Energy saving in Malaysia is an important aspect of the
country's sustainable development initiatives. With increasing energy demand
driven to industrialization and urbanization, the Malaysian government has made
energy efficiency a top priority. In line with this, the Malaysian government
has introduced Energy Conservation
Measures (ECM) projects, aimed specifically at reducing energy
consumption in buildings. To accurately assess the impact of these projects, Measurement and Verification (M&V)
activities were introduced. M&V is a process that uses measurements to
reliably quantify the actual savings generated by specific actions under an
energy management program. Although
M&V implementation in Malaysia is still relatively new, it is critical for
ensuring accuracy and managing uncertainty in baseline energy modelling and
savings reports. This accuracy is especially important when the savings are
used as a basis to justify the return on investment for energy savings
projects.
Several protocols and guidelines have been established for determining and verifying energy savings, with the International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) being the most comprehensive and widely adopted. The IPMVP, developed by the Efficiency Valuation Organization, provides a complete framework for M&V projects and has been applied to various energy efficiency measures worldwide. The key principles of the IPMVP for reporting energy savings are to ensure accuracy, completeness, consistency, relevance, and transparency. The IPMVP provides four measurement options to evaluate the savings [1] according to their area of application, namely; Option A, B, C and D where,
|
Option |
Description |
|
Option A |
Key Parameter Measurement Retrofit
Isolation. To determine the energy savings at retrofit point, where at least
one parameter needs to be measured and others can be estimated using the
building’s history or the manufacturer’s specifications. |
|
Option B |
All Parameter Measurements Retrofit
Isolation. To determine the energy savings at retrofit point, where all
parameters need to be measured. No estimations are allowed for this option. |
|
Option C |
Whole Facility. To determine the energy
savings; where energy use for the whole or sub facility needs to be measured.
Usually, energy data for this option is obtained from the electricity bills
calculated using the energy suppliers’ meters |
|
Option D |
Calibrated Simulation. To determine the
energy savings; where energy use for the whole or sub facility or retrofitted
point is determined using energy simulation software. |
Since energy savings cannot be
measured directly, they are determined by comparing energy use before and after
the implementation of an ECM. The figure below illustrates the M&V
conceptual framework, which visualizes energy use during the baseline and
post-retrofit periods, as well as the process for determining energy savings.
To accurately report savings, the
baseline energy use pattern (before ECM implementation) is analysed to
establish the relationship between energy use and independent variables.
According to the IPMVP, in order to properly determine savings using M&V, a
baseline energy model must first be developed using regression analysis to
identify the relationship between energy use and independent variables. An independent variable is any factor that affects energy
use in a building and is expected to vary, such as weather conditions,
occupancy, or production levels. A baseline energy model is considered valid
for determining savings if it meets the statistical correlation criteria
specified by the IPMVP. After ECM implementation, this baseline energy model is
used to estimate how much energy would have been used if the ECM had not been
implemented. This estimate is referred to as the adjusted baseline energy. Savings are then calculated as the
difference between the adjusted baseline energy and the energy measured during
the post-retrofit period. If the baseline energy model meets the correlation
criteria specified by the IPMVP, it is considered acceptable for reporting
energy savings. The smaller the error in the baseline model, the more accurate
the reported energy savings will be.
[1] Efficiency
Valuation Organization, “International Performance Measurement and Verification
Protocol (IPMVP),” 2012.
Prepared by:
Dr Wan
Nazirah Wan Md Adnan
Dr Anis
Sabirin Baharom
