Industrial energy efficiency improvement – the role of policy and evaluation

At EU and to a varying degree at Member State (MS) level, industrial energy efficiency improvement (EEI) is considered an attractive means for reaching political objectives of different dimensions, not least environmental. For energy-intensive manufacturing industry in particular, EEI can lead to cost reductions, improved profitability and competitiveness. However, research and other analyses show that far from all privately profitable EEI actions are implemented, and for this reason a number of policies, programmes and instruments, have been launched to stimulate industrial EEI. For political objectives and measures to be credible, it is essential that the policy process is informed by close evaluations of progress, impact and other outcomes. Evaluation results can also contribute to the improvement of programmes in operation. This thesis contributes with evaluations and assessments of existing programmes and instruments that, besides other objectives, targets industrial EEI and GHG emissions reduction in energy-intensive manufacturing industry in Sweden and partly elsewhere. The research combines a theory-based evaluation approach with impact evaluations and other forms of analysis to find out if and to what extent that desired results in terms of energy savings and GHG emissions reductions are achieved. Outcomes in terms of corporate responses to policies are also addressed in order to identify underlying factors for changes to occur. The results show that the Swedish programme for improving energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries (PFE) has resulted in large and cost-effective electricity savings. As a main programme instrument the implementation and certification of industrial Energy Management Systems (EnMS) has led to organizational changes among interviewed firms in the Swedish pulp and paper industry (PPI). Through its combination of instruments PFE has caused attention-raising effects and norm changes towards a higher priority for EEI. A top-down decomposition analysis of energy trends in the Swedish PPI shows that especially electricity efficiency improvement has increased in the post-2000 period. This result corresponds well with bottom-up reported electricity savings in PFE and confirms the success of the programme. Also CO2 emissions have been reduced in Swedish PPI. An interview-based study on the influence of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) on corporate climate strategies shows that the economic value of CO2 emissions is accounted for, but that the carbon price tag represents a minor factor among many that underpin industrial investment decisions. In the third period of EU ETS, the amount of free allocation to manufacturing industry is generally reduced compared to previous periods. However, the outcomes of the new allocation rules are dispersed in some industrial sub-sectors. For instance, the Swedish PPI will receive free allocation well above the actual emission level. To further stimulate industrial decarbonisation, the ongoing discussion on structural reforms of EU ETS is welcomed. To further stimulate industrial EEI the continuation of complementary industrial policies is recommended

Electric interactions: A study of cellulose

This work is primary about development and application of electrostatic theory within the atomistic domain. The resulting procedures were implemented to eventually describe systems involving the cellulose molecule. A concluding remark about electrostatic interactions is the importance of moment cancellation. By inducing image moments which cancels the totality of the collective system moments, and summing their interactions, long-ranged effects seem to be accurately accounted for in isotropic settings. The performed studies denouement regarding the cellulose molecule is the necessity to account for slight electric structure modifications generated by changing its immediate environment. A concrete conclusion brought forward from this observation is the seemingly important effect of ionizing the polymer in order to achieve solubility

Local Special Requirements

The environmental agenda is constantly relevant in the political science of today and the amount of research being done follows there of. This thesis explores the topic of environmental policy between governmental levels with special focus on the construction industry. Through a case study of the joint environmental building program of the cities Lund and Malmö, the author examines the relationship between the municipal government and the national government. With the guiding question of why there are regulatory inconsistencies in this field the author lands at the conclusion that they exist because the municipalities has a different agenda than the national government and simply because they have the possibility to. This is done through qualitative interviews with people involved and affected by this program and scholars in the field. Theory wise the author links three different governance theories, namely multi-level governance, polycentrism and two-level game theory to the issue. These all aids in understanding why this program exists and came to be

Evaluating industrial energy management systems – considerations for an evaluation plan

Since year 2000 a number of national energy management systems (EnMS) standards and specifications have been developed. To support EnMS implementation in industry some governments have launched agreements centered around energy management practices. National experiences show that such policy programs can achieve significant energy efficiency improvements. Implementation of industrial EnMSs has gradually increased and uptake can be expected to accelerate as the international standard (ISO 50001) gains further recognition. Since EnMS complements, or replaces, other energy or climate policies (e.g. emissions trading, energy or carbon taxes) it makes sense to systematically evaluate its implementation in industry. Accurate information needs to be compiled and rated against relevant criteria to confirm desired impact. In their assessments evaluators need to address several issues. Firstly, EnMS are embedded in a context which makes it difficult to attribute results. Secondly, a principle of EnMS is that firms set internal targets to improve energy performance, but these targets might not be consistent with societal objectives. Finally, EnMS certification issued by external auditors gives approval according to standard but cannot guarantee a desired impact. These and other aspects are analyzed and also proposed to be considered in EnMS evaluation. The methods include literature studies, stakeholder consultations to gather empirical input from practitioners, and quantitative data assessments of energy performance. The main contributions are documented experiences from industrial EnMS implementation in Sweden and based on these a set of considerations to be addressed by policy makers and academics in developing a plan for industrial EnMS evaluation

Free allocation in hte 3rd EU ETS period: assessing two manufacturing sectors

This paper provides an analysis of the EU ETS harmonised benchmark-based allocation procedures by comparing two energy-intensive sectors with activities in three Member States (MS); the cement industry (CEI) and the pulp and paper industry (PPI) in UK, Sweden and France. Results show that the new procedures are better suited for the homogenous CEI, for which allocation is to decrease in a consistent manner. For the heterogeneous PPI – with diverse product portfolios, technical infrastructure and fuel-mixes – the allocation procedures cause dispersed outcomes. The lack of product benchmark curves, biased reference values on fuel-mix and specific energy use as well as other issues, leads to allocations that do not represent the average performance of the 10% most GHG efficient installations. Another issue with the 3rd phase allocation procedure is that grandfathering is still present via the historically based production volumes. How to deal with structural change and provisions regarding capacity reductions and partial cessation is an issue, which is highly relevant for the PPI but less so for the CEI. In manufacturing sectors such as cement industry (CEI) and pulp and paper industry (PPI), the new banchmark-based allocation procedures have managed to reduce the EU-wide free allocation in the 3rd period compared with the 2nd period. For the homogenous CEI the outcome of stricter allocation is consistent between Member States. However, free allocation based on grandfathering of prerecession activity levels and CO2 performances is likely to create long positions in coming years. Our results disclose differing outcomes between sectors and Member States, with cases of conspicuous supply of allowances in the heterogeneous PPI. Lack of product benchmark curves, biased reference values on fuel-mix and specific energy use etc., leads to allocations that do not represent the average performance of the 10% most GHG efficient installations

Tortuosity in the Brick and Mortar Model Based on Chemical Conduction

Diffusion is a reoccurring phenomena in many fields and is affected by the geometry in which it takes place. Here we investigate the effects of geometry on diffusion in a Brick and Mortar model system. The tortuous effects are evaluated based on generalized Fick's law, i.e. diffusion driven by differences in chemical potential. The presented formalism gives a general (semi-)exact analytic expression for the tortuosity using impermeable Bricks, which is successfully validated against standard techniques and finite element method results. The approach allows for anisotropic properties of the Mortar, which we show can be significant and is not captured with known analytic techniques. Based on the introduced concept of chemical conductivity we also find generalized Fick's law consistent with Ohm's and Fourier's law in terms of their constituent parts, which further makes the main results for brick and mortar structures directly applicable to diffusion of either charge, heat, or mass

Energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries - an evaluation of the Swedish voluntary agreement PFE

In this paper we evaluate the Swedish Programme for improving energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries (PFE). Since 2005, some 100 energy-intensive companies have entered this five year voluntary agreement (VA) and been exempted from the EU minimum tax on electricity. In return, each company is required to: conduct an energy audit and analysis; identify and invest in profitable electricity saving measures; implement and certify an energy management system; introduce routines for energy efficient procurement and project planning. For most participants the first programme period was completed in 2009 and available data enables this PFE ex-post evaluation. An impact evaluation compiles and analyse data that the companies have reported to the administrating agency, the Swedish Energy Agency (SEA). This assessment of quantifiable results is complemented by a process-oriented approach that combines studies of policy documents, previous evaluations and personal communication with administrators as well as companies. The bottom-up calculation method distinguishes between gross and net impact. While the SEA estimates a gross impact of 1450 GWh/year the net impact consists of an interval between 689 and 1015 GWh of net annual electricity savings. PFE has effectively and to a low cost exceeded the estimated impact of a minimum tax and can thus be judged as successful. A comprehensive evaluation plan could facilitate relevant data gathering in PFE and similar VAs and could, in doing so, improve accuracy and possibly reduce evaluation cost. Such a plan should give weight also to the organisational changes, with potential long-lasting effects, that these programmes are capable of promoting

National Report on the Energy Efficiency Service Business in Sweden

The ChangeBest project is supported by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Commission. The purpose of the project is to promote the development of an energy efficiency service (EES) market. The project provides good practice examples of changes in energy service business, strategies, and supportive policies and measures in the course of the implementation of Directive 2006/32/EC on Energy End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services. This report presents the sitauation of the Swedish energy efficiency service market

Energy balance during outdoor education winter training: a pilot study

Learning in the mountains during winter prepares upcoming guides for tough environments by placing demands on their energy intake and enabling them to cope with a complex environment. However, few studies have explored energy intake and expenditure in outdoor education. Thus, energy intake during a 24-hour winter mountain course was investigated in a Norwegian educational context, where students must absorb large volumes of information in a challenging environment. Twenty university students (11 men, 9 women) underwent body composition, weighed energy intake, and accelerometry-based energy expenditure measurements. Overall, the students had an energy deficit of>2,300 kilo-calories/day, corresponding to an energy balance of 62% for men and 54% for women (p > 0.05), despite having received lectures on energy requirements in advance. This sustained stress context combined with challenging environmental conditions and insufficient energy intake can predispose students to early exhaustion, injury risk, and potentially reduced information processing that may limit learningEnergy balance during outdoor education winter training: a pilot studypublishedVersio