Sappi’s Key Performance Indicators: Reducing Energy Consumption

After achieving significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2013, we shifted the focus of our improvement work to energy intensity, or the total energy consumed to create a set unit of product. Analysis of our energy use employs a calculation method also used by the Department of Energy and the AF&PA. In this method, energy consumption from purchased electricity is calculated in terms of fuel inputs to account for different fuel efficiencies during power generation and efficiency losses in power transmission.

The equivalent energy value is represented in terms of sources as per power supplier provided data. The energy profiles of our Westbrook and Somerset mills reflect sales of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), and the reduction in renewable energy consumption is a reflection of increased REC sales. Fuel switching driven by cost management resulted in increased use of purchased power and natural gas at Somerset, causing an associated reduction in total energy generated using renewable fuels during 2015. Tight supply markets resulted in a drop in the use of biomass at the Westbrook Mill. Overall, energy intensity remained flat compared to 2015. Our production engineers use monitoring and analysis to identify opportunities for reducing our energy intensity, either through efficiency improvements or capital investment. They are using information gathered during detailed energy consumption studies this year to develop plans that will position us to reach our goal of a five percent improvement by 2020.

See specific breakdowns by region in the full 2015 Sustainability Report: http://bit.ly/21KNUHW.