Public Utility Expertise
Warren Energy (WE) has deep expertise in all facets of energy efficient practices, processes, technologies and programs supporting the utility companies in the implementation of large-scale efficiency programs. Our integrated approach to program evaluation provides an efficient method of delivering sustainable and repeatable results that meet program goals.
WE has experience with programs in numerous states, and we have adapted our approach to state-specific program requirements, including expertise in various technical reference manual requirements.
Real-Time Evaluation
Warren Energy works on a variety of energy efficiency programs throughout the United States. Previously, our staff has supported programs in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania. Evaluation work typically involves review of submitted projects, development of measurement and verification plans, and then carrying out these plans. Collected data and deployed metering are used to inform savings analysis, and results are delivered meeting the criteria of the customer, whether a governmental organization or investor owned utility.
Our founder and principal, Kevin Warren, chairs several committees for the Efficiency Valuation Organization that is responsible for creating and updating the International Measurement and Verification Protocol. This protocol is applied across most programs to provide guidelines for determining savings for installed efficiency measures.
Interval Data Analysis ("M&V 2.0")
Warren Energy has been conducting impact evaluation and M&V work in jurisdictions where nearly all large customers have interval electrical data available for analysis. For all such projects, we evaluate whether a billing analysis approach is appropriate for the project. For many projects, such an approach is NOT appropriate. These include:
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The baseline is other than in-situ
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Understand the savings from individual measures and not just the entire project
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Savings are an insufficiently high percentage of baseline energy use
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The energy use of the facility is highly dependent on independent parameters that are not tracked at short time intervals (production is tracked only daily)
For those projects where an Option C interval data analysis is appropriate, we have developed a program based of the Mathieau algorithm which provides reliable estimates of hourly facility demand based on weather and the hours of the week. An advantage of the approach is that savings can be obtained for certain hours of interest.
Credibility with Large Customers
Establishing credibility with the customer, contractors and consultants is critical to obtaining their full cooperation and to increasing their satisfaction with the program(s). Customers and their contractors and consultants want to feel that the program engagement consultants are:
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Qualified to understand the project and the site specific conditions
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Respectful of their time
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Requesting only necessary data, not extra or superfluous information
Our engagement consultants are constantly reminded to be prompt, respectful of the customers’ time. They perform all tasks on the data collection form. Facility operators are interviewed to check equipment operating and occupancy schedules, part-load profiles, and/or other independent variables that would be used to determine energy usage and savings. We will obtain photographs and nameplate information on key equipment. An understanding of the facility operation (e.g. holidays, cleaning schedules) is established in order to properly annualize the energy savings.
Integrated Engineering and Verification
M&V is more than acting as a field staff, data collection, or metering crew. We believe in the benefits of having an experienced energy engineer review the file, determine the best M&V approach, use a scheduling call to the customer or their consultant to refine that approach and establish credibility, supervise the site visit and any metering, and analyze the results. Benefits of an integrated approach include:
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Realistic metering plans
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Flexible data collection that can adapt when site conditions are other than expected
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Improved scheduling success rate (establishing credibility is crucial and is best done by the engineer familiar with the project)
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One point of contact for the program operations team
Complex Projects
Having completed M&V and technical assessments for thousands of measures, our team is knowledgeable and experienced with measuring, analyzing, and evaluating the wide array of mechanical systems and energy savings projects.
We have performed M&V and site specific assessments of complex energy efficiency projects for multiple utilities and program administrators. This year we have performed these services for CECONY, PPL, PECO, Interstate Power and Light, the Efficiency Maine Trust, and the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility.