Energy efficiency indicators in peat extraction industry - a case study

Energy prices have become a considerable cost factor for many industry sectors. However, energetically inefficient processes exist in almost every company. The best solution for energy cost reduction is to identify energy efficiency potential and take appropriate measures. The article analyses energy consumption for the peat extraction process of a particular company located in Latvia. Energy in the peat extraction industry is mainly consumed by different types of machinery and tractors which use diesel as an energy source. The benchmark has been calculated for the peat extraction process and the results show that around 2.44 kWh diesel fuel is necessary to extract 1 m(3) of peat. The comparison and analysis of differences in particular energy efficiency indicators allows for identification of inefficient use of energy, possible financial savings for the company and reduction of CO2 emissions. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd.