Assessing Future Energy Efficiency

At its May meeting, power division staff presented an assessment of the region’s energy efficiency potential that will be used in the 2021 Power Plan’s resource optimization and scenario analysis. The  20-year achievable potential for the draft 2021 Power Plan is 5,048 average megawatts, not including any cost effectiveness screen. In terms of efficiency’s ability to reduce peaks in energy use during the winter and summer, the winter amount is about 8,500 megawatts and the summer amount is 9,000 megawatts.

The Savings Potential by End Use pie chart shows where savings are found, with big efficiencies in heating and cooling systems, and more modest savings in lighting and water heating systems. New measures of focus for the 2021 plan include: central air conditioning and optimized control for ductless heat pumps in residential homes, ventilation systems for dairy farms, fans and pumps for commercial buildings, and advanced motors for industries.

The supply curves will be used in the Council’s scenario analysis. Three proposed scenarios will incorporate modifications to the presented results. These scenarios will test the robustness of energy efficiency as coal plants retire; exploring efforts to decarbonize the power system; and in analyzing the Bonneville Power Administration’s portfolio.

For more information on the energy efficiency supply curves:

• Energy Efficiency Supply
• Conservation Resources Advisory Committee