Barriers, drivers and decision-making process for industrial energy efficiency: A broad study among manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises

Trianni, A; Cagno, E; Farné, S

Barriers, drivers and decision-making process for industrial energy efficiency: A broad study among manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises

Trianni, A

Cagno, E Farné, S

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Publisher:: ELSEVIER SCI LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Applied Energy, 2016, 162, pp. 1537-1551
Issue Date:: 2016-01-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Trianni, A https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1699-7787
dc.contributor.author	Cagno, E
dc.contributor.author	Farné, S
dc.date.accessioned	2022-07-08T00:20:21Z
dc.date.available	2022-07-08T00:20:21Z
dc.date.issued	2016-01-15
dc.identifier.citation	Applied Energy, 2016, 162, pp. 1537-1551
dc.identifier.issn	0306-2619
dc.identifier.issn	1872-9118
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/158735
dc.description.abstract	Energy efficiency has been recognized as a primary means to increase the competitiveness of the industrial sector, and in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in which energy efficiency measures (EEMs) are scarcely implemented. For this reason, future policies should carefully address such issue. Hence, it is really crucial to have a precise and punctual knowledge of the barriers to be tackled in the decision-making process of adopting an EEM and the drivers to be promoted. This study discussed the findings from a broad investigation within 222 manufacturing SMEs located in a Northern Italy region. Beside economic issues particularly affecting SMEs, awareness and behavioural issues emerge as critical, affecting the very first steps of the decision-making process, related to the punctual identification and evaluation of plausible EEMs. The support from manufacturers, technology suppliers, installers and ESCOs supporting SMEs through vocational training drivers (e.g. technical support) is really important to tackle such issues. More generally, beside financial institutions, the supply chain of technologies is recognized as particularly useful for supporting enterprises in the adoption of EEMs. Additionally, having previously conducted energy audit and implemented EEMs are critical factors able to highlight non-economic barriers and drivers. Therefore, the promotion of EEMs will necessarily imply a further effort in pointing out the so-called non-energy benefits (NEBs) from the implementation of EEMs. Finally, our study reveals that smaller and non-energy intensive emerge as most critical and therefore deserve greater attention from policy-makers.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	ELSEVIER SCI LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Applied Energy
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.02.078
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	09 Engineering, 14 Economics
dc.subject.classification	Energy
dc.title	Barriers, drivers and decision-making process for industrial energy efficiency: A broad study among manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	162
utslib.for	09 Engineering
utslib.for	14 Economics
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CAMGIS - Centre for Advanced Modelling and Geospatial lnformation Systems
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2022-07-08T00:20:19Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	162

Abstract:

Energy efficiency has been recognized as a primary means to increase the competitiveness of the industrial sector, and in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in which energy efficiency measures (EEMs) are scarcely implemented. For this reason, future policies should carefully address such issue. Hence, it is really crucial to have a precise and punctual knowledge of the barriers to be tackled in the decision-making process of adopting an EEM and the drivers to be promoted. This study discussed the findings from a broad investigation within 222 manufacturing SMEs located in a Northern Italy region. Beside economic issues particularly affecting SMEs, awareness and behavioural issues emerge as critical, affecting the very first steps of the decision-making process, related to the punctual identification and evaluation of plausible EEMs. The support from manufacturers, technology suppliers, installers and ESCOs supporting SMEs through vocational training drivers (e.g. technical support) is really important to tackle such issues. More generally, beside financial institutions, the supply chain of technologies is recognized as particularly useful for supporting enterprises in the adoption of EEMs. Additionally, having previously conducted energy audit and implemented EEMs are critical factors able to highlight non-economic barriers and drivers. Therefore, the promotion of EEMs will necessarily imply a further effort in pointing out the so-called non-energy benefits (NEBs) from the implementation of EEMs. Finally, our study reveals that smaller and non-energy intensive emerge as most critical and therefore deserve greater attention from policy-makers.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/158735