Some of the best conversations I’ve had in regards to energy efficiency have been in the EVO Measurement and Verification (M&V)classes that I teach.
Many of the people I know in energy efficiency globally I’ve met through my role as a trainer, and the topic that I’ve done the most live training on, and in the most countries (whether in person or on zoom) is Measurement and Verification (of energy savings), whether it’s the Efficiency Valuation Organization’s (www.evo-world.org) Performance Measurement and Verification Analyst (PMVA) certification course, or EVOs Performance Measurement and Verification Expert (PMVE) certification course.
And its really interesting to see the different M&V challenges and approaches in different parts of the world. In some places EVO’s International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) is followed to the letter. In others only some of it is adopted, and quite a lot is left out. In many its mostly adopted, but sometimes with a few notable exceptions.
In the recent PMVE course that I taught for PBJ Tech Hub, I saw some excellent M&V approaches from participants coming from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Mexico – approaches that were pretty much fully adherent to the IPMVP.
When the IPMVP isn’t closely followed question marks can be raised around the persistence of savings (for example when savings determined in one year using the IPMVP are assumed to the same in future years), and the accuracy of savings (when shortcuts are taken).
The International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP)
Since energy savings are the absence of energy use, they can’t be measured directly. The IPMVP, which is used globally, provides 4 methods that can be used to determine savings, and also advises on how to ensure the persistence of savings. Good M&V requires attention to energy metering, data collection and analysis (including statistical analysis), understanding well how the energy efficiency measures save energy, understanding what factors influence energy use, monitoring site changes, assigning responsibility, and clear communication.
There are just three main types of energy efficiency projects
Broadly around the world energy efficiency upgrades can be classified into three main types of projects:
- Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), where an Energy Services Contractor (ESCO) identifies and specifies the energy efficiency measures, implements the upgrades, and guarantees the savings. M&V is used to determine the savings.
- Utility Energy Efficiency schemes, also known as white certificate schemes, whereby utilities are required to surrender to the government each year a certain number of energy efficiency certificates, one certificate typically representing either 1 MWh of electricity saved, or 1 tonne of GHG saved. The savings are achieved by either (a) implementing very specific upgrades, such as changing out legacy lighting for more efficient lighting (basically LED lighting), and the savings are deemed, or (b) by implementing any type of upgrade, and using M&V to determine the savings.
- Energy user implemented projects. An energy auditor may be contracted to identify upgrades, which the energy user then implements. Larger projects will tend to use M&V where the energy user, or its advisors, understand the benefits of M&V.
M&V is important in all three.
Without M&V there is much less confidence in the savings achieved by energy efficiency upgrades. Sure, you can just subtract energy usage after the upgrade from energy usage before, but what if (say it’s a factory), production is higher or lower than it was before the upgrade? Or what if additional equipment has been added or removed?
However, when the IPMVP is applied, investors, energy users, and governments (who provide incentives) can be assured that the value or amount of savings achieved by the project, as measured with M&V, is a trustworthy number. And energy efficiency advisors and practitioners can use M&V to get feedback that helps them make better estimates and deliver better energy audits.
M&V Skills
Measurement and Verification is not really an entry level energy efficiency skill, however if you are working at an intermediate or senior level, you should get EVO M&V training. The PMVA covers the theory of M&V, and the PMVE is focussed on the real life practical application of M&V. If you have had more than a couple of years experience in energy efficiency on a full time basis, look into becoming qualified as a PMVA, and ultimately as a PMVE. You can learn more at the EVO website. www.evo-world.org
And if you are early on in your energy efficiency career, or at an intermediate level, there are a range of courses and certifications at the Sustainability Education Academy (https://sustainabilityeducationacademy.com/all-courses/) that will help accelerate your career development.
This article originally appeared at 8020green.com
