Models of Electrical Conservation and Efficiency Improvement through Energy Management for Various Facilities in Gaza Strip

Abstract

The Palestinian electricity sector suffers from many problems such as high electrical deficit rate, high transmission losses, high electricity prices per kWh, annual growth and absence of energy management strategies and skills. The case studies are Gaza Training Center (GTC) and Automatic Palestine Factory (APF) located in Gaza Strip selected to demonstrate the use of energy investment models for each facility. The savings opportunities were identified for light system, compressed air, heating, ventilating and air conditioning, induction motor, and power factor correction during energy assessments. Each assessment identifies electrical energy, waste, and cost saving opportunities, and quantifies the expected savings, implementation cost and simple payback of each opportunity. The training center facility consumes 250,820 kWh per year of electricity and factory used 263,875 kWh per year. This research proposes four investment models for electrical energy conservation in Gaza Strip, no cost model, low cost model, medium cost model, and high cost model to conserve the electrical energy in various plants. Evaluation of measuring results showed that the estimated energy saving of no cost investment model is 9.6 % in GTC, low cost investment model is 7.5 and 7.8 % in GTC and APF, respectively, medium cost investment model is 19.6 % in GTC, and high cost investment model is 11% and 4% in GTC and APF, respectively. The outcome research can achieve 17.1 % from the total energy consumption (corresponding to 42890 kWh or 25262 NIS per year) in GTC and 12 % from the total energy consumption (corresponding to 31665 kWh or 18651 NIS per year) in APF by implementing some energy conservation models (no and low cost investment) on the electrical system and most electrical equipment in the facility. Finally, the research results can be used to assess the impact of electrical conservation models on reduction of electrical deficit rate as the first priority for this research and achieve a good investment in commercial and industrial sectors as a second priority to enhance and support the national economy.