Practical problems experienced with industrial DSM projects

Industrial customers such as gold and platinum mine industrieshave received large capital project supportfrom Eskom's Demand Side Management (DSM) initiative since its inception in 2003. In addition to the resultant energysavings, minesbenefitted fromelectrical cost savings, decreased operational costs ofnewer equipment, less down-time, increased safety, etc. Unfortunately there are only alimited number of energy services companies(ESCOs)focusing on industrial energy savings. This is disconcerting as the country and Eskom needa vibrant and sustainable ESCO industry to counter increasing electricity tariffs, energy conservation schemes (ECS), carbon taxes, etc. One reason for the limited number of ESCOsinvolvedinindustrial DSM projectsis the unique and difficult challengespresented in this environment. Some of these are addressed by local training programmes, butonly limited focus is placedon specific challenges in South African industries. This paper attempts to identify somepractical problemsandpresents possible solutions gained from actual project experience.