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A standardized energy audit tool for improved energy efficiency in industrial SMEs

Panel: 5. The role of energy management systems, education, outreach and training

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Patrik Thollander, Linköping University, Sweden
Magnus Karlsson, Department of Management and Engineering, Division of Energy Systems, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, Sweden
Patrik Rohdin, Department of Management and Engineering, Division of Energy Systems, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, Sweden
Mats Söderström, Department of Management and Engineering, Division of Energy Systems, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, Sweden
Jakob Rosenqvist, Department of Management and Engineering, Division of Energy Systems, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden, Sweden

Abstract

Improved energy efficiency in industrial energy systems is for example of outmost importace as a mean to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce energy costs. The energy efficiency potential in European industry is stated by the European Commission to be 25 percent, where the majority of the measures are found in pumps, fans and lighting. Despite extensive attention given to energy efficiency, research states that a majority of avaliable cost-efficient energy efficiency measures are not implemented due to the existence of various barriers to energy efficiency, in particular information-related barriers. Energy audits, and energy audit programs, are one of the most widespread and used instruments to overcome barriers to energy efficiency and promoting energy efficiency in industry. In particular when it is related to generic technologies and industrial small- and medium-sized enterprizes. Despite the importance of energy audits, and the fact that a large number of energy audit programs are in operation in the EU and across the world, there is a considerable lack of so called energy audit tools, i.e. a standardized tool to conduct the actual energy audit. The aim of this paper is to present an energy audit tool for industrial SMEs. The tool is based on more than three decades of research and teaching in the area of energy audting in industry, covering more than 300 energy audits, primarly conducted in Sweden. The developed tool uses unit process categorization, which enables energy auditors and energy program administrators to conduct energy audits in a standardized way.

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