4. 1. 2016
With the arrival on the market the service "optimal energy" is becoming an independent partner to business customers of electricity and natural gas in the manner and form established in developed deregulated energy markets. We have combined the experience and expertise to develop methodology and IT solutions that allow corporate energy consumers to exploit the opportunities in the energy market.

Below we have listed some reference projects and approaches.


Optimal energy team

 

1. Improving the conditions of purchases of natural gas

Client challenges

How to respond to new market conditions related to natural gas procuirement?
How to design a strategy for natural gas procurement for the new period?
What is the risk / opportunity of individual strategies for natural gas procurement?

Client / natural gas consumer is actively looking for opportunities for improvement related to natural gas procurement.  Due to the deregulation of the gas market,  market encountered new conditions, which had to be taken into account in due time to take advantage of. The client wanted to compare the conditions for procurement of natural gas in the new market conditions to evaluate its exposure to risk and take any appropriate decision.

ERGA approach

Diagnosis of existing supplies of natural gas.
Preparation of proposals for solutions.
Workshop with management to assess the scenarios and harmonizing the understanding of the effects of the decision.
 
In collaboration with the client, we carried out a review of the existing client situation related to natural gas procurement from the viewpoint of process, product and price risks.  Based on the understanding of the client's attitude to risk and the ability to effectively manage the risks we are prepared recommendations for optimal response given the current market conditions.
 

Solutions and effects

A significant improvement in purchasing terms and conditions for the purchase of natural gas.
A clear picture of the risks / opportunities of individual scenarios of natural gas purchasing strategy.
Generally improved understanding of the natural gas energy market.
 
The Client has got the basis for coordination with suppliers of natural gas.  With the help of our experts, the customer has significantly improved its position in pursuing its interests related to procurement of natural gas.
 
 

2. Assessing the performance of purchasing electricity

Client challenges

Whether and where the company has additional opportunities in the procurement of electricity?
Which strategy for purchasing electricity could replace the existing?

The Client has an extensive infrastructure, where reliable delivery is very important, but not the only factor that affects the achievement of the financial performance of the company.  The company is aware of the importance of quality assessment of the performance of past purchases of electricity, which can be an excellent basis for improvement.  Notwithstanding the fact that the company achieves a relatively high maturity of processes in purchasing power, it is precisely because of this fact the client recognized the added value of our independent experts to carry out the diagnosis and assessment of the effectiveness procurement of electrical energy.
 

ERGA approach

Diagnostics for electrical energy procurement for recent years.
Preparation of proposal for alternative strategies for purchasing electricity.
Coordination with management to assess the scenarios and harmonizing the understanding of the effects of the decision.

After obtaining a basic understanding of the strategy for purchasing electricity we acquired key information for understanding more recent decision of the contracting authority as a starting point for the preparation of new proposal for energy procurement strategies for the supply of energy in the future.  In addition to the calculation of risk exposure for proposed strategies, we also evaluated the current state of exposure for not yet fully closed position, giving the subscriber an additional dimension, which until then had not been considered.
 

Solutions and effects

A clear picture of the risks / opportunities for individual electricity procurement scenario or strategy.
Generally improved the understanding of the electricity market.
The basis for the new strategy for purchasing electricity.
 
The Client has got a clear picture of its position in the procurement of electricity with estimates of potential improvements that have been evaluated. The Client has gained a better understanding of the maturity of its key processes in the procurement of electricity, which has been used as a basis for short-term and long-term improvements. 
 

3. Analysis of the opportunities in the procurement of electricity and natural gas

Client challenges

How successful is the strategy chosen for purchasing of electricity and natural gas?
What are the additional optimization options for the purchase of electricity and natural gas?
Whether and where the company has opportunities in the procurement of electricity and natural gas as a subsidiary within the group?
How to contribute to the development of new energy purchasing strategy for the group?
 
The client is part of a group of companies where the purchase of energy is performed under the contract concluded by the parent company and energy suppliers.  While the parent company pursues the optimization at group level, the interest of the client is to seek opportunities to optimize the purchasing of energy within their existing relationships or to prepare a starting point to help the parent company in designing an energy procurement strategy for the new period.
 

ERGA approach

Diagnosis of existing energy procurement.
Preparation of proposals for solutions.
Workshop with management to assess the scenarios and clarify the effects of the decision.
 
In collaboration with the client, we carried out a review of the existing situation of the client related to the purchase of natural gas and electricity from the perspective of process, product and price risks.  Based on the understanding of the capabilities within the existing relationships we have identified possible improvements at the process level.  We have prepared the recommendations that could help the client at the group level at optimization of electricity and natural gas procurement.
 

Solutions and effects

Assessing the performance of energy procurement within existing relationships.
Assessment of the opportunities which client can impement independently.
Assessment of opportunities that can be realized by the client and the group level in the event of a change of energy procurement strategy.
 
The Client has got a clear picture of its position in the procurement of electricity and natural gas, with estimates of potential improvements that have been evaluated.  He obtained a base through which it could both myself and the team to enable optimal supply of energy and natural gas.
 

4. Ordering NG and EE

Client challenges

How to most effectively prepare the documentation for the purchase of natural gas and electricity?
How to most effectively carry out the procurement for the purchase of natural gas and electricity?
 
The Client has had experience with the procurement of electricity and natural gas but had difficulty understanding the complex formulas  suppliers built into their bids for the supply of natural gas and electricity.  Because of that, Client was not been able to put the tenders received to a common denominator and therefore client likely had not taken the optimal path for natural gas and electricity procurement in previous periods.  The Client wanted the assistance of an independent expert that can fully entrust the preparation and execution of the energy procurement.

ERGA approach

Preparation and execution of the contract NG and EE on behalf of the client.
Evaluation of the received bids.
 
In collaboration with the client, ERGA experts prepared the documentation, which took into account the chosen strategy for procurement of natural gas and electricity.  Upon receipt of the tenders from potential suppliers of electricity and natural gas, ERGA team evaluated bids and presented the status of the Client, which took concluded a contract for the purchase of natural gas and electricity with proposed suppliers.  All the time, from the moment when we sent request for proposal to potential suppliers to the completion of the selection of suppliers, ERGA experts provided support to and gave appropriate feedback to potential energy suppliers or to the Client.
 

Solutions and effects

Efficiently and effectively carried out the procedure for purchasing NG and EE for the client.
 
The client has with virtually no engagement of its own resources managed to get the optimal bid for the purchase of natural gas and electricity.  The entire process and taking care of the preparation, coordination, communication and execution has been carried out by ERGA consultants, allowing personnel of the Client to focus on their primary activities, which can generate the greatest added value to their organization.

 5. Active recommendations for natural gas and electricity

Client challenges

How to effectively implement the strategy chosen to purchase natural gas and electricity?
How to catch the right moment to decide and where to obtain objective information on market conditions, which are specific to the client?

The Client estimated that the use of its own resources for regular monitoring of market developments, does not add value. The Client wanted to  ensure appropriate independent support in implementing the strategy chosen in purchasing natural gas and electricity.
 

ERGA approach

Diagnostics of natural gas and electricity purchasing.
Proposal for new purchasing strategy for NG and EE.
Preparation and execution bidding process for the NG and EE on behalf of the client.
Evaluation of the received bids.
Regular communication and recommendations in accordance with the chosen strategy for the NG and EE.
Preparation of other independent reports and contents in the field of energy efficiency in accordance with the needs of the client.
 
ERGA experts performed the complete cycle of services including optimization of electricity and natural gas procurement strategy, and the preparation and execution of the bidding for electricity and natural gas. ERGA experts established regular communication with the client, where the client get regular information for decision-making and triggering of selected purchasing strategy for NG and EE.
 

Solutions and effects

Experts ERGA the services of optimal energy to cover all customer needs in the field of purchasing electricity and natural gas.
 
The client has an independent partner for the entire cycle of purchasing electricity and natural gas. This is seen by the client to be more efficient, more professional and more cost effective solution than dedicating internal resources or to rely only on resources from suppliers of electricity or natural gas, which can not always provide the most objective advice.
 

 6. Assessment of the construction of CHP (Cogeneration Heating and Power) biomass

 

 Client challenges

  
Are activities launched realted to construction of CHP based on realistic assumptions? 
What are the alternative scenarios of the investment in CHP, and what is the most appropriate?

The client wanted an impartial evaluation of the economic viability of the construction of the CHP, which would adequately address all facts and information received from various stakeholders.  The client wanted to obtain a picture of the actual situation at a given moment, taking into account their financial capabilities, strategy and challenges of the market, which will allow it to consciously accept certain risks and take advantage of opportunities.
 

ERGA approach

Recording of possible scenarios of realizing investments in CHP.
Scenario analysis shortlisted.

ERGA expersts have based on the documentation available from the client, information from the developer of construction works, technical data from the equipment and comparable data and standards, prepared the initial number of possible scenarios.  The main scenarios were analyzed and properly documented, which allowed the client transparent comparison and decision-making.
 

Solutions and effects

Analysis of possible scenarios of investment in CHP.
Proposal for optimal scenario for building CHP.
Providing assistance to the client in regard to the effects of the parameters given by the equipment provider.

The client gained an unbiased view on the issue of construction of CHP, where it was necessary to take into account a multitude of criteria and facts that were at any given time specific and relevant to the client.  The client has based on work of ERGA experts adopted a decision that was supported by calculations, risk assessment and recommendations.
 

 7. Optimizing electricity meetering point

Client challenges

How to optimize the consumption power of electrical energy and reduce costs?
For which points the client is paying too much in relation to the consumption?
What are the possible technical measures to optimize power at the measuring point?

The client has several locations where it operates.  At the individual locations it has different activities, consumption of electricity and different power ratings.  As part of efforts to reduce costs, the client has decided to for opportunities to optimize electricity at measuring points where that was appropriate.

ERGA approach

Analysis of meetering points and consumption.
Analysis of possible technical measures to increase efficiency in a single measuring point.
Preparation of estimates and the final measures for the comprehensive optimization of measuring points of electricity for individual measuring points.

Based on the analysis of consumption at measuring points and analysis of possible technical measures to increase efficiency in a single measuring point, we have prepared a final assessment of the measures for the comprehensive optimization for individual measuring points.  ERGA experts led the whole process of analysis, coordination with the technical staff of the client all the way to the preparation of proposals for change in max power at the measuring points.

Solutions and effects

Savings in the first year covered the investment in optimizing the meetering point. The savings in the coming years are clear profit for the client. 

This service enabled client savings where the cost of optimization was paidoff within one year.