CalPortland receives Energy Efficiency award

The CalPortland Company’s Rillito plant, Arizona, received the Energy Efficiency award from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine as part of the 2014 Cement Industry Energy and Environment Awards. The award recognises a plant’s energy planning, applications of efficiency technologies and practices, and climate change mitigation efforts.

The Rillito plant performed a Department of Energy in Plant Training Assessment event for compressed air in 2012, and in 2013 the facility followed up on the energy saving opportunities. The study identified an opportunity for plant pressure reduction; the plant successfully implemented two separate air pressure reductions amounting to over a 1% reduction of compressed air costs. The facility also improved its overall energy efficiency by 5.78% in 2013, resulting in a savings of over US$ 1 million.

Furthermore, in 2013, the plant also improved kiln fuel efficiency by 6% through more extensive utilisation and optimisation of its Capstone expert control system, and through an aggressive quality control improvement programme. The plant improved its electrical efficiency by 3.9% compared to 2012.

The facility also made efforts to “go green” by using locally provided pecan shells for kiln process bio fuel, creating a green team that has been incorporated into the energy management team that works on recycle programmes. An aggressive renewable energy programme, which includes the operation of eight wind turbines, was also established.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/11092014/calportland-receives-energy-efficiency-award-463/