The Confederation of Indian Industry and Forbes Marshall will shortly come out with a comprehensive research initiative whose principal objective is to help process driven industries save energy adopting best practices.

Dr.Naushad Forbes, Director of Forbes Marshall, an engineering and energy conservation solutions provider, said “the project aims to help process industries in their journey to make their plants efficient. We had concluded two projects in 2001 and 2003 addressing the key issue of energy conservation in the manufacturing sector.”

The objective of the study is to disseminate information about innovative processes for all the stakeholders. This would help ensure replication of energy efficiency ideas highlighted through case studies. Process- driven industries such as paper and pulp makers, textiles, pharma, chemicals, breweries, tyres and rubber have been covered, he said.

Interacting with Business Line on the sidelines of 10th Energy Efficiency Summit 2011, Dr. Naushad Forbes, who is Chairman of the Summit, said addressing energy efficiency in a comprehensive manner could play a role in India’s commitment of reducing 20-25 per cent emissions by 2020. The manufacturing sector, as a major energy consumer, has a great role to play in bringing about this change.

He felt that right measurements through diagnostics and analytical benchmarking and support from service providers can help ensure bring about sustained savings and improve the company bottom line.

As per conservative estimates, it is possible to save about Rs. 15,000 crore per annum by plugging loopholes in the system, adopting best practices and making plants efficient through expert guidance. In some cases, the change could be brought about by replacing old boilers or refurbishing those using modern techniques.

The Rs.750 crore 65-year-old Pune company provides products and energy management solutions for plants.