This is an excerpt from EERE Network News, a weekly electronic newsletter.
September 14, 2007
DOE to Assist China in Industrial Energy Saving Assessments
DOE and China's National Development Reform Committee (NDRC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in mid-September to increase cooperation and energy efficiency in China's industrial sector. The MOU followed discussions at the third U.S.-China Energy Policy Dialogue, where the United States and China agreed to conduct audits to increase China's national, regional, and local energy efficiency.
China's industrial sector accounts for 70% of the country's total energy demand. Under the MOU, a DOE team of industrial energy efficiency experts and an NDRC counterpart team will conduct on-site audits of plant production processes and energy systems at up to 12 facilities in China. DOE will provide tools to conduct the plant audits and train factory personnel on plant audit techniques. DOE will also conduct a comparison study of the Chinese enterprises and U.S. manufacturing plants to identify differences in best practices. The MOU could present opportunities for U.S. companies to export environmentally superior U.S.-made equipment and services to China. See the DOE press release.
The 344 industrial Energy Saving Assessments conducted in the United States since 2005 have identified a total savings of $585 million and 60 trillion Btu per year in potential energy cost savings. While those results are impressive, DOE's Industrial Technologies Program is seeking suggestions for new ways to increase the energy efficiency of U.S. industries. DOE has extended the comment period on its Request for Information to October 1st. DOE is also accepting applications for a third round of Energy Saving Assessments. See the "Save Energy Now" Web site and the Request for Information.
