EXPERIENCE 

LightRidge Resources’ principals and staff are pioneers in the Industrial Energy Optimization Services market having implemented software-based solutions and defined energy strategies and projects representing $400 million in potential capital investments capable of yielding $200 million in annual energy/utility savings for key industrial and institutional clients.  Following is a list of selected example projects.

Energy Management Software Installation:

Project Objective: Develop and implement PE-Advisor^TM to monitor, track, benchmark and optimize energy/utilities at a refinery.

Project Description:  Using our proprietary software, PE-Advisor^TM, a comprehensive energy model of the facility was developed.  The energy model incorporated fuel, steam and power distribution balances and calculated the refinery Energy Intensity Index (EII) on a daily basis.  The software also benchmarked the energy efficiency of each operating unit against traditional performance and industry standards.  It is used by plant operators on a daily basis to optimize the energy and utility systems in response to changing process demands.  

Waste Water Compliance:

Project Objective: Satisfy new regulations for VOC contaminants in waste water for a major chemical company.

Project Description: Developed a comprehensive solution based on process design modifications to comply with new regulations for VOC emissions from wastewater streams.  Mass integration principles and targeting techniques were incorporated to develop the recommended solution.  The capital cost of recommended solution was 50% lower than competitor recommendations and provided a three year payback through water recycle and chemicals recovery.   

Site Infrastructure Strategy:

Project Objective: Develop a site infrastructure strategy for steam, fuel and power supply to accommodate eight planned expansions at the site for a major chemical company.

Project Description: Planned expansions at the facility were to have a significant impact on steam and fuel use and distribution requiring significant upgrades to the energy/utility infrastructure. Site fuel and steam models were developed to evaluate options for meeting the forecasted energy/utility demands.  Multiple options, including cogeneration, were developed and evaluated.  The final strategy involved selected in-process efficiency improvements, infrastructure modifications and renegotiated energy supply contracts.  The strategy was successfully implemented.

Energy/Utility Strategy Development:

Project Objective: Develop comprehensive strategy to reduce energy/utility costs by 10% or more for a major chemical facility.

Project Description:  The energy/utility systems at the facility were modeled and process integration techniques were applied to identify areas of opportunity, and to develop an integrated strategy for energy/utility cost reduction.  The strategy involved the implementation of multiple projects including process heat recovery, water recycle, steam system balance improvements, and by-product recovery from fuel streams.  The strategy provided energy/utility cost savings in excess of 15% per year.

Energy/Utility Development and Implementation:

Project Objective: Define and implement energy/cost reduction opportunities at a paper mill.

Project Description: LightRidge Resources served as the facility energy manager responsible for the development, engineering and implementation of a long-term strategy for electric power, steam and water.  Multiple projects were executed for water conservation and steam system optimization that significantly reduced water, steam and fuel costs at the mill.  A 10% reduction in energy/utility costs was achieved over a two year time period

Energy Assessment:

Project Objective: Identify and define projects to reduce purchased energy and utility costs for a specialty chemical company.

Project Description: Utilizing our proprietary software, PE-Advisor™, site steam, fuel and water models were developed for the facility.  Targeting was then used to identify the extent of improvements possible and to assist in developing opportunities for recovering waste heat and recycling water.  Two projects were defined to a +/-25% level cost estimate.  The first project involved the installation of waste heat boilers and air pre-heaters to reduce purchased natural gas costs.  The second project involved installing piping, pumping and water treatment as part of a comprehensive water recycle program.  Collectively, the projects provided a 25% savings in purchased energy and utilities.

Thermal Integration Analysis: 

Project Objective: Identify and define heat integration opportunities to reduce natural gas purchases for a chemical company.

Project Description: A thermal pinch analysis was performed to target potential energy savings and identify specific projects to recover process heat currently lost to the atmosphere.  Three projects were identified that involved the installation of new heat exchangers to improve process to process heat integration.  Collectively, the projects provide annual fuel savings of 12%.