Benchmarking of Industrial Energy Efficiency. Outcomes of an Energy Audit Policy Program

Kristaps Locmelis, Dagnija Blumberga, Andra Blumberga and Anna Kubule
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Kristaps Locmelis: Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Dagnija Blumberga: Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Andra Blumberga: Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
Anna Kubule: Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: Latvia’s industrial energy efficiency policy imposes the implementation of mandatory energy audits and energy management systems in large industrial enterprises and large industrial electricity consumers to improve industrial competitiveness, to move towards a carbon-neutral economy and to increase the security of supply. Companies affected by this energy efficiency policy are obliged to report to the national energy efficiency monitoring system on energy efficiency measures indicated in energy audits or energy management systems with the highest savings or economical potential. The purpose of this study was to assess the initial outcomes of the first industrial energy efficiency program in Latvia, using data from the national energy efficiency monitoring system, including an analysis of individual energy audit reports, and benchmarking it with findings from a similar program, thereby revealing untapped energy efficiency and CO 2 emission reduction potential. Although the national monitoring system made it possible to ascertain results of the energy efficiency program, the statistical analysis of the data did not allow for a robust conclusion on the technical or economic industrial energy efficiency potential. This study suggests that Latvia’s energy efficient policy should continue its course in implementation and provides recommendations for improvements on the national energy efficiency monitoring system.

Keywords: energy policy; industrial energy-efficiency; mandatory energy audits; benchmarking; energy-efficiency reporting system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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