Gas efficiency guide launched for manufacturers

Australian manufacturers are being encouraged to take immediate steps to manage energy consumption with the launch of a new energy efficiency guide.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) and the Australian Industry Group released Australian Manufacturing: Gas Efficiency Guide – a comprehensive resource identifying practical and proven strategies to deliver energy and cost savings across gas-intensive manufacturing operations.

“It is no secret manufacturers are relatively large energy users,” CEFC CEO Ian Learmonth said.

“The good news is that clean energy solutions can make a very real and positive difference.

“An initial investment of $50,000 or less can be recovered within just five years, producing lasting benefits for the business.

“By switching to more efficient equipment and cheaper renewable energy, manufactures can improve their competitiveness as well as cut greenhouse gas emissions.”

The guide examines the energy needs of a wide range of manufacturers, from food and beverage production to metals fabrication, printing and furniture manufacturing.

The guide identifies a range of proven technologies with the potential to cut gas consumption by 25 per cent.

If the initiatives were all implemented at once, they would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 10 million tonnes a year, equivalent to taking more than two million passenger vehicles off the road, or meeting the electricity needs of 1.5 million homes.

EEC CEO Luke Menzel said manufacturers are taking control of their energy costs as gas prices continue to rise substantially.

“The good news is these projects are delivering benefits well beyond energy savings: operational life of equipment is increasing and maintenance costs and emissions are going down,” Mr Menzel said.

“This guide catalogues the learnings from leaders on gas efficiency so they can be leveraged across the entire manufacturing sector.”

The guide is intended to be a starting point for manufacturers to take the first steps towards achieving better gas efficiency through identifying possible gas efficiency initiatives in the early stages of planning.

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