Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI

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Improving cold chain energy efficiency: EU H2020 project for facilitating energy efficiency improvements in SMEs of the food and beverage cold chains

2020 , Zanoni, Simone , Marchi, Beatrice , Puente, Francisco , Neusel, Lisa , Hirzel, Simon , Krause, Hanna , Saygin, Deger , Oikonomou, Vlasis

Industry has a substantial potential to improve its energy efficiency. The food and beverage sector and its cold supply chain are responsible for more than 10% of the total final energy consumption of the EU-28. Accurate refrigeration is required for optimal preservation of perishable goods and can be up to 85% of the food and beverage sector's total final energy consumption. High demand for refrigeration has adverse environmental effects such as direct emissions from refrigerant leakage and indirect emissions related to electricity or fossil fuels consumption. The Horizon 2020 project ICCEE (Improving Cold Chain Energy Efficiency) aims to support and advice small and medium enterprises (SME) from the food and beverage sector's cold chains to implement energy efficiency measures (EEMs) by an energy mapping of the cold supply chain including its transport and storage activities. Shifting from the myopic single company perspective to the chain assessment leads to increased energy savings potentials and reduced implementation gaps of EEMs.

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Energy intensity development of the german iron and steel industry between 1991 and 2007

2012 , Arens, Marlene , Worrell, Ernst , Schleich, Joachim

The iron and steel sector is the largest industrial CO2 emitter and energy consumer in the world. Energy efficiency is key to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions. To understand future developments of energy use in the steel sector, it is worthwhile to analyze energy efficiency developments over the past two decades. This paper analyses the development of the specific energy consumption (SEC) (measured as primary energy use per unit of product) in the German steel sector between 1991 and 2007. We found that the total SEC declined by 0.4%/year. Of this 75%, or 0.3%/year, is due to a structural change towards more electric arc furnaces (EAF). Energy efficiency improvement accounts for about 25% of the observed change in SEC, or 0.1%/year. Energy efficiency improvements are found, especially in rolling (1.4%/year). The net SEC of blast furnaces decreased due to increased top gas recovery by 0.2%/year per tonne iron. Improvements in other processes were very limited or non-existent. In basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) net SEC increased due to a 60% decrease in BOF gas recovery between 1993 and 2007. In EAF and sinter plants the SEC remained constant or, respectively, even increased by 9% between 1991 and 2007 per tonne sinter.

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Label it and they will buy? The case of energy efficient class-A appliances

2009 , Schleich, J. , Mills, B.F.

The EU appliance energy consumption labelling scheme is a key component of efforts to increase the diffusion of energy-efficient household appliances. In this paper, the determinants of consumer knowledge of the energy label for household appliances and the choice of class-A energy-efficient appliances are jointly estimated using data from a large survey of more than 20,235 German households. The results for five major appliances suggest that lack of knowledge of the energy label can generate considerable bias in both estimates of rates of uptake of class-A appliances and in estimates of the underlying determinants of choice of class-A appliance. Simulations of the choice to purchase a class-A appliance, given knowledge of the labelling framework, reveal that residence characteristics and, in several cases, regional electricity prices strongly increase the propensity to purchase a class-A appliance, but socio-economic characteristics have surprisingly little impact on appliance energy-class choice.

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EU emission trading - better job second time around?

2007 , Schleich, J. , Betz, R. , Rogge, K.

The EU Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) for CO2-emissions from energy and industry installations reflects a paradigm shift towards market-based instruments for environmental policy in the EU. The centerpieces of the EU ETS are National Allocation Plans (NAPs), which individual Member States (MS) de-sign for each phase. NAPs state the total quantity of allowances available in each period (ET-budget) and determine how MS allocate allowances to individual installations. The NAPs thus govern investments and innovation in energy efficient technologies and the energy sector. In terms of distribution, they prede-ermine winners and losers. In this paper we analyze and evaluate 25 NAPs submitted to the European Commission (EC) for phase 2 (2008-2012) of the EU ETS. At the macro level, we assess whether the submitted ET-budgets are stringent, and whether they imply a cost-efficient split of the required emission reductions between the EU ETS sectors (energy and industry) and the remaining sectors (transportation, tertiary and households). Comparing the submitted ET-budgets with those already approved by the EC suggests that the EC's decisions significantly improved the effectiveness and economic efficiency of the EU ETS. But given the high share of Kyoto Mechanisms companies are allowed to use, the EU ETS is unlikely to require substantial emission reductions within the EU. At the micro level, we assess (across countries and phases) the allocation methods for existing and new installations, for closures and for clean technologies. A comparison of the NAPs for the second phase and the first phase (2005-2007) provides insights into the (limited) adaptability and flexibility of the scheme. The findings provide guidance for the future design of the EU ETS and applications to other sectors and regions.

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Sharing experience to spread evaluation practices: Evaluation does help to improve policies!

2019 , Broc, Jean-Sébastian , Breitschopf, Barbara , Schlomann, Barbara , Voswinkel, Fabian , Maric, Lovorko , Thenius, Gregor

Experience sharing about evaluation of energy efficiency policies is often limited due to the lack of time for stakeholders to disseminate or document their evaluation works, and to the many languages in Europe. This paper presents the findings from two resources developed to get a better view of current ex-post evaluation practices and facilitate experience sharing: a Knowledge Base that gathers 180 references encoded according to a set of criteria enabling various types of search; 23 case studies including detailed analyses of practical examples of evaluations. The review of the Knowledge Base supports the thesis that methodological discussions precede empirical studies: an evaluation issue (e.g. rebound effect) is more likely to be taken into account in practice if clear guidance is available about it. The review gives evidence of a large variety of studies and approaches, but highlights the need to elaborate and use transparent and replicable evaluation methods. Promoting a minimum level of documentation would be a first step in this direction. Documentation may be tricky due to the variety of metrics/approaches used for quantifying energy savings. The review thus discusses what metrics and factors to take into account for common evaluation criteria (target achievement, effectiveness, efficiency). Expanding the scope of evaluation to include other impacts than energy savings (e.g., employment, health) also appears a promising way to enhance the added value of evaluation and improve policy design. The review of the case studies drew practical lessons summarized in 11 messages structured along the evaluation process: from the no-brainer about early planning of evaluation, up to thinking ahead about what evaluation results to communicate, how and to whom, as well as about the conditions for evaluation findings to be used. These 11 messages are based on feedback from stakeholders and illustrated by examples that show how evaluations have helped to improve policies.

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Exergy flow diagrams as novel approach to discuss the efficiency of compressed air systems

2012 , Krichel, Susanne , Sawodny, Oliver , Hülsmann, Steffen , Hirzel, Simon , Elsland, Rainer

Compressed air systems are among the major consumers of electrical energy in industry. As the importance of energy-efficiency grows in general, so does the need for valid and reliable metrics for discussing efficiency. Today, energy flow diagrams are a common tool to illustrate energy efficiency in compressed air systems. They are however subject to various shortcomings which are mainly related to their lack of transparency and reproducibility. Therefore, a novel approach for the assessment of efficiency is presented which is based on the exergy concept. This approach allows for a transparent calculation of flow diagrams for compressed air systems, including the possibility to illustrate the effects of a heat recovery system. The concept is illustrated at the example of an industrial set-up starting at the compressor inlet and ending at the application. The resulting diagram allows a more transparent and objective view on efficiency evaluations and thus contributes to a better understanding of energy-efficiency in compressed air systems and related applications.

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Improving the database of electricity efficiency in tertiary buildings by monitoring and surveying

2009 , Gruber, E. , Schlomann, B.

Detailed and reliable information about electricity consumption is needed as a basis to identify efficiency provement options in individual buildings as well as in the sector as a whole in order to develop suit able policies. To obtain this objective, a combination of two methodological approaches is useful: case studies for detailed analysis, and surveys to establish a broad statistical basis. Two recent studies in the tertiary sector demonstrate this idea: the multi-country monitoring project EL-TERTIARY funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme with 123 energy audits, and a regular survey in Germany of more than 2,000 companies in the tertiary sector, funded by the German Government. EL-TERTIARY developed a web-based tool for data collection, documentation and evaluation of individual buildings concentrating on electricity. It provides benchmarks for various types of rooms and end-uses. Substantial energy-saving potentials, which are easy to implement, were identifi ed for all types of buildings and end-uses. Th e database is open to interested building managers. Th e survey in Germany focuses on energy consumption and the features of energy-related equipment. As the sample is representative, the results can be extrapolated to the whole country on the basis of employees. Against the background of the EU Directive on "Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services" (ESD) (2006/32/EC), the availability of reliable data on energy consumption is becoming more and more important. Th e data resulting from these studies form an essential basis for the defi nition of policy recommendations and the calculation of energy savings under the ESD. Th is paper concentrates on electricity because of its increasing relevance in the tertiary sector, although the German study covers all types of energy. It shows that a combination of audits and surveys can create a useful database for multiple purposes.

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Energy saving potentials for industrial steam boilers - findings from the ecodesign process

2015 , Aydemir, Ali , Braimakis, Konstantinos , Rohde, Clemens , Karellas, Sotirios , Ostrander, Berit

Ecodesign is an important instrument of European energy policy making, which drives technological development and leads to significant energy savings by improving the environmental performance of energy-related products. Minimum energy performance standards and voluntary agreements which have been introduced under the Ecodesign Directive and so far concern more than 20 different product groups. One of the product groups currently investigated for possible regulation includes industrial steam boilers. According to estimates, industrial steam generation systems account for about one third of the overall industrial energy demand. Consequently, increasing energy efficiency in steam generation is relevant for suppliers, users and policy makers. In this paper, findings from the Ecodesign Preparatory Study on industrial steam boilers are presented. According to the predefined methodology for energy-related products, steam boilers with different key characteristics will be defined as base cases. They differ in their thermal capacity, operating pressure and thermal efficiency. Based on a review of energy efficiency measures for industrial steam usage, relevant measures for industrial steam boilers will be identified. Then, the potential increase in thermal efficiency based on techno-economic design approaches for each base case will be estimated. Finally, a stock model will serve to quantify the overall economic energy saving potentials in Europe under differing policy scenarios. We find that design improving options for industrial steam boiler are state of the art and established in market. Nevertheless, policy measures under the Ecodesign framework might increase the speed of their diffusion on the market. The resulting overall energy savings for the period from 2016 to 2030would be 71 TWh. Thus the results of this paper provide policy makers with an understanding of potential energy savings in Europe that would result from equipping new steam boilers with economic energy efficiency options within the Ecodesign framework.

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Elevators and escalators: Energy performance and strategies to promote energy efficiency

2010 , Almeida, A. de , Duetschke, E. , Patrao, C. , Hirzel, S. , Fong, J.

Elevators and escalators are the crucial element to make it practical and comfortable to live, work and shop several floors above and below ground. In tertiary sector of the EU-27, about 1.6 million elevators are installed as well as about 56,000 escalators and moving walks. Their energy consumption adds up to 3 to 8 % of the overall electricity consumption of the building. However, elevators and escalators have not received much attention in terms of energy efficiency for a long time. In this paper, we characterize the energy consumption profiles these vertical transportation devices in standby and running based on a monitoring campaign conducted within the E4-project. An estimation of the overall energy consumed by elevators and escalators is presented. Building on this, potentials for saving energy are identified - both from a technical point of view as well as from a behavioral approach. The technical analyses show that the savings potential is up to 66 %. The behavioral approach includes an interview study and identifies market barriers to the penetration of energy efficient technology and proposes strategies to overcome those barriers.

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Effects of economies of scale and experience on the costs of energy-efficient technologies - case study of electric motors

2009 , Jardot, D. , Eichhammer, W. , Fleiter, T.

Increasing energy efficiency is often discussed as an effective way to protect the climate, even though this is frequently associated with additional (investment) costs when compared to standard technologies. However, the investment costs of emerging energy-efficient technologies can be reduced by economies of scale and experience curve effects. This also brings about higher market penetration by lowering market barriers. Declining cost curves have already been analyzed in detail for renewable energy technologies, but are not as well documented for energy-efficient technologies despite their significance for energy and climate policy decisions. The wider use of energyefficient electric motors, which are responsible for a large share of industrial electricity consumption, can help to further reduce greenhouse gases. The analysis is based on three methodologies: (1) The classification of energy efficient electric motors within a market analysis, (2) an expert survey with results on opportunities for cost reductions while penetrating the market and (3) the calculation of composite price indices for the years 1995 until 2006 which show the historical cost development for electric motors in a period when so-called "eff2" motors substituted less efficient "eff3" motors on the European market. The results are then compared with the cost reductions observed for other energy-efficient technologies in a literature review.

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