Energy efficiency implementation

Abstract: Improved energy efficiency is one of the key elements to decouple energy-related emissions from economic growth. Since the energy management practices in small and medium-sized enterprises are underdeveloped, most of the energy efficiency potential is left untapped. Studies show that several barriers pertaining to economic, technological, and organizational systems lead to poor implementation rates of energy efficiency measures. An energy efficiency network is considered effective in overcoming these barriers and promoting energy management practices in small and medium-sized enterprises. This paper explores the role of energy efficiency networks, and specifically the role of its functions in overcoming the identified barriers from literature. This study was carried out as a multiple case study including 13 industrial small and medium-sized enterprises using semi-structured interviews with participants from companies in a Swedish regional energy efficiency network program. Results show that energy efficiency networks are effective in overcoming some of the barriers to energy efficiency implementation and that the present functions are effective in addressing some barriers faced by small and medium-sized enterprises, e.g., energy efficiency implementation barriers such as lack of time and resources. However, some barriers still remain as constraints for energy efficiency implementation, even after energy efficiency network participation.

Abstract: Transport is the sector with the highest final energy consumption and, without any significant policy changes, is forecast to remain so. In 2008, the IEA published 25 energy efficiency recommendations, among which four are for the transport sector. The recommendations focus on road transport and include policies on improving tyre energy efficiency, fuel economy standards for both light-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles, and eco-driving. Implementation of the recommendations has been weaker in the transport sector than others. This paper updates the progress that has been made in implementing the transport energy efficiency recommendations in IEA countries since March 2009. Many countries have in the last year moved from "planning to implement" to "implementation underway", but none have fully implemented all transport energy efficiency recommendations. The IEA calls therefore for full and immediate implementation of the recommendations."

Abstract: India is currently one of the fastest growing major economies in the world. Sustaining a high growth rate is believed to be critical for India to alleviate poverty in the country, since it feeds more than a billion people. Energy, being a key enabler of a country’s economic growth and development, has witnessed a significant rise in its consumption in India. In 2013 about 528.34 million tons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) were consumed, making India the third largest consumer of energy in the world, more than 70 percent of which is supplied by fossil sources. Increasing energy demand naturally strains the country’s resources and impacts the environment. This warrants decoupling the country’s economic growth and energy demand. This is also echoed through India’s intended nationally determined contribution submitted in the run-up to the Paris Climate Conference, where the government has highlighted energy conservation as a key mitigation strategy. It seeks to achieve total avoided capacity addition of 19,598 MW and fuel savings of around 23 million tons per year through the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE). However, this requires concerted effort at the central and state levels, especially considering the existing federal governance architecture where many subjects, including electricity, fall under the jurisdictions of both the center and the state.

Abstract: Generalized renewable energy use and the implementation of energy efficiency are two promising solutions to face global environmental challenges and achieve sustainable development. Government and large enterprises are making efforts in this direction; however, there are bottlenecks to start energy efficiency projects especially in non-intensive energy enterprises (NIEs). The aim of this work is to discuss energy efficiency improvement (EEI) initiatives and analyses a framework proposal to improve the energy efficiency implementation in (NIEs). It was applied the theory of Barrier Model to Energy Efficiency to understand the gap between the levels of opportunities implemented, and what theoretically the industrial sector could achieve. It was found that behavior barriers are relevant to understand the efficiency gap and it is necessary to have an action plan to address them. The analysis has been carried out in the fertilizer industry and the preliminary results demonstrate the advantageous reduction of energy losses.