Download or read book Energy efficiency in Swedish SMEs written by Fredrik Backman and published by Linköping University Electronic Press. This book was released on 2018-05-14 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Energy Efficiency in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises written by Marika Bröckl and published by Nordic Council of Ministers. This book was released on 2014-02-28 with total page 83 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.
Download or read book Improving Energy Efficiency in Industrial Energy Systems written by Patrik Thollander and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-08-10 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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
Download or read book The Economics of Energy Efficiency written by Steve Sorrell and published by Edward Elgar Publishing. This book was released on 2004 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines energy management practices within a wide range of public and private sector organisations.
Download or read book Introduction to Industrial Energy Efficiency written by Patrik Thollander and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-01-29 with total page 381 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduction to Industrial Energy Efficiency: Energy Auditing, Energy Management, and Policy Issues offers a systemic overview of all key-aspects involved in improving industrial energy efficiency in various industry sectors. It is organized in three parts, each dealing with a particular perspective needed to form a complete view of related issues. Sections focus on energy auditing and improved energy efficiency of companies from a predominantly technical perspective, shed light on energy management and factors that hinder or drive the adoption of energy efficiency practices in the manufacturing industry, and explore energy efficiency policy instruments and how they are designed, implemented and evaluated. Practicing engineers in the field of energy efficiency, engineering and energy researchers coming into the field, and graduate students will find this book to be an invaluable reference on the fundamental knowledge they need to get started in this area. - Provides, in one volume, a comprehensive overview of energy systems efficiency and management that is applied to various industrial processes - Explores operational measures for improvement, including case studies from varying countries and sectors - Discusses the barriers to, and driving forces for, improving energy efficiency in industrial settings, including technical, behavioral, organizational and policy aspects
Download or read book Small and Medium Sized Enterprise SME Resilience written by Susanne Durst and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book EIB Working Papers 2019 06 Promoting energy audits Results from an experiment written by European Investment Bank and published by European Investment Bank. This book was released on 2019-10-15 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Energy audits are key to increase investments in energy efficiency This paper assesses the effectiveness of policy interventions in promoting energy audits by relying on evidence from a unique experiment. The findings of the experiment allow us to quantify by how much the probability that firms invest in energy audits increases, as the policy mix changes.
Download or read book Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs 2024 An OECD Scoreboard written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2024-03-13 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs 2024: An OECD Scoreboard monitors SME and entrepreneurship financing trends, conditions and policy developments in close to 50 countries.
Download or read book Proceedings of 2023 International Conference on Green Building written by Paulo Mendonça and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-10-17 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book showcases the latest trends and innovations in the field of Green Building, covering topics from research and design to innovative practices and challenges. It is a compilation of communication papers presented at the 2023 International Conference on Green Building (ICoGB 2023), a leading annual event that focuses on sharing and discussing developments in this field. Green Building principles constitute key aspects to achieve the sustainable development goals. This conference is dedicated to providing a platform for researchers, scientists, engineers, and scholars to exchange and share their experiences, new ideas, and research and to discuss the challenges encountered as well as the solutions adopted. ICoGB 2023 was organized in Malmo, Sweden, during May 19–21, 2023. The target audience are all professionals in the building design and construction fields, such as architects, engineers, scholars, researchers, builders, promoters, among others.
Download or read book Environmental Incentives and Nordic SMEs written by and published by Nordic Council of Ministers. This book was released on 2005 with total page 136 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Enhancement of Industrial Energy Efficiency and Sustainability written by Andrea Trianni and published by MDPI. This book was released on 2021-02-26 with total page 294 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Industrial energy efficiency has been recognized as a major contributor, in the broader set of industrial resources, to improved sustainability and circular economy. Nevertheless, the uptake of energy efficiency measures and practices is still quite low, due to the existence of several barriers. Research has broadly discussed them, together with their drivers. More recently, many researchers have highlighted the existence of several benefits, beyond mere energy savings, stemming from the adoption of such measures, for several stakeholders involved in the value chain of energy efficiency solutions. Nevertheless, a deep understanding of the relationships between the use of the energy resource and other resources in industry, together with the most important factors for the uptake of such measures—also in light of the implications on the industrial operations—is still lacking. However, such understanding could further stimulate the adoption of solutions for improved industrial energy efficiency and sustainability.
Download or read book Research and Technology Management in the Electricity Industry written by Tugrul Daim and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-06-25 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Technologies such as renewable energy alternatives including wind, solar and biomass, storage technologies and electric engines are creating a different landscape for the electricity industry. Using sources and ideas from technologies such as renewable energy alternatives, Research and Technology Management in the Electricity Industry explores a different landscape for this industry and applies it to the electric industry supported by real industry cases. Divided into three sections, Research and Technology Management in the Electricity Industry introduces a range of methods and tools including technology assessment, forecasting, roadmapping, research and development portfolio management and technology transfer. These tools are the applied to emerging technologies in this industry with case studies including data from various organizations including Bonneville Power Administration and Energy Trust of Oregon, from sectors including lighting and wind energy. The final section considers innovation through these technologies. A product result of a collaboration between Bonneville Power Administration and Portland State University, Research and Technology Management in the Electricity Industry is a comprehensive collection of methods, tools, examples and pathways for future innovation in the electricity industry.
Download or read book SME Policy Index Western Balkans and Turkey 2022 Assessing the Implementation of the Small Business Act for Europe written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2022-07-08 with total page 1064 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential drivers of sustainable economic growth in the Western Balkans and Turkey, where they make up 99% of all firms, generate 65% value added and account for 75% of employment. Nevertheless, SMEs across the region continue to face obstacles such as difficulties accessing financing, low levels of digital uptake, regulatory barriers and relatively low participation in international trade.
Download or read book Advances in Production Management Systems Production Management Systems for Volatile Uncertain Complex and Ambiguous Environments written by Matthias Thürer and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on with total page 495 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Energy Security and Development written by B. Sudhakara Reddy and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-02-05 with total page 517 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume provides a systematic framework for energy suppliers, policy makers, academics, students, and all others interested in energy security, and analyzes key issues concerning energy, security and sustainability with the help of a wealth of data. While sustainability is the broadest objective, energy security is an important part of it, at the global, national and societal levels. The development of a sustainable, long-term solution to meeting the world’s energy needs is a defining issue of our time, since central global challenges that the world faces—poverty alleviation, climate change, and environmental degradation—are directly linked to energy security. The contributions cover key issues in sustainable energy and illustrate that the insecurity of a majority of countries owes to internal factors which have more to do with market forces, inefficient technologies, lack of institutions, environmental insecurity, pricing mechanisms, etc., and less to do with the international situation. The links between energy and development are both direct and indirect. Directly, energy provides several services and utilities to maintain human well-being, and also does so indirectly through stakeholders. This volume addresses both the direct and indirect links and provides sustainable alternatives, helping readers to better grasp the resilience of both socio-economic and resource sub-systems in the process. The issues affecting energy supply and demand, including technology portfolios, environmental considerations and consumer attitudes are thoroughly discussed. One of the critical questions that arises is how to facilitate energy investment. The investment climate and the key issues involved are analyzed, including: the capital flows with reasonable and stable investment frameworks, timely decision-making by governments, and open markets. The broad objective of the volume is to foster a deeper understanding of the concept of energy security and to identify the methods of analysis, policy initiatives and future research needed to generate a balanced pattern of energy use and mitigate its impact on humanity and the environment.
Download or read book Improved Energy Efficiency in the Aluminium Industry and its Supply Chains written by Joakim Haraldsson and published by Linköping University Electronic Press. This book was released on 2020-04-20 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Energy is an essential resource in the daily lives of humans. However, the extraction and use of energy has an impact on the environment. The industrial sector accounts for a large share of the global final energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The largest source of industrial GHG emissions is energy use. The production and processing of aluminium is energy- and GHG-intensive, and uses significant amounts of fossil fuels and electricity. At the same time, the global demand for aluminium is predicted to rise significantly by the year 2050. Improved energy efficiency is one of the most important approaches for reducing industrial GHG emissions. Additionally, improved energy efficiency in industry is a competitive advantage for companies due to the cost reductions that energy efficiency improvements yield. The aim of this thesis was to study improved energy efficiency in the individual companies and the entire supply chains of the aluminium industry. This included studying energy efficiency measures, potentials for energy efficiency improvements and energy savings, and which factors inhibit or drive the work to improve energy efficiency. The aim and the research questions were answered by conducting a literature review, focus groups, questionnaires and calculations of effects on primary energy use, GHG emissions, and energy and CO2 costs. This thesis identified several energy efficiency measures that can be implemented by the individual companies in the aluminium industry and the aluminium casting foundries. The individual companies have large potentials for improving their energy efficiency. Energy efficiency measures within the electrolysis process have significant effects on primary energy use, GHG emissions, and energy and CO2 costs. This thesis showed that joint work between the companies in the supply chains of the aluminium industry is needed in order to achieve further energy efficiency improvements compared to the companies only working on their own. The joint work between the companies in the supply chain is needed to avoid sub-optimisation of the total energy use throughout the entire supply chain. Better communication and closer collaboration between all the companies in the supply chain are two of the most important aspects of the joint work to improve energy efficiency. An energy audit for the entire supply chain could be conducted as a first step in the joint work between the companies in the supply chains. Another important aspect is to increase the use of secondary aluminium or remelted material waste rather than primary aluminium. The companies in the Swedish aluminium industry and the aluminium casting foundries have come some way in their work to improve energy efficiency within their own facilities. However, the results in this thesis indicate that cost-effective technology and improved management can, in total, save 126–185 GWh/year in the Swedish aluminium industry and 8–15 GWh/year in the Swedish aluminium casting foundries. This thesis identified several demands regarding economics, product quality and performance, and environment placed on the companies and products in the supply chains that affect energy use and work to improve energy efficiency. These demands can sometimes counteract each other, and some demands are more important to meet than improving energy efficiency. This implies that improving the energy efficiency of the supply chains as well as designing products so they are energy-efficient in their use phase can sometimes be difficult. The results in this thesis indicate that it would be beneficial if the companies reviewed these demands to see whether any of them could be changed. Both the economic aspects and demands from customers and authorities were shown to be important drivers for improved energy efficiency in the supply chains. However, placing demands on energy-efficient production and a company’s improved energy efficiency would require those placing the demands to have deeper knowledge compared to demanding green energy, for example. Requiring a company to implement an energy management system to ensure active work to improve energy efficiency would be easier for the customer than demanding a certain level of energy efficiency in the company’s processes. Additionally, energy audits and demands on conducted energy audits could act as drivers for improved energy efficiency throughout the supply chains. This thesis showed that the most important barriers to improved energy efficiency within the individual companies include different types of risks as well as the cost of production disruption, complex production processes and technology being inappropriate at the site. Similar to the supply chains, important drivers for improved energy efficiency within the individual companies were shown to be economic aspects and demands from customers and authorities. However, the factors that are most important for driving the work to improve energy efficiency within the individual companies include the access to and utilisation of knowledge within the company, corporate culture, a longterm energy strategy, networking within the sector, information from technology suppliers and energy audits. Energi är en viktig resurs i människors dagliga liv, men utvinningen och användningen av energi påverkar miljön. Industrin står för en stor andel av den globala slutliga energianvändningen och de globala utsläppen av växthusgaser. Den största källan till industriella växthusgasutsläpp är energianvändning. Produktionen och bearbetningen av aluminium är energiintensiv och har stora utsläpp av växthusgaser och använder betydande mängder fossila bränslen och elektricitet. Samtidigt beräknas efterfrågan på aluminium öka avsevärt globalt till år 2050. Energieffektivisering är ett av de viktigaste medlen för att minska industriella växthusgasutsläpp. Dessutom är energieffektivisering inom industrin en konkurrensfördel för företagen på grund av de minskade kostnader som energieffektivisering medför. Syftet med den här avhandlingen var att studera hur energianvändningen kan bli effektivare i de enskilda företagen och hela försörjningskedjorna i aluminiumindustrin. Detta inkluderade att studera energieffektiviseringsåtgärder, potentialer för energieffektivisering och energibesparing samt vilka faktorer som hindrar eller driver arbetet med energieffektivisering. Syftet och frågeställningarna besvarades genom litteraturstudier, fokusgrupper, enkäter samt beräkningar av påverkan på primärenergianvändning, växthusgasutsläpp och energi- och koldioxidkostnader. Denna avhandling identifierade flera energieffektiviseringsåtgärder som kan genomföras av de enskilda företagen inom aluminiumindustrin och aluminiumgjuterierna. De enskilda företagen har stora potentialer för effektivare energianvändning. Energieffektiviseringsåtgärder inom elektrolysen har stor påverkan på primärenergianvändning, växthusgasutsläpp samt energi- och koldioxidkostnader. Denna avhandling visade att det gemensamma arbetet mellan företagen i aluminiumindustrins försörjningskedjor är viktigt för att uppnå ytterligare effektiviseringar av energianvändningen jämfört med om de individuella företagen skulle arbeta enbart på egen hand. Det gemensamma arbetet mellan företagen i försörjningskedjan är viktigt för att undvika suboptimering av den totala energianvändningen i hela försörjningskedjan. Bättre kommunikation och närmare samarbete mellan alla företagen i försörjningskedjan är två av de viktigaste aspekterna i det gemensamma arbetet för att uppnå effektivare energianvändning. En energikartläggning av hela försörjningskedjan kan genomföras som ett första steg i det gemensamma arbetet mellan företagen. En annan viktig aspekt är att öka användningen av sekundärt aluminium eller omsmält processkrot snarare än att använda primärt aluminium. Företagen i den svenska aluminiumindustrin och aluminiumgjuterierna har kommit en bit på vägen i deras arbeten mot effektivare energianvändning inom deras egna anläggningar. Dock visade resultaten i denna avhandling att kostnadseffektiv teknik och förbättrad energiledning totalt kan spara 126–185 GWh/år i den svenska aluminiumindustrin och 8–15 GWh/år i de svenska aluminiumgjuterierna. Denna avhandling identifierade flera krav rörande ekonomi, produktkvalitet och -prestanda samt miljö som ställs på företagen och produkterna i försörjningskedjorna och som påverkar energianvändningen och arbetet mot effektivare energianvändning. Dessa krav kan ibland motverka varandra och vissa krav är viktigare att möta än att effektivisera energianvändningen. Detta innebär att det ibland kan vara svårt att energieffektivisera försörjningskedjorna samt att designa energianvändande produkter så att de är energieffektiva i användningsfasen. Resultaten i denna avhandling visar att det skulle vara fördelaktigt om företagen granskar kraven för att se om något av kraven skulle kunna ändras. Både de ekonomiska aspekterna och krav från kunder och myndigheter visade sig vara viktiga drivkrafter för energieffektivisering i försörjningskedjorna. Om krav ställs på energieffektiv produktion och effektivare energianvändning inom ett företag behöver de aktörer som ställer kraven ha djupare kunskaper jämfört med om de till exempel skulle kräva användandet av grön energi. Ett krav på implementeringen av ett energiledningssystem för att säkerställa ett aktivt arbete med energieffektivisering skulle vara lättare för kunden att ställa än att kräva en viss energieffektiviseringsnivå i leverantörens processer. Dessutom kan energikartläggningar och krav på genomförda energikartläggningar fungera som drivkrafter för energieffektivisering i försörjningskedjorna. Denna avhandling visade att de viktigaste hindren mot energieffektivisering inom de enskilda företagen är olika typer av risker samt kostnader för produktionsstörningar, komplexa produktionsprocesser och att tekniken inte är applicerbar inom anläggningen. I likhet med försörjningskedjorna uppkom de ekonomiska aspekterna och krav från kunder och myndigheter som viktiga drivkrafter för energieffektivisering inom de enskilda företagen. Dock är de viktigaste faktorerna för att driva på arbetet med energieffektivisering inom de enskilda företagen tillgången till och utnyttjandet av kunskap inom företaget, företagskulturen, en långsiktig energistrategi, nätverkande inom branschen, information från teknikleverantörer och energikartläggningar.
Download or read book OECD Development Pathways Multi dimensional Review of the Western Balkans From Analysis to Action written by OECD and published by OECD Publishing. This book was released on 2022-04-20 with total page 538 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Western Balkans region has come a long way over the last two decades in achieving economic and social progress. Its people are the region’s greatest asset. Yet faced with a lack of opportunities many, particularly the young, decide to emigrate.
