The EU’s Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency obliges Member States to develop programmes to encourage small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve energy efficiency by implementing energy audits and the recommendations that stem from these audits. This study looks at the barriers that SMEs face and the existing policy instruments in more detail and analyses which practices are working. The study concludes that SMEs cannot be effectively targeted with solely uniform solutions even within the same country and even though many of them face similar barriers. More emphasis is needed on sharing information and best practices and guiding SMEs to implement energy efficiency improvements after having identified the opportunities. The good news is that many good practices already exist and there is potential to improve. Now it is just a question of taking action.
While energy efficiency projects could partly meet new energy demand more cheaply than new supplies, weak economic institutions in developing and transitional economies impede developing and financing energy efficiency retrofits. This book analyzes these difficulties, suggests a 3-part model for projectizing and financing energy efficiency retrofits, and presents thirteen case studies to illustrate the issues and principles involved.
This report presents a comprehensive review of the investment landscape in energy efficiency and climate-smart infrastructure (CSI) technologies, maps the supplier environment, and lists barriers to investments. It gives recommendations on viable investment opportunities for private sector financial institutions and for improving the adoption of energy efficiency and CSI technologies.
Industrial energy efficiency is one of the most important means of reducing the threat of increased global warming. Research however states that despite the existence of numerous technical energy efficiency measures, its deployment is hindered by the existence of various barriers to energy efficiency. The complexity of increasing energy efficiency in manufacturing industry calls for an interdisciplinary approach to the issue. Improving energy efficiency in industrial energy systems applies an interdisciplinary perspective in examining energy efficiency in industrial energy systems, and discusses how “cross-pollinating” perspectives and theories from the social and engineering sciences can enhance our understanding of barriers, energy audits, energy management, policies, and programmes as they pertain to improved energy efficiency in industry. Apart from classical technical approaches from engineering sciences, Improving energy efficiency in industrial energy systems couples a sociotechnical perspective to increased energy efficiency in industry, showing that industrial energy efficiency can be expected to be shaped by social and commercial processes and built on knowledge, routines, institutions, and methods established in networks. The book can be read by researchers and policy-makers, as well as scholars and practicians in the field. “This book is extremely valuable for anyone who is designing or executing energy efficiency policies, schemes or projects aiming at SMEs. Both authors deserve the highest respect, and the combination of their expertise makes the results truly unique.” - Daniel Lundqvist, programme manager at the Swedish energy agency “For anyone interested in improving energy efficiency in industry, this is a must-read. The book combines tools from social science and engineering to discuss the state of art today as well as possible development path tomorrow. This is a compelling book that I find useful both in my teaching and my research.” - Kajsa Ellegård, Professor at Linköping University, Sweden "The book Improving energy efficiency in industrial energy systems is a novel approach on how improved levels of energy efficiency can be reached in industrial energy systems by merging engineering with social sciences. It is with delight that I can recommend their book to anyone interested in the field.”- Mats Söderström, Director Energy Systems Programme, Linköping University, Sweden
This book provides a broad overview of the financial, economic and legal implications of energy industry regulations in various countries. In light of significant changes around the globe, it analyses various institutions that are involved in regulative measures, and based on various country studies, it offers insights into how energy sector regulations differ across countries with different market structures and institutions. Covering major topics such as laws and regulations geared to market competition and sustainability and the impact of noncompliance to regulations, from the perspectives of financial markets, and financial risks, the book is divided into four parts: Part I Regulations: price and trade controls; Part II. Non-price & trade control regulations; Part III: Compliance with regulations; and Part IV: Market issues and regulation. It will appeal to scholar in economics, finance and related fields as well as to policymakers and practitioners in the energy industry. This is the seventh volume in a series on energy organized by the Centre for Energy and Value Issues (CEVI). The previous volumes in the series were: Financial Aspects in Energy (2011), Energy Economics and Financial Markets (2012), Perspectives on Energy Risk (2014), Energy Technology and Valuation Issues (2015), Energy and Finance (2016) and Energy Economy, Finance and Geostrategy (2018).
Industrialisation has brought great benefits to humankind but now, after 200 years of fossil fuel use, land clearance and pollution, the planet’s boundaries are being stretched to their limits. Going beyond these confines would have severe consequences for humankind. To prevent this from happening, government, corporate and community initiatives must focus on reducing the environmental impact of approximately 400 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), given that they produce approximately 70% of the world’s pollution, 60% of carbon emissions and have a significant impact on land. To date, research shows that SMEs have been environmental laggards and more needs to be understood to improve sustainability in the SME sector. Broadening the researcher’s methodological focus, beyond traditional singular approaches, improves knowledge generation and better informs policy and practice. This book paves the way by showing the reader that a mixed method research design is able to provide a deep, diverse and holistic understanding of sustainability and SMEs. Importantly, the book also provides an in-depth mapping of mixed method sustainability and SME research at a regional level. As this book is about environmental sustainability framed in a business context, it will be of interest to researchers, academics, students and those in industry who are enquiring about the environmental sustainability of SMEs.
The overall aim of this thesis is to analyze how municipalities support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their work to improve their energy efficiency. The purpose of this study is to increase the current understanding of how the methods and tools used by municipalities to assist SMEs in improving their energy efficiency influence the end results in terms of achieved energy efficiency, and how knowledge related to energy efficiency is created within SMEs. This thesis consists of two separate case studies that examine how two municipalities used a network approach to support SMEs in implementing energy efficient measures. The theoretical frameworks of policy networks, barriers, communities of practice (COPs), and energy efficiency networks were used in this thesis. The findings are presented in the appended four articles. An overall conclusion is that networks that provide information in the form of a report with technological solutions as the only output are less likely to reach the agreed-upon goals. To achieve a more successful result, SMEs must be active in the process; they must be allowed to create knowledge and understanding that they perceive as valuable and relevant for themselves. Another important result is that information is not automatically transformed by SMEs into knowledge. In fact, SMEs need a platform from which they can negotiate the received information and use it to create knowledge through practice and social interaction. Finally, it was found that the type of technological solution is not insignificant; the type of energy efficient measure to be implemented and its level of complexity affect how a municipality should support energy efficiency work among SMEs. För att policyprogram och riktlinjer ska kunna utformas så att de leder till uppfyllandet av miljömål behöver kommuner samverkar med bland annat det lokala näringslivet. En form av samverkan som har börjat användas av kommuner är nätverk där man för samman företag med olika experter som tillsammans med kommunala representanter arbetar med att införa energieffektiva lösningar i dessa företag. Syftet med denna avhandling är att studera hur kommuner har stöttat små -och medelstora företag (SMF) i deras arbete med att införa energieffektiva lösningar i sina verksamheter. Detta undersöks med hjälp av fallstudier av hur två olika kommuner har arbetat med att ge stöd till lokala SMF. Dessa två fall beskriver två olika sätt som kommunerna har jobbat med detta. Fokus i avhandlingen har varit inte bara på hur kommunerna har valt att stödja SMF utan också på hur SMF skapar kunskap och tar till sig information. Dessutom undersöks vilka faktorer i form av så kallade barriärer som kan tänkas hindra SMF från att införa energieffektiva lösningar i sina verksamheter. För analys av den insamlade empirin så har olika teorier använts såsom policynätverk, barriärer, Community of Practice (COP) och energieffektiviseringsnätverk. Resultaten beskrivs mer utförligt i de bifogade artiklarna. Resultaten pekar på att nätverk där bara information i form av en rapport delges SMF så är sannolikheten låg att målen kommer att uppfyllas. Detta beror på att SMF inte automatiskt omvandlar delgiven information till användbar kunskap. Istället behöver kommuner skapa en plattform där SMF får möjligheter att arbeta med den delgivna informationen på ett aktivt sätt i ett relevant sammanhang som de anser att de har nytta av. På så sätt kan värdefull kunskap genereras via praktiker och sociala sammanhang. Ett annat viktigt resultat är att typ av teknisk lösning och komplexitetsnivå inte är oviktiga utan dessa måste kommunerna ta hänsyn till när de skapar olika policyprogram som stöd till SMF för att kunna uppnå energieffektiviseringsmål.
Energy Transformation towards Sustainability explores how researchers, businesses and policymakers can explore and usefully improve energy systems and energy consumption behavior, both to reflect the reality of climate change and related environmental degradation and to adapt to the expanding periphery of renewable energy technologies. It introduces the reader to a suite of potential policy pathways to the necessary transformation in societal energy consumption, usage and behavior. Solutions discussed include energy efficiency, energy security, the role of political leadership, green public policy, and the transition to renewable energy sources. International contributions address the range and depth of current research from a position of advocacy for 'energy stewardship' as the driver of this transformation. Case studies illustrate the range of various countries to diminish energy use. Finally, policy avenues are covered in depth. - Reviews the interrelationship between economic growth, energy consumption and climate change - Uses a wide variety of case studies to support practical implementation across national energy systems - Highlights a wide spectrum of urgent issues, including threats related to energy use and secure and sustainable development - Contains contributions that reflect a breadth and depth of scholarship from international backgrounds
