PEER is a metrics-based certification programme that evaluates a power system’s performance across multiple categories, including Energy Efficiency and Environment.

◊ By Mili Majumdar

At USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) and GBCI (Green Business Certification Inc.), we believe that increasing access to affordable and reliable energy is crucial to encouraging smart growth that improves quality of life and ensuring community resiliency.

The highly digitalised modern world demands a more reliable grid that can provide quality power to critical infrastructure and facilities.

But globally, our infrastructure systems are ageing. It is estimated that $94 trillion is needed in investments by 2040 in order to support global economic growth and to close infrastructure gaps.

Every year, $3.7 trillion would need to be invested in infrastructure to meet the demands of urbanisation and growing populations.

More than 30 PEER-registered and certified projects across the world are providing power to more than 7.7 million people. The manifold benefits of this work include $37 million in savings, and carbon emission reductions of more than 20 million MTCO2e/annum.

Our global energy grid is also badly in need of investments, often unreliable and currently incapable of taking us to a new energy future.

With an ageing infrastructure and growing energy consumption, reliability and power availability will increasingly become an issue. And as climate change continues to result in more severe weather episodes, reliability issues will only increase.

Our grid systems must be built to adapt to withstand severe shocks to the electrical system and ensure our safety and security are not compromised.

Utilities keep our businesses, homes and communities powered. Their ability to meet our everyday needs means we rely on their services and ability to address challenges as they arise.

PEER: Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal

In order to ensure that projects of all sizes can work toward a universally reliable, scalable and resilient future, USGBC created the PEER, or the Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal rating system.

This programme was created through a decade of work in collaboration with industry leaders and with the support of key partners such as S&C Electric and the Galvin Foundation.

By providing a common language for all stakeholders involved in electricity infrastructure and power system improvement and development projects, PEER can drive rapid market transformation for the industry.

From universities to hospitals to transit systems and even entire cities, PEER is being used to strengthen electricity infrastructure and power systems.

Modelled after LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), the most widely used green building rating system in the world, PEER is the first rating system that measures and improves power system performance and electricity infrastructure.

PEER promotes the adoption of reliable, resilient and sustainable practices, and helps utilities solve ageing infrastructure, find cost savings, share best practices, build for resiliency and enhance tracking to determine and prevent failures.

PEER is a metrics-based certification programme that evaluates and verifies a power system’s performance across 4 performance categories: (1) Reliability and Resiliency, (2) Energy Efficiency and Environment, (3) Operations, Management and Safety, and (4) Grid Services.

Every PEER-certified power system is a mark of leadership and investment in the future. It is a commitment to continuously improving and doing good – from a human, environmental and economic perspective.

More than 30 PEER-registered and certified projects across the world are providing power to more than 7.7 million people. The manifold benefits of this work include $37 million in savings, and carbon emission reductions of more than 20 million MTCO2e/annum.

India has led this charge, with projects ranging from airports to business parks to transit systems.

PEER’s SUCCESS AT INDIRA GANDHI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

One such leader is Indira Gandhi International Airport’s (IGIA) new Terminal 3, managed by Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL – a consortium led by GMR Group).

IGIA is the busiest airport in the country, handling more than 70 million passengers a year. And Terminal 3’s 5.4-million sq. feet is reported to be the eighth largest terminal in the world.

With their PEER v2 Platinum certification, DIAL was able to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, increasing their renewable energy mix, assessing and reducing their power interruptions and bringing transparency to their feedback system.

Annually, the project has achieved energy savings of 2.3 million units and a cost savings of INR 70 million through their energy efficiency measure and other sustainability initiatives.

Meeting the needs of India’s power sector is no small feat. It has grown significantly since its independence in 1947, and in recent years, has taken on a greater leadership role in providing clean and renewable power to all.

The government of India has set a goal of installing 175 gigawatts of renewable power capacity by 2022 and increasing non-fossil-based power capacity to 40% by 2030.

Energy security is imperative for India to boost its economy and quality of life for citizens.

And to meet India’s energy goals as a nation, it needs to implement private investments and market-based performance tools – particularly in the face of frequent natural disasters that leave sections of the country without power for weeks on end.

With ambitious energy policies and programmes on one side, and challenges to the grid infrastructure on the other, the PEER programme could help bridge this gap and ensure reliable, quality, resilient and safe power.

Everyone should have reliable and affordable access to energy in India and PEER can instantly change and improve the lives of millions of Indians.

And furthermore, PEER can also help India further its position as a global leader on initiatives ranging from solar energy to grid management to health and wellbeing and beyond.

Through certification, we are encouraging change that raises the living standard of the people who PEER-certified systems serve.

India is uniquely positioned to benefit from these upgrades, and as the country moves toward becoming a global leader, these changes are more timely than ever before.

That’s why PEER’s mission is to deliver sustainable, resilient and reliable power systems that adapt to the realities of human needs, finite resources and a changing climate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The author is Senior Vice President, USGBC and Managing Director, GBCI India.