IMPACT EVALUATION OF AN ENERGY SAVINGS PLAN PROJECT AT GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORPORATION

This impact evaluation of an energy conservation measure {ECM) that was recently installed at Georgia-Pacific Corporation (Georgia-Pacific) was conducted for the Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville) as part of an evaluation of its Energy Savings Plan (E$P) Program. The Program makes acquisition payments to firms that install energy conservation measures in their industrial processes. The objective of this impact evaluation was to assess how much electrical energy is being saved at Georgia-Pacific as a result of the E$P and to determine how much the savings cost Bonneville and the region. The impact of the ECM was evaluated with a combination of engineering analysis, financial analysis, interviews, submittal reviews {Georgia-Pacific's Completion Report, Proposal, and Abstract), and process evaluation reviews. The ECM itself consists of replacing rod anodes with blade anodes in 31 Denora Mercury Cells for producing chlorine and sodium hydroxide. Changing the shape of the blades allows the cells to operate at lower voltage, thereby reducing the energy required. Energy savings resulting from this ECM are expected to be up to 6,241,200 kWh/yr depending on the production level of the plant. On a per ton basis, this ECM will save from 46.1 to 69.4 kWh/ton of chlorine. The ECM cost $418,176 to install, and Georgia-Pacific received payment of $150,000 from Bonneville for the acquisition of energy savings. The levelized cost of these energy savings to Bonneville will be between 3.3 and 7.5 mills/kWh over the ECM's expected 15-year life, and the levelized cost to the region will be between 5.9 and 13.4 mills/kWh