Potential Energy savings in compressed air systems in industrialized cities. A case study in Barranquilla and Cartagena

Abstract

The increase of energy consumption, global warming, resource depletion and the rise of policies focused on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, have promoted to countries and industries the implementation of strategies focused on increase energy efficiency and reduce GHG emissions. Compressed Air Systems (CASs) are one of the most widespread systems used in industry. In countries such as China, USA, Australia, France and Italy, CASs accounts around 10% of the overall electricity costs. In Colombia the energy used in the industrial sector, rise the 33 % of the total energy consumption, equal to 481.429 TJ/year; the electricity consumption is a 13 % of this value, equivalent to 13,3 TWh/year. This paper determine the potentials energy saving of CASs for two industrial cities of the Colombian Caribbean Coast region, showing that there is a high energy saving potential, around 50 GWh/year and a reduction of CO2 emissions of 10,702 tons of CO2/year, which can be taken in consideration by the government and organizations to develop projects focused on reduce energy consumption and mitigate CO2 emissions.