Management a key driver of energy performance?

Panel: 5. Business models and financing: established practice and innovative approaches

Authors:
Catherine Cooremans, Université de Lausanne, Groupe Ecologie Industrielle, FGSE / IDYST, Switzerland
Rita Werle, Impact Energy, Switzerland

Abstract

Improving energy efficiency is a primary pillar of the new "Energy Strategy 2050" of Switzerland. Investments in energy efficiency often remain undecided, however, because companies do not perceive their strategic character.

Within this context, the aim of the research project “Management as a key driver of energy performance” (M_Key) is to test the hypothesis that energy management significantly increases companies’ perception of the strategic character of energy-efficiency investments and, in turn, positive decisions on such investments. The overarching objective of the project is to gain a better understanding of the determinants of energy efficiency investments.

M_Key targets large-scale energy consumer companies in Switzerland (defined as sites or establishments consuming more than 0.5 GWh/a of electrical energy and/or 5 GWh/a of thermal energy) in the industrial and services sectors. Large-scale consumers are an important target group for energy efficiency measures, as they account for almost 35% of the total electricity consumption and 60% of the total electricity consumption of companies (industry, services, small business sector) in Switzerland. Our research will shed light on the main determinants and practices regarding energy management and energy-efficiency investment in these companies.

It is expected that, on the whole, research results will enable to characterize and categorize Swiss large-scale energy consumers according to their energy use and financial behaviours, which will help frame customized and better targeted policies, moving away from the usual price incentives instruments.

M_Key is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and is part of the National Research Programme “Managing Energy Consumption” (NRP 71): www.nrp71.ch. It runs for three years, until 2017. The presentation will describe the findings of the survey that is currently in preparation, aiming to address around 2000 companies in Switzerland.