Energy audit is very important to do for big scale energy users with energy consumption over 6,000 tons of oil per year as conservation efforts to avoid energy crisis. Periodical energy audit mechanism can identify energy wasting. Energy audit has also been conducted by some companies in Indonesia. Unfortunately, energy auditors in Indonesia up to now have not been certified.
“Some companies in Indonesia have conducted energy audit; unfortunately energy auditors have not been certified while the certificate or license which shows the competence of an energy auditor is very important,” Prof. Dr. Harwin Saptoadi, researcher of Center for Energy Studies UGM, explained on Monday (17/1) in a press conference at the Center office.
According to Harwin, the accreditation accomplished by energy auditors will add on people's trust on their auditing’s results. Error risk can be minimized. “The accreditation for energy auditors can also build credibility for energy auditing institutions,” he explained.
Harwin mentioned that accreditation can also reduce energy costs due to production that is not audited correctly. “An audit can identify machines/ equipment which waste energy. Therefore, energy consumption of the equipment that wastes energy can be reduced,” he said. With the accreditation, energy auditors can gain international recognition and opportunity to play a role abroad.
The Head of the Center, Prof. Dr. Jumina, added that in Government Regulation No. 70 Year 2009 it is emphasized that all institutions consuming big scale energy must do energy efficiency, such as by appointing energy manager, implementing energy conservation programs, conducting periodical energy auditing, and implementing recommendation of the audit results. This audit should be done by certified auditors. Unfortunately, there is no certified energy auditors in Indonesia.
According to Jumina, Indonesia does not have certified energy auditors yet because there is no certification scheme of energy auditors being conducted by government. The fact is very contrast with the phenomenon in developed countries in which certification programs of energy auditors have been institutionalized as finance and environment auditors.
Based on the fact, UGM Center for Energy Studies plans to hold a workshop entitled Energy Auditing and Certification Scheme for Energy Auditors on Tuesday (18/1) at UGM University Club. The event is held in cooperation with Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Energy Efficiency in Industrial, Commercial, and Public Sector (EINCOPS), and Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
The workshop will discuss various practical aspects of energy conservation and simple methods to estimate energy wasting. The event aims to improve human resource ability in energy conservation, both in industrial and commercial sectors. Through the workshop, the participants are expected to better identify energy conservation efforts in process, system and tools so these can improve company’s profit.
The workshop is also expected to raise awareness and understanding to all energy practitioners on conservation and efficiency, particularly in industries using big scale energy.