Author(s)

JALAL RASTEGARY, PATRICIA SULLIVAN, JOEL ORTIZ TENA, RASHED ABUAAMOUD

Abstract

A comprehensive energy and environmental audit were conducted for a chilli processing facility in southern New Mexico, identifying significant utility savings and sustainability improvements. Key findings include a proposed 1.1 MW solar photovoltaic installation to supply 80% of the plant’s electricity, yielding about 2.3 GWh/year in renewable generation with $297,000 annual electrical cost savings and an 8 year payback (with incentives). In the facility’s cold storage area, upgrading aging manual freezer doors to high-speed automatic doors is projected to reduce refrigeration energy by 400,000 kWh/year (roughly 12% of site usage), saving $45,000 annually with a 6 year payback (return on investment, 17%). Several natural gas conservation measures (including efficient boilers and heat recovery) were evaluated, targeting a 10% reduction (37,000 CCF/year), which would cut fuel costs by about $50,000 per year. Water reuse and wastewater management strategies were also explored by recycling and treating process water (e.g., filtration with chlorine/UV/ozone disinfection), the facility can save roughly 0.5 million gallons annually. An innovative concept of a solar-powered electrolysis system was considered to convert reclaimed wastewater into hydrogen fuel, further offsetting natural gas use. Collectively, the recommended improvements yield over $400,000 in yearly utility savings and markedly reduce emissions, demonstrating substantial progress toward cleaner, more efficient operations.

Keywords

solar PV, energy efficiency, refrigeration upgrades, natural gas conservation, heat recovery, water reuse, wastewater treatment, renewable energy