Energy Recovery, Inc., which this year unveiled a pressure-exchanger device that can improve the efficiency of a transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration system, on September 1 announced the release of its second annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report.
The report details the Energy Recovery’s efforts to “drive industrial sustainability, incorporate sustainability principles throughout its products and practices, and invest in its people to support its growth strategy,” said the company, based in San Leandro, California (U.S.).
In 2020, Energy Recovery’s energy-recovery devices (ERDs) saved customers approximately $2.6 billion in energy costs, the company said. That same year these devices also helped customers avoid 26 terawatt-hours of energy usage. The company’s ERDs prevented approximately 12.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions – equivalent to removing more than 2.7 million passenger vehicles from the road annually.
Energy Recovery has marketed its pressure-exchanger technology over the past 30 years in the desalination industry. The device can recover up to 60% of otherwise wasted energy in the seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination process, the company said.
In June, the company disclosed that it is “very close” to marketing a pressure exchanger designed to significantly improve the efficiency of transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems in high-ambient-temperature locations.
“As we continue to grow and diversify our business, we want to ensure our sustainability and business strategies are aligned and that we hold ourselves accountable in meaningful ways,” said Robert Mao, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Energy Recovery, in a statement about the new ESG report.
On September 29 at 9:00 AM ET/1:00 PM UTC, Energy Recovery will also host an ESG-focused webinar, “Charting Sustainable Growth with ESG Principles,” during which company leaders will review highlights of its ESG program. To learn more and register for the webinar, click here.
In July, Energy Recovery’s 2019 ESG Report was named second runner-up in the “Best 1st Time Report” category by Corporate Register Reporting Awards.
Improved COP
Energy Recovery’s transcritical CO2 pressure- exchanger device, model PX G1300, uses high-pressure gas from the gas cooler to boost the pressure of low-pressure flash bypass gas. The higher pressure gas is channeled back to the gas cooler rather than to the medium-temperature compressor, thereby saving energy.
Energy Recovery has determined that the PX G1300 can boost the efficiency (COP) of a standard transcritical CO2 system by an estimated 20- 30% at an ambient temperature of 70°F (21°C) and an estimated 40-60% at an ambient temperature of 90°F (32°C).
“The warmer the climate, the better the PX G performs,” says Energy Recovery in its ESG Report.
“As we continue to grow and diversify our business, we want to ensure our sustainability and business strategies are aligned and that we hold ourselves accountable in meaningful ways,”
Robert Mao, Energy Recovery
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