Energy Efficiency: The Overlooked Energy Resource

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to draw the attention of government policy makers internationally to a strategy for alleviating global warming through proven cost-effective energy efficiency measures. The Saudi Arabian government has embraced the approach with demonstrable success over the past 20 years, with rates of return on investments averaging more than 25%. Even though Saudi Aramco is the National Oil and Gas company, the company takes the threat of climate change to the world’s economies very seriously and initiated programs for, systematically and responsibly, transition to less-polluting energy sources. Primarily, the chapter will define the supply chain components of Saudi Arabia’s energy sector and explain the existing conditions and efficiencies of each of its components. It analyzes the existing energy management framework and its achievements, as well as its current and forthcoming commitments, status, and updates. It will also explain the vital equipment, systems, and processes in the supply chain, with possible energy efficiency improvement gaps based on existing literature/Energy Assessment Reports conducted by Saudi Aramco professionals in numerous industrial facilities. The chapter will pinpoint the highest achievable efficiencies areas in major systems, processes, or equipment and discusses its impact on the primary energy fuels and green house gas (GHG) emission reduction.