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September 5, 2000 Energy Efficient ICI Chlor-Chemicals Shows the Way£375 million investment reduces annual greenhouse gas emissions by 750,000 tonnesICI Chlor-Chemicals is the UK's leading manufacturer of chlorine and chlorine derivatives and the third largest producer in Europe. As its site in Runcorn uses around one per cent of the UK's total electricity consumption, energy efficiency is a top priority and the company's continuing efforts will help the UK meet its Kyoto targets. Since 1983 the company has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 40 per cent, or more than 750,000 tonnes, via its own and third-party inward investments of £375 million. The sheer cost of power means that improving energy efficiency is a way of life for the company. ICI-funded energy efficiency schemesICI Chlor-Chemicals, which employs nearly 2,000 people, has itself invested £25 million in the past 16 years in making better use of energy on the site. This has resulted in an annual reduction of more than 350,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Examples of the company's work in this area include an agreement to utilise 'waste' nitrogen from the Runcorn Site-based European Vinyls Corporation - a customer for our products - thus avoiding the need for the delivery of liquid nitrogen via some 4,000 tanker journeys per year. Site effluent minimisation has removed the requirement for steam to clean waste streams on several plants. Investing in efficient motors and drives throughout the site and continually upgrading process control equipment are ongoing energy-saving projects. ICI-initiated partner energy efficiency schemesThe company has also been instrumental in the development of a highly efficient power station to serve the Runcorn Site. The investment of £350 million in the power station, constructed and managed by Intergen at its Rocksavage Power Station, produces annual reductions of more than 400,000 tonnes of CO2. Another energy-saving initiative was to centralise the provision of compressed air, via contractor BOC on the site, to replace a number of inefficient compressors around the site. Energy efficiency in the futureICI Chlor-Chemicals is continuing to place energy
efficiency at the top of its agenda - a senior management team has
been appointed to develop energy efficiency initiatives and it plans
an investment of £110m in a state-of-the-art combined heat and power
(CHP) plant, replacing two less efficient existing power stations
on the site, which is due to go on-stream in 2003. Craig Welsh |
