Key Takeaways
- The industrial sector needs to conserve electricity to reduce operating costs, improve production efficiency, reduce the electrical load, and support sustainability.
- Electricity conservation can be achieved by utilizing renewable energy, employing energy-efficient technologies, and performing routine machine maintenance.
- Industries can also improve energy efficiency by installing VFDs and conducting periodic energy audits to identify and control electricity waste.
Electricity consumption plays a major role in keeping production activities running smoothly. In industries that run machinery for hours on end, even small energy waste can significantly affect daily operating costs.
Therefore, ways to save industrial electricity should start with daily habits and systems, from machine settings to using renewable energy sources. Read the following information to understand the steps you can implement in an industrial environment.
Why Does the Industrial Sector Need to Save Electricity?
The industrial sector is one of Indonesia's largest energy consumers. According to data from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the industrial sector accounted for 45.94% of total national energy demand in 2024, which was higher than the transportation sector, which accounted for only 36.11%.
This heavy consumption makes energy efficiency critical to controlling costs and ensuring operational sustainability. Here are some reasons why the industrial sector needs to conserve electricity:
- Reducing operational costs: Optimizing electricity use in the industry can help companies reduce energy consumption without lowering production capacity.
- Improving production process efficiency: Saving electricity means not only reducing energy use but also ensuring energy is used effectively. Energy efficiency in the industry can improve equipment utilization, production capacity, and productivity through more efficient processes.
- Reducing the load on the electrical grid: Managing consumption through energy efficiency helps reduce this load while freeing up capacity for other electricity needs.
- Reducing emissions from energy use: Energy efficiency can help reduce emissions while supporting a company’s sustainability goals.
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How to Save Industrial Electricity
Saving electricity in the industrial sector does not always mean reducing energy use. It can also mean using energy efficiently to meet operational needs.
So, what methods can companies implement to save industrial electricity? Here are a few ways to do so:
1. Utilizing Renewable Energy
Renewable energy can reduce the industry’s dependence on conventional electricity supplies. One option is a Solar Power Plant (SPP), which harnesses sunlight to generate electricity to meet operational needs.
Implementing SPPs in an industrial setting must be tailored to energy consumption patterns, site conditions, and the need for reliable electricity. With proper planning, solar panels can help companies utilize available energy sources while supporting efficiency and sustainability goals.
PT Krakatau Chandra Energi (KCE), a subsidiary of PT Chandra Daya Investasi Tbk (CDI), is able to support these needs with a solar power solution for various industrial applications.
KCE has developed a solar power plant portfolio with a total capacity of 11 MWp, supporting clean energy for businesses and industrial activities.
Interestingly, KCE's solar panel implementation does not use a one-size-fits-all scheme for all customers. There are four installation mechanisms to choose from based on a company’s specific energy needs, namely Solar On-Grid, Solar Off-Grid, Solar On-Grid with Battery Backup, and Solar Hybrid:
- Solar On-Grid integrates solar panels with the public power grid so that the energy generated can be used immediately without batteries.
- Off-Grid Solar operates independently of the power grid and relies on batteries to store energy, so its use depends on the available storage capacity.
- On-Grid with Battery Backup combines solar panels with batteries that provide backup power when the main supply is interrupted.
- Solar Hybrid combines solar panels with other energy sources, such as batteries, diesel, or renewable energy, in a single system to maintain a stable power supply.
To date, KCE has served over 200 customers from the business, industrial, social, and government sectors. Beyond these segments, KCE has also served over 1,500 residential customers.
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2. Using Energy-Efficient Technology
Energy-efficient technology can help industries reduce electricity consumption without compromising productivity. Companies can consider more efficient equipment, such as cooling systems with inverter technologies or automated control systems that can adjust energy usage based on operational needs.
3. Performing Regular Machine Maintenance
Routine machine maintenance is essential to keep equipment operating at optimal performance. Machines with wear and tear or malfunctioning components may consume more energy to produce the same output.
Regular machine inspections and maintenance can minimize electricity waste and reduce the risk of production disruptions.
4. Installing a Frequency Converter
A frequency converter, or Variable Frequency Drive (VFD), can adjust an electric motor’s rotational speed to match load requirements. This technology suits various industrial equipment, such as pumps, fans, and compressors.
By adjusting the motor speed to match process requirements, VFDs help control electricity consumption more efficiently. This ensures motors do not have to run at maximum capacity continuously when the required load is lower.
5. Conducting Regular Energy Management Audits
Regular energy management audits help companies understand electricity consumption patterns and identify operational areas that are still energy-inefficient.
The audit results can then inform improvement measures, set savings targets, and guide investment strategies for more energy-efficient technologies.
This concludes our overview of key ways to reduce industrial electricity use. Implementing energy efficiency through renewable energy, energy-efficient technologies, equipment maintenance, and energy audits can help your company optimize electricity consumption while maintaining operational efficiency.
As part of PT Chandra Daya Investasi Tbk (CDI), PT Krakatau Chandra Energi (KCE) provides a power solution to support businesses and industrial needs.
Contact us now if you would like to discuss energy solutions from PT Krakatau Chandra Energi (KCE) that are tailored to your operational needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
To clarify how to save electricity in industrial operations, here are brief answers to the following frequently asked questions:
1. How Can Energy Be Saved?
You can save energy by turning off electronic equipment when not in use, using LED lights, optimizing air conditioner use with inverter technology, and avoiding unnecessary equipment operation.
2. What Are Some Examples of Improving Energy Efficiency?
Energy efficiency can be improved through smart sensors, automation systems, real-time energy consumption monitoring, implementing frequency converters or Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), and periodic energy audits.
3. Why Is Energy Conservation in the Industrial Sector Crucial?
Energy conservation matters in the industrial sector because it reduces operating costs, improves production efficiency, minimizes energy waste, and supports efforts to cut emissions.