs in predefined places in buildings / spaces instead of the 390 existing fixtures with a total power output of about 45 kW. All activities were completed in 2 months; a 5-year warranty for the installed equipment will be provided.
Cluj-Napoca City Hall – Electric buses for local public transport
Cluj-Napoca is the first city in Romania to own and operate a fleet of electric buses for the transport of citizens. The Public Transport Company currently has 11 electric buses and by the end of the year another 12 such vehicles are to arrive. Another 17 electric buses would reach Cluj in 2019, so their number will reach 40.
The value of the first 11 electric buses delivered to Cluj-Napoca was about 6 million (excluding VAT), of which 85% are non-reimbursable Swiss funds, and 15% of the municipality’s contribution. The next 30 will be bought from funds made available to Cluj-Napoca by the European Union.
25 articulated electric buses will be added to these; they will be able to carry nearly twice as many passengers as usual. Articulated electric buses are valued at one million euros, compared with about 600,000 euros for each of those already in operation.
Râmnicu Vâlcea City Hall – Compressed natural gas (CNG) ecological buses
ETA SA, the local public transport company of Râmnicu Vâlcea City Hall, became the first urban public transport operator in Romania to be equipped with natural gas (CNG) vehicles in February. Buses cost about 100,000 euros each and have a range of 200-300 km.
The difference paid in addition to the purchase price, compared to a diesel bus, is 5,000 euros, which can be depreciated in about a year and a half at a 5,000-kilometer monthly run, on the lower price of the fuel, alone. Moreover, other savings come from maintenance.
In addition to savings from cheaper fuel, vehicles not only meet the Euro 6 pollution standard but will also reduce fine particle pollution (by over 95%), greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce noise pollution, significantly improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of the city. By introducing these buses into circulation, the carbon footprint will be reduced by about 16% compared to previous buses, ie 9.6 tons of CO2 every 100,000 kilometers.
Romgaz – Modernization of the Iernut thermal power plant
Development of Iernut TPP by the construction by Romgaz S.A of a new thermoelectric combined power plant with gas turbines; it will come with a positive impact on the safety of the National Energy System.
The efficiency of electricity generation will increase to 56.42% compared to the current efficiency of about 35%, lowering fuel consumption of natural gas and, directly, the cost for electricity production.
There will also be a considerable environmental impact as NOx emissions will be reduced by approximately 72% compared to the present Iernut TPP. The new power plant (430 MW capacity, 55% efficiency minimum) is currently under construction (completion will take place in 2020).
Rompetrol – Romania’s first gas station powered by renewable sources
Rompetrol Downstream this year inaugurated Romania’s first gas station powered by renewable sources. Rompetrol expects that about 42% of the station’s energy needs will be provided from renewable sources, which would also generate a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions. For example, the system produced in May about 4,600 KWh, with a daily average of 148 KWh – the consumption of an A +++ refrigerator.
The technical solution adopted for the Mogoşoaia station was a photovoltaic system consisting of 60 panels (total area of the panels – 141.2 sqm, surface area of the panels – 800 sqm, total power of the panels – 21 kWp) which was connected to the electricity grid through the medium voltage transformer station of Rompetrol. With a lifetime of at least 25 years, the system has a maximum power of 20 KVA and is dimensioned so that the energy produced is either almost completely consumed in the fuel distribution station.
University of Craiova – Intelligent Data Analysis and Processing Systems for Improving Energy Efficiency
In order to improve energy efficiency at one of its industrial partners, the University of Craiova, Faculty of Automation, Computers and Electronics has designed and developed a system for analyzing and monitoring the energy consumption of the existing industrial hall where small electric vehicles are produced by Nextrom Industries.