Nearly more than a half of the global delivered energy demand and almost 40% of worldwide CO2 emissions are attributable to industrial activities. Industrial energy efficiency has always improved in recent years, but a large number of energy efficiency measures is still not fully exploited due to existence of a wide range of barriers. Several studies have investigated the barriers to industrial energy efficiency, but few have focused on the most effective means (drivers) of promoting the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices. This concerns all the companies and in particular the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which cover a consistent share of energy consumption, are usually less efficient than large enterprises and have received little attention by researcher as well as policy makers. Starting from the understanding of the barriers and from insights garnered from the extant literature on the drivers for industrial energy efficiency, the aim of this study is to develop an innovative framework of drivers which represents an useful tool that policy makers can use to promote drivers and overcome barriers within enterprises in future energy efficiency policies. So, we have given our own definition of drivers for energy efficiency and we have developed an innovative taxonomy to categorize them. Our framework is characterized by being innovative, rigorous and comprehensive compared to the existent works. In particular, it highlights the difference between policies, affecting the external system in which a company operates, from drivers that act directly inside the organization. We have classified drivers according to four attributes: nature, targeted barriers, actors responsible for their stimulus internally and externally to the firm, and step of the decision-making processes affected by drivers. The final model thus refers to policies that have an impact on companies, and has been shaped according to the suggestions coming from 5 preliminary case studies in manufacturing industries. In an attempt to quantitatively evaluate to which extent energy efficiency is hindered by the barriers and how drivers can foster its increase, we have conducted an empirical investigation of 61 manufacturing SMEs in Lombardy, the richest, most developed and most industrialized Italian region. The investigation has been structured with interviews to holders, managers or other key people regarding investments in energy efficiency. The research highlights the importance of information and economic drivers. Indeed, the sample has pointed out the importance of both content and form of information, i.e. drivers such as information about real costs, trustworthiness of information, clarity of information, knowledge on non-energy benefits and availability of information. In this case it is clear the role played not only by public institutions, but also by industrial associations and groupings, technology-suppliers and other external actors involved in the supply chain of energy-efficient technologies. Public investment subsidies and private financing are of great importance, highlighting the need of availability of internal and external resources to finance the investments. Additionally, awareness has emerged as a relevant driver to promote energy efficiency, since allows to devote proper attention to energy issues, and can be stimulated both by external actors and internal actors, e.g. through sensitization campaigns. Our analysis revealed that the increase of awareness as well as financial analysis and financial support of the investments have emerged as most critical in the decision-making process to adopt an energy-efficient technology. Moreover, the study provides a preliminary analysis of the effect of several factors, such firm’s size, firms’ energy intensity, and firms’ geographical location, in affecting drivers toward the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices. This study calls for further research in both barriers and drivers to energy efficiency, as well as pursuing a more thorough classification of indirect benefits of energy-efficient technologies and practices, that seems to result crucial to a widespread increase of industrial energy efficiency.

Drivers for industrial energy efficiency : an innovative framework

SPALLINA, GIOVANNI;MARCHESANI, FEDERICO
2011/2012

Abstract

Nearly more than a half of the global delivered energy demand and almost 40% of worldwide CO2 emissions are attributable to industrial activities. Industrial energy efficiency has always improved in recent years, but a large number of energy efficiency measures is still not fully exploited due to existence of a wide range of barriers. Several studies have investigated the barriers to industrial energy efficiency, but few have focused on the most effective means (drivers) of promoting the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices. This concerns all the companies and in particular the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which cover a consistent share of energy consumption, are usually less efficient than large enterprises and have received little attention by researcher as well as policy makers. Starting from the understanding of the barriers and from insights garnered from the extant literature on the drivers for industrial energy efficiency, the aim of this study is to develop an innovative framework of drivers which represents an useful tool that policy makers can use to promote drivers and overcome barriers within enterprises in future energy efficiency policies. So, we have given our own definition of drivers for energy efficiency and we have developed an innovative taxonomy to categorize them. Our framework is characterized by being innovative, rigorous and comprehensive compared to the existent works. In particular, it highlights the difference between policies, affecting the external system in which a company operates, from drivers that act directly inside the organization. We have classified drivers according to four attributes: nature, targeted barriers, actors responsible for their stimulus internally and externally to the firm, and step of the decision-making processes affected by drivers. The final model thus refers to policies that have an impact on companies, and has been shaped according to the suggestions coming from 5 preliminary case studies in manufacturing industries. In an attempt to quantitatively evaluate to which extent energy efficiency is hindered by the barriers and how drivers can foster its increase, we have conducted an empirical investigation of 61 manufacturing SMEs in Lombardy, the richest, most developed and most industrialized Italian region. The investigation has been structured with interviews to holders, managers or other key people regarding investments in energy efficiency. The research highlights the importance of information and economic drivers. Indeed, the sample has pointed out the importance of both content and form of information, i.e. drivers such as information about real costs, trustworthiness of information, clarity of information, knowledge on non-energy benefits and availability of information. In this case it is clear the role played not only by public institutions, but also by industrial associations and groupings, technology-suppliers and other external actors involved in the supply chain of energy-efficient technologies. Public investment subsidies and private financing are of great importance, highlighting the need of availability of internal and external resources to finance the investments. Additionally, awareness has emerged as a relevant driver to promote energy efficiency, since allows to devote proper attention to energy issues, and can be stimulated both by external actors and internal actors, e.g. through sensitization campaigns. Our analysis revealed that the increase of awareness as well as financial analysis and financial support of the investments have emerged as most critical in the decision-making process to adopt an energy-efficient technology. Moreover, the study provides a preliminary analysis of the effect of several factors, such firm’s size, firms’ energy intensity, and firms’ geographical location, in affecting drivers toward the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices. This study calls for further research in both barriers and drivers to energy efficiency, as well as pursuing a more thorough classification of indirect benefits of energy-efficient technologies and practices, that seems to result crucial to a widespread increase of industrial energy efficiency.
TRIANNI, ANDREA
ING IV - Scuola di Ingegneria Industriale
20-dic-2012
2011/2012
Tesi di laurea Magistrale
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10589/71904