Carbon Dioxide Emissions Can Be Prevented

ESCON Enerji: Energy efficiency projects can prevent 1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions ANKARA (AA) - ESCON Enerji, Turkey's global energy services company, has stated that energy efficiency investment projects in industrial facilities could reduce total carbon dioxide emissions by 1.1 million tons. According to a statement from the company, a study titled "Energy Efficiency Report of Turkish Industry" was prepared to assess the current state of industrial facilities in the energy efficiency field and to unlock their high energy efficiency potential. Within the scope of the report, ESCON Enerji conducted energy audits at a total of 320 industrial facilities and commercial buildings operating in 14 sectors across 45 cities. Of these, 137 were listed in the ISO top 500 and 41 in the ISO second 500, while case analyses of 12 different efficiency-enhancing projects were shared. The total annual energy consumption of the facilities was calculated at 6.6 million TOE (Tons of Oil Equivalent). The emission reduction that could be achieved through the implementation of energy efficiency projects in these industrial facilities and commercial buildings was calculated at a total of 1.1 million tons of carbon dioxide, while the average payback period of project investments was determined to be approximately 2 years 8 months.

Highest savings potential at 67.3 percent

The report noted that the examined sectors constitute a sample for industry and buildings that account for approximately two-thirds of energy consumed in Turkey, and stated that the savings potential that could be achieved in these sectors through energy efficiency studies is 30 percent. Commercial buildings had the highest savings potential at 67.3 percent, followed by forest products at 49.9 percent, paper at 45.07 percent, and food sector at 44.7 percent. The report found that energy efficiency investment costs for commercial buildings, which have the highest savings potential, are higher compared to industry. The investment cost required in commercial buildings to achieve 1 TOE savings was TRY 14,418, while in cement this figure was TRY 14,196, and in glass TRY 12,706. Ceramics stood out as the sector requiring the least investment cost at TRY 1,671 per 1 TOE. The study also included average payback periods for energy efficiency investments. While the sector average was 2 years 8 months, the shortest payback period was determined to be 1 year 3 months in the paper sector. Paper was followed by chemical-petrochemical at 1 year 6 months and ceramics at 1 year 7 months. The sector with the longest payback period was textiles at 5 years 8 months.

"We must adopt green economic growth model"

ESCON Enerji General Manager Onur Ünlü, whose views were included in the statement, noted that environmental pollution caused by emissions and inefficient energy use cause irreversible damage to natural ecosystems, and made the following assessments: "If we adopt an energy and resource efficiency-focused approach, namely a 'green' economic growth and development model, reduce our energy consumption, and source the remainder from clean and renewable energy sources, we can both reduce greenhouse gas emissions that cause the climate crisis and avoid even greater and more damaging effects. Industrial enterprises, particularly manufacturers, have important responsibilities in this process. With this report, which we prepared with the awareness of the responsibility that comes with being Turkey's first global energy services company, we have demonstrated that Turkish industry has high potential in the energy efficiency field. This picture shows that energy efficiency, defined as the newest and renewable energy source, should be the first priority in the focus of enterprises. Ünlü noted that they provided detailed information on Energy Performance Contracts (EPC), defined as the 'most creative financing solution' addressing financing access, the most important obstacle to the implementation of energy efficiency projects, and stated: "With EPC, energy services companies bear all costs. This allows manufacturers to make their facilities energy efficient without investing a single unit of currency. It is possible for enterprises to achieve carbon-neutral structures that can compete in the new world order by benefiting from EPC or other support mechanisms."