APO Asian Productivity Organization

To incorporate energy efficiency into the socioeconomic frameworks of developing countries, training activities and capacity development are crucial. The art of measuring the impact of training on energy efficiency is not nearly as well developed as many other aspects of energy evaluation, and therefore all attempts to measure training add to the collective understanding of how it contributes to energy savings. In this context, it is important to note that education and training approaches tend to be much more varied than other efforts to stimulate energy efficiency, and not all approaches are designed to produce demonstrable changes in behavior. Nonetheless, it would serve industry well if more attempts were made to estimate energy savings from education and training events, and the methods and results were shared publicly.

It is clear that APO energy management projects in Pakistan supported by the NPO, Pakistan have played a vital role in developing energy professionals, including e-learning courses, demonstration projects, and onsite training by recognized energy experts who came to Pakistan under the Technical Expert Services (TES) Program. Conservation and efficient use of energy are pivotal for the development of Pakistan, especially when there is no other solution to meet national energy needs. Energy audits conducted with the assistance of APO experts in Pakistan revealed that up to 30% of total energy consumption could be saved through conservation mechanisms. This is a least-cost option that could lead to national energy security, enabling the country to meet its climate change obligations.

APO energy training programs have polished my own skills and showed how to fulfill professional responsibilities in better ways. I am disseminating the knowledge gained through extensive field work with the continuing guidance of APO experts and support from the management of the NPO, Pakistan. Dissemination activities have so far included training courses and energy audits either on an individual basis or with teams of various national organizations. The APO e-learning course on Energy Efficiency in which I participated formed the basis for developing an Energy Management Department in the NPO of Pakistan, after senior management realized that with appropriate technical supervision it could assist the industrial sector significantly and enhance its productivity sustainably.

Realistic estimation based on feedback from clients is that 25–30 MW of connected load from the grid has been reduced through various energy efficiency initiatives in the form of training, consultancy, e-learning courses, workshops, lectures, and media and school campaigns. Many individuals have benefited from APO training and subsequently launched successful energy-saving projects at national level, such as the introduction of Energy Management systems and establishment of energy service companies. The APO has contributed to the success of those efforts and nurtured an energy-efficiency culture. As a member of the World Energy Council Technical Committee, I would like to see the  APO TES Program recognized globally and would also like to contribute to APO programs as an energy expert. In addition, special focus should be given to the creation of cadres of national experts in energy management and system optimization who could guide start-ups and the transformation of national industrial energy-efficiency markets.

Contributed by Manager-Technical Asad Mahmood, National Energy Conservation Center, Ministry of Water and Power of Pakistan (former Team Leader, Energy Cell, NPO of Pakistan)