1,721,078 research outputs found
Sustainable Development: Analysis of the Most Effective Energy Efficiency Interventions within Four Italian Manufacturing Sectors
No full textDiffusion of motor systems energy efficiency measures: an empirical study within Italian manufacturing SMEs
Full text linkAbstractEnergy efficiency is a crucial issue for increased industrial sustainability and competitiveness. In the present study we have conducted an investigation about the diffusion of energy efficiency measures within motor systems, which are responsible of about 74% of all industrial consumption of electric energy in Italy. Starting from a selection of nine measures that range from substitution of equipment to management and maintenance of motor systems, we have also tried to find out the problems (barriers) that firms experience in the implementation of such specific measures, and the drivers they perceive to be more effective to overcome barriers. Results show that maintenance measures are mostly diffused, whilst the substitution of equipment with innovative technologies such as inverters or AFDs is still limited. Moreover, beside economic issues, that are even more critical for smaller enterprises, organizational issues emerge. Additionally, the presence of an energy manager points out a greater relevance of technology barriers and leads the firms to have a better knowledge about interventions and devices, that can be used to enhance the level of energy efficiency of electric motors. Finally, the diffusion of inverters and AFDs is limited to larger motors (mostly between 10 and 100kW), thus tending to disregard the many small motors installed in the production system
Evaluating Barriers To Cross-Cutting Energy-Efficient Technologies In Italian SMEs: An Empirical Evaluation
No full textAnalisi statistica dei costi storici di O&M e stima per impianti nucleari di nuova generazione
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Suggestions from an Empirical Investigation on What should be Fostered to Improve Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing SMEs
No full textExploring drivers for energy efficiency within small- and medium-sized enterprises: first evidences from Italian manufacturing enterprises
No full textSeveral studies have investigated the barriers to industrial energy efficiency, but few have focused on the most effective means (drivers) to promote the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices. In this respect, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) have been completely overlooked despite interesting consequences for their overall energy consumption and their concurrent low levels of adoption of energy-efficiency measures. Starting from insights garnered from the extant literature on the drivers of industrial energy efficiency, this paper presents an empirical investigation of 71 Italian manufacturing SMEs through a multiple case-study approach. The research highlights the importance of allowances or public financing for energy efficiency interventions, as well as the importance of external pressures such as increases in energy prices and the introduction or increasing of fees on both resources consumed and on emissions of pollutants. Moreover, enterprises look favourably upon energy-efficient technologies which are able to provide long-term benefits, evidence of their willingness to adopt seemingly radical solutions when these are able to improve their long-term competitiveness. Other drivers considered as strategic for increasing energy efficiency are the presence within the company of people with great ambition and entrepreneurial mind and the management sensitivity to the issue. This paper also provides a preliminary analysis of how factors such as firm size, sector, supply chain complexity, and innovation characteristics are or might be able to significantly affect drivers toward the adoption of energy-efficient technologies
Driving Forces for Industrial Energy Efficiency within SMEs: Empirical Evidences from the Italian Manufacturing Sector
No full textAnalysis of the Most Effective Energy Efficiency Opportunities in Manufacturing Primary Metals, Plastics, and Textiles Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises
No full textGovernments are pursuing a variety of measures to reach common and more efficient environmental and energetic policies: Nonetheless, the effort has shown to be not sufficient, since the objectives stated in the European Union (EU) Directive 2009/28/EC on energy efficiency seem quite distant to be reached. A greater attention has obviously been paid toward the industrial sector, which utilizes a major share of primary energy consumption: Till now several actions have been taken to achieve the energy performance of buildings, but very few are in operations. Nonetheless, in order to be most effective, governments should focus their attention not only on energy intensive large enterprises (LEs) but also on nonenergy intensive small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that represent the majority of the total number of industries, cover a consistent share of the energy consumption of a whole domestic industrial sector, and are usually less efficient than LEs. This paper aims to highlight the most effective energy savings opportunities (ESOs) for reducing energy consumption in industrial operations that have been successfully implemented in a large number of SMEs case studies investigated in North America and Italy, showing a correspondence (in terms of savings and costs) between the two databases. This paper analyzes the ESOs, characterized by best available technologies and practices (BAT/Ps), with a cross-analysis within three manufacturing sectors, i.e., primary metals, plastics, and textiles, and considering different subsizes among SMEs, in order to show commonalities and differences among the sample. The ESOs have been analyzed and ranked according to different criteria of importance, highlighting the most diffused, those having the highest energy savings, and those with the shortest pay-back time. The scope of the elaboration of these criteria is twofold: on one side, it allows to be closer to the entrepreneurial sensibility, guiding entrepreneurs in evaluating a possible investment in energy efficiency; on the other side, it provides important suggestions for a public local authority that, through financial support and/or other policies, aims at diffusing the adoption of BAT/Ps and increasing the sectors' energy efficiency and competitiveness
Energy Efficiency Barriers in Industrial Operations:Evidence from the Italian SMEs Manufacturing Industry
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