Energy Conservation
HDR Technical Memo #1 -Energy Conservation
Available Energy Efficiency Subsidies
Metso - Steam System Energy Savings Evaluation
Rock-Tenn Current Energy Flow Diagram
Rock-Tenn Current Energy Flow with Manufacturing Detail
Rock-Tenn Manufacturing Process - Text
Rock-Tenn Thermal Energy Reduction Opportunities
2007 Energy Independence and Security Act
RCAP Energy Conservation Meeting Materials
Rock-Tenn Energy Presentation to RCAP 1-14-08
HDR Energy Presentation 1-28-08
Frequently Asked Questions
What is electrical energy? What is thermal energy?
Electrical Energy or Electricity is the movement of electrical charges through conductors or wiring. Rock-Tenn uses electrical energy to power equipment, motors and lighting throughout the recycling plant. Thermal Energy or heat, is the internal energy produced from the vibration and movement of the atoms and molecules within substances. Rock-Tenn uses thermal energy in the form of steam.
What are the current energy demands at Rock-Tenn?
The Rock-Tenn Facility currently needs 20 Megawatts of electrical power and 2,250,000,000,000 British Thermal Units (BTU) of thermal energy per year for operations, which is equivalent to all of Downtown St. Paul’s heating needs. The paper recycling process uses approximately 83 percent of the thermal energy, with the balance (17 percent) being used for non-process loads including building heating.
What is cogeneration?
Cogeneration, also known as combined heat and power (CHP) is an energy plant that simultaneously generates both electricity and thermal energy. Conventional power plants generally emit the heat created as a byproduct of electricity generation into the environment through cooling towers, as flue gas, or by other means. CHP captures the byproduct (waste) heat for domestic or industrial heating purposes, located either very close to the plant, or distributed through pipes to remote facilities. Rock-Tenn currently uses cogeneration/CHP to generate all of it thermal energy needs and approximately 40 percent of its electrical energy needs.
What conservation analyses have already been done or are currently being done?
Rock-Tenn is aggressively working to decrease its energy usage and has been conferring with a variety of organizations and consultants. In 2004 Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MNTAP - University of Minnesota) assessed Rock-Tenn’s nearly 20,000 feet of steam and condensate lines. Rock-Tenn has completed approximately 70 percent of MNTAP’s recommendations. Currently, Rock-Tenn is funding several projects to reduce building heating, ventilation loads and the potential use heat recovery to further reduce its energy usage.
Has Rock-Tenn investigated opportunities for rebates?
It is first important to understand how the Conservation Improvement Program (CIP) rebates work. The Energy Utility, in this case Xcel, charges its customers a percentage of its energy bill to fund the CIP program. This money then becomes available to the same customers as a rebate for conservation improvement projects. Customers must submit projects to Xcel who will then evaluate them to determine if they meet program criteria. There is a CIP program for both electrical energy and natural gas. During the 2002-2007 time period, Rock-Tenn has taken full advantage of the electrical CIP program receiving approximately $400,000 worth of rebates. Rock-Tenn is in the beginning stages of the application process for rebates related to thermal energy improvement projects, mostly because the significant use of natural gas is a more recent activity. During the same 2002-2007 time period, Rock-Tenn has received about $9,000 in Natural Gas CIP rebates.