Manufacturing is an innately energy-intensive industry. In a country that is still grappling with an ongoing energy crisis, it is more important than ever for such businesses to conduct thorough energy audits and to implement energy-saving interventions to minimise their energy requirements.
Not only would this kind of responsible energy management help reduce the strain on the national grid, thus contributing to a more stable energy environment for the whole economy to thrive, but it could also play a part in helping reduce operational costs, thus ensuring a more profitable enterprise.
The National Energy Act plays a significant role in encouraging a more responsible and sustainable energy economy in South Africa. Let’s review some of the key principles to see how your manufacturing business factors in.
Promoting Energy Conservation
One of the key aspects of the Act is the promotion of energy conservation through responsible energy consumption and the implementation of energy efficiency measures wherever possible.
This is in keeping with the energy conservation laws and regulations already in place in other parts of the world, such as the EU and US, among others.
Although the Act itself doesn’t explicitly impose any specific energy efficiency requirements, it allows for the development of regulations that could, in the future, require manufacturers to meet certain standards.
As such, it is crucial for manufacturers to remain ahead of legal developments, as it won’t be long before more stringent regulations are promulgated. Proactive implementation of energy efficiency interventions now will help your organisation avoid needing to expend large amounts of capital to become compliant in the future.
Supporting Intergrated Energy Planning
While the Act doesn’t currently require any specific reporting measures for energy efficiency or usage, it does lay the groundwork for the government to require this kind of information in the future.
Given the state of the country’s energy landscape, it seems inevitable that compulsory reporting on such matters will become a legal requirement before long. Companies are nonetheless strongly encouraged to take stock of their energy usage and to carefully implement measures to reduce their demand for the sake of grid stability and energy security for all.
When the time comes, those manufacturers that already voluntarily conduct thorough energy audits and use that data to reduce their energy consumption through energy efficiency upgrades will have a strategic advantage over those who only come to the party under coercion.
Energy Management Solutions provides energy auditing and strategic energy efficiency upgrade consultations aimed at improving the energy consumption of businesses like yours. Contact us today to get started.