Innovative energy services in the sector trade and industry

Status

ongoing

Summary

As arranged in the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 Austria has the responsibility to reduce the CO2 emissions to 13 % of the emissions from 1990 (baseline for CO2) until 2008/2012. In the year 2003 the CO2-emissions have been 16.6 % higher than in 1990.

To achieve the results of the Kyoto Protocol every sector in Austria has to reduce emissions. Especially companies have enormous energy saving potential. Experts admire an energy saving potential from 20 %. An example for the present saving potentials is the result of 250 companies in Vienna that participated in the Ökobusinessplan (programme for energy efficiency in companies). Experts identified savings of 20,000 tons CO2 in these companies. The 237,000 SME's in Austria which have available this enormous energy saving potentials very often do not know about the potential. The reasons therefore are multifarious: lack of knowledge, lack of financial resources for the modernisation or optimisation of old installations, main focus on other fields of the company, where savings can be gained easier.

One possibility for the identification of energy saving potentials and for the realization of energy saving measures is the use of energy services. In the frame of this project barriers for the use of energy services in trade and industry were analysed, solutions for the reduction of the barriers were designed and they were tested in model projects.

Content and Goals

The project purpose is to adapt consisting energy services for the target group trade and industry and to enhance the existing models. The target is to realize additional energy efficiency potentials in the sector trade and industry with market economical instruments. Therefore the project includes activities for the development of the market (see information campaigns in work package 1) on the other side the projects includes activities for the development of instruments and models (see development of the opportunity cost model in work package 2).

The most important goal is to improve the energy efficiency of the end user as well as the integration and utilization of renewable energy in the energy service models. The main task of the projects is to develop new energy supply models for the target group trade and industry, which have plants for energy generation and energy use.

Methodical Approach

First step was to collect data of Austrian and international best practice examples in the field of energy performance contracting. Next step was to develop a calculation tool for the estimation of economic saving potential in companies. This opportunity cost model informs companies about the development of their energy costs und about energy saving potentials. The model has been tested in the frame of energy advice sessions in companies.

The further development of energy service models sets up at the existing energy performance models and at the experiences of the project team in this field. The concrete requirement for further development of energy service models was acquired in a workshop and in interviews with experts. The further development of energy services is based on the long time market experiences of the project team in the field of project development, tender procedures, design of contracts and project controlling.

Present Results

The first step was to collect data of energy performance contracting campaigns and best practice examples in trade and industry in Austria an international. So far 6 project documentations are available. An information campaigns was started in work package 2, main part of this campaign was the preparation of an information brochure (4-pages). In cooperation with the Austrian chamber of commerce the information brochure was sent out to 8,000 companies in Austria. 11 experts registered for the workshop on 9 October 2006, 23 companies asked for an energy advice session, 21 companies have been interested in further information on the project. So far the energy advice session has been held in 5 companies, 2 companies got an advice session on phone and 9 companies are having the energy advice session during the next weeks. The results of the energy advice sessions are the basis for the further development of the energy service models (see work package 4) and serve for the preparation and implementation of model projects (see work package 5). In work package 2 an opportunity cost model was prepared, it was discussed with experts and it has been tested in the frame of the energy advice sessions. To know the requirements for the further development of energy service models an expert workshop was held on 9 October 2006. The results of the workshops were integrated in the further development of energy service models.

The expected results of the project are:

• Information campaign on "chances and risks of energy services for trade and industry" with quantitative and qualitative analysis of the results (see work package 1)
• Development of an calculation tool for opportunity costs in not using of energy efficiency potentials
• Analysis of the requirements for the further development of energy services from customers and providers
• Proposals for the further development of energy services for trade and industry (see work package 4)
• Experiences and results from the preparation of model projects in connection with the use of energy services in trade an industry
• Electronic documentation of 10-20 first and best practice examples

Project management

Monika Auer, ÖGUT
Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik

Project or cooperation partner

Grazer Energieagentur GmbH
Kaiserfeldgasse 13/I, 8010 Graz
Tel.: +43 (316) 811848-0
Fax: +43 (316) 811848-9
E-Mail: office@grazer-ea.at
Web: www.grazer-ea.at

Monika Auer, ÖGUT
Österreichische Gesellschaft für Umwelt und Technik
Hollandstraße 10/46, 1020 Wien
Tel.: +43 (1) 315 63 93-17
Fax: +43 (1) 315 63 93-22
E-Mail: monika-auer@oegut.at
Web: www.oegut.at