Industrial energy consulting >>> Consulting Process

Each company is unique, and every institution demands a distinct approach. However, the fundamental structure of the consulting process remains consistent, regardless of the company profile. The process consists of four stages: the Opening Stage and three Consulting Options.

The Opening Stage is a critical phase during which the problem is identified, and tasks are formulated. After the Initial contact, I propose the Discovery session, which should not exceed 1 hour. During this meeting, I briefly introduce the concept of Industrial Energy Consulting. However, the primary goal of this meeting is to discuss the energy problems and unique needs specific to the company. This step establishes the directions for the Walk-through audit. The Walk-through audit involves a visit to the company that typically lasts a couple of hours. During this tour across processes, we will be able to identify potential directions that lead to energy savings and quantify their scale. The main objective is to maintain the required conditions for industrial processes while minimizing energy usage as much as possible. During the final session, we will discuss future strategies, options, and the pricing model. As a demonstration of my consulting ethics and philosophy, each step of the Opening Stage is provided free of charge. Observations from the Walk-through audit serve as the foundation for preparing the Proposal, which I will submit 2-4 days after the Walk-through audit. This two-to-three-page document outlines the scope of the audit and covers the topics discussed earlier, including the pricing proposition for the three Consulting Options.

Based on the collected data, I organize the Energy audit. More details about the auditing procedure are provided in the article I co-authored: ‘Energy Audits in Industrial Processes’ (please contact me if you want to read the full version of the article). Depending on the size of a company and the scope of a project, an Energy audit can last from one to a couple of days. During this time, the required data are collected for further analysis. For better understanding, some data loggers (power, pressure, and temperature) can be installed to monitor processes and provide not only snapshot information but also system behavior over a longer period.  The content of the Audit report is discussed during the closing meeting, finalizing the Energy audit. Each Energy audit is summarized in a Report, which is prepared within the following 2–4 weeks, depending on its scope and coverage as formulated in the proposal. Once prepared, the Report is presented to the company’s engineering team involved in the energy area. During a 1–1.5 hour Presentation panel, details are discussed, and this is also a time for comments and questions. If needed, the report can be Updated within the next 1–2 weeks.