Energy efficiency improvement is an important measure for reducing CO2 emissions. Industry is the main energy consumer and CO2 emitter. Improving energy efficiency in industry as well as in other sectors could not only bring benefit to the global environment but also significantly reduce energy consumption, a vital demand in this energy crisis society, especially when we consider our own country Bangladesh.

There can be a significant energy savings in industries like cement, pulp and paper, ammonia, ethylene, iron and steel, and a number of other chemical, petro-chemical and pharmaceutical industries. But hardly studies have been carried out here in this direction.

In our research, carried out in several world renowned institutions like IER- Institute of Energy Economics & the Rational Utilization Energy, University of Stuttgart, Germany; Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands; University of Geneva and the ETH-Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (findings presented in the paper published in the Energy-the International Journal 30(2005), available online at www.sciencedirect.com “Energy efficiency improvements in ammonia production -- perspectives and uncertainities”), we have mentioned that since the production of ammonia in 1930, the technology has been gradually improved and energy consumption decreased from an early level of more than 80 GJ/t to a BAT(best available technology) level of about 28 GJ/t today.

However, though in Europe it has been possible to reduce energy consumption to almost the lowest possible level for producing ammonia, yet there is a great potential to reduce energy consumption level in this industry in Asian countries, too, especially in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China, where depending upon the production processes i.e. steam reforming of natural gas, partial oxidation of heavy fuel or coal gasification, energy consumption may range from 35 GJ/t to more than 100 GJ/t. In our research paper it has been also discussed that the emissions of CO2 depend upon the type of hydrocarbon used for production of ammonia as well as technologies adopted. The energy efficiency improvements observed in the past have consequently also reduced the total CO2 emission. The average European CO2 formation in ammonia plants is 2.2 t CO2/t NH3, while 30 years ago the net CO2 emission was around 2.7 GJ/t NH3. With BAT energy consumption level of 28 GJ/t, an emission factor of 1.56 t CO2/t NH3 is obtained.

Through our research article we have tried to focus that ammonia production, despite being a mature technology, still offers potentials for energy efficiency improvements, especially in plants which have been constructed more than ten years ago.

A significant fraction of fossil fuels is consumed as raw material (feedstocks) for the manufacture of synthetic materials and chemical products such as plastics, paints, solvents, lubricants and bitumen. In the long run, these products might contribute substantially to CO2 emissions if the products are oxidized in ambient atmosphere or through waste incineration. There is still a lot of uncertainty and lack of knowledge regarding the CO2 emissions from non-energy use. According to Mark Levine, Lynn Price, Nathan Martin and Ernst Worrell of Utrecht University, industrial energy use will grow by 1.4 per cent year through 2020. However, with the widespread use of advanced technology, industrial energy use in 2020 could remain at 1990 levels despite a growth in global industrial output ranging from 0.8 to 2.7 per cent year.

ICARUS, a database of energy-efficiency measures for the Netherlands during the period 1995-2020, contains technical and economic data for individual measures for energy efficiency improvement in all major sectors of the economy (industry, households, transportation etc.), which can be a reference guide for other countries, including Bangladesh, when we are talking of globalisation. The RIVM (Netherlands Institute of Public Health and the Environment) developed the TIMER Model to study baseline scenarios and policies for the mitigation of greenhouse gases in the long term until year 2100. Utrecht University has developed the DACES model to study the energy supply and the energy demand side by 2050.

In the area of energy efficiency techno-economic analysis has become a standard approach to analyse the potentials for energy efficiency improvement. Our project work of the EU-Energy Efficiency Improvements in Chemical Industry-Techno-Economic Potentials & Policy Instruments and the model that has been developed especially by the project leader Professor Dr. Christoph Weber from Stuttgart University, have been of great use in Europe. These model results are used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

To limit the effects of global warming, it seems inevitable to reduce substantially the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the long term. One approach to study the required technological and societal changes is to assume a certain level of GHG emissions in 50 to 100 years (e.g. minus 80% compared to year 2000) and to analyse to which extent various combinations of measures can contribute to reach this pre-set target (backcasting approach).

'Benchmarking' is an important part of industrial energy efficiency policy in the Netherlands and Belgium. In the Netherlands, the Dutch government and industrial companies with a large energy use made an agreement. The content of the agreement is that in the year 2012 these companies should be among the most efficient in the world. The energy efficiency of the companies can be determined in several ways, as described in the agreement. The actual benchmarking is carried out by consultants; these are verified by a so-called verification bureau.

The conclusion was that benchmarking could save between 5 and 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2012, the main objective of the Kyoto Protocol.

The European Commission has decided to introduce emission trading as a policy measure to decrease greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by the 2008-2012 timeframe.

Research of Ernst Worrell and others have shown that there are a variety of opportunities available at individual plants in the US pharmaceutical industry to reduce energy consumption in a cost-effective manner.

Such studies have to be carried out for the pharmaceutical industries in our country, which have great potential, so that these industries can survive in he era of globalisation. According to economists, the potential of energy savings could be achieved most effectively by a tax on carbon emissions, which have been shown in our paper too but strong political leadership would be needed to persuasively explain the case for such a tax to the public.

Much could be done to limit emissions by improving the standards of fuel efficiency in buildings, lighting, and appliances. Such improvements are entirely possible, but again strong leadership would be required to bring them about.

Recently news came out that under the dynamic leadership of Major General Mohammad Ashab Uddin, GOC of 9 Infantry Division of Bangladesh Army, a study has been carried out in Bangladesh on utilisation of energy saving bulbs and it has proved that massive utilisation of energy saving bulbs could have saved energy considerably, saving crores of Taka. In fact Bangladesh, where there is a huge shortage of electricity, such initiative should be strongly welcomed by the government, so that energy efficiency improvement measures are taken in all sectors.

As a matter of fact energy efficiency in industry in Bangladesh is still far behind the world's best practice. Improving energy efficiency through proper energy efficiency policy could significantly make energy savings, reducing CO2 emissions from industries tremendously.

Energy efficiency measures may be implemented through revamp projects, in which existing installations are improved through replacement with energy efficient components. For example there is report of a revamp project of ammonia industry which claims energy savings of 5 GJ/t through modified coils and installation of a gas turbine (http://www.cordis.lu/opet/fiches/rue-5.htm). Alternatively, energy efficiency investments can occur at the design stage of new plants. At these stages the choice and installation of energy efficient technologies is an option for investors.

Ghorasal Urea Fertilizer took an initiative to improve its energy efficiency by adopting several measures though the outcome has not been up to world standard. In such types of projects it's necessary to involve company and experts who have international experiences and reputation in such types of projects.

Energy efficiency improvements should be a government policy and encourage the investors for such activity through economic instruments like subsidised or low-interest loans, etc. In addition other tools, prescribing mandatory measures for efficient energy management in industries, may be introduced. An energy conservation act may be adopted with a view to emphasising energy efficiency measures in the industries.

There is a need for introducing courses on energy efficiency and conservation in the higher education curriculum in Bangladesh. International co-operation through bilateral agreements for technical and financial assistance in this regard could be helpful to our country.

Dr. Rafiqul Islam is Professor and former Chairman, Dept. of Applied Chemistry & Chemical Technology, Dhaka University.