The company has taken two actions, firstly they have carried out an energy audit to assess their weaknesses and secondly they have decided to install RES.
“Extremeña de arroces” is situated in Mijadas where our region has an extend irrigated agricultural land which is an aquatic agro-ecosystem (25 Ha). “Extremeña de arroces” consist of 5 cooperatives of rice farmers, producing more than 100,000 tons of rice.
In 2015, the company decided to take a step forward towards clean energy and wanted to install a RES to decrease the consumption of electricity. However, until this moment they have not addressed the company’s weaknesses.
They apply for a grant issued by the Local government of Extremadura “Decree 188/2016”, and perform an energy audit.
The outcome of the energy audit helped the company to rethink their energy production and replace it with a new, clean and more modern system.
Furthermore, “Extremeña de arroces” has realised that they need to change some equipment and compressors in the factory floor. In order to reduce electricity expenditure.
The engineers, who carried out the audit, suggested the possibility to apply for a grant, which could be spent in installing RES in the factory.
The company has chosen to install a PV as a new energy system. This is the most suitable energy in our region.
Currently, the company is waiting for a resolution of the grant. “Extremeña de arroces” would like to install self-consumption PV panels with a production of 102.3kWp.
Resources needed
In 2016 the company applied for a grant provided by the Local government to carry out an energy audit.
The energy audit and change of the equipment cost to the company 120.725€, 40% of this budget were subsided by the government.
Evidence of success
At the moment, we don’t have proven evidence of the success of the new installation because they have not been completed. However, the engineer's report informs us that the PV panels will produce a self-consumption system, with a saving of 10,718.25 € per year.
Difficulties encountered
The long administration delays have not allowed the company to implement the PV plant.
Potential for learning or transfer
“Extremeña de arroces” is a good example of how other companies need to proceed if they want to install RES.
Firstly, they have carried out an energy audit to evaluate the company’s weaknesses.
With the benefits provided by the energy audit, the company changed some of the equipment in the production line. This improvement allowed “Extremeña de arroces” to be more informed about which will be the best RES to invest in.
The company wants to install a PV plant with a capacity of 102.3 kWp, with this improvement the factory will have the following results:
• A saving in energy of a 4.2%,
• a 96.06 % self-consumption installation which will produce 153 kWh.
With all this information the company applies for a new grant, Decree 110/2018, which will cover 40% of the PV system budget.
Currently, the company is waiting for an answer from the Decree to be able to install the PV system.
The learning outcome will be the different steps that the company followed to reach the desired RES.
Tags: Industry, Renewables, #EURegionsWeek, Energy, Environment, Green
