Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU Perspective

Tadeusz Skoczkowski, Sławomir Bielecki (), Marcin Wołowicz and Arkadiusz Węglarz
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Tadeusz Skoczkowski: Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 21/25 Nowowiejska St., 00-665 Warsaw, Poland
Sławomir Bielecki: Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 21/25 Nowowiejska St., 00-665 Warsaw, Poland
Marcin Wołowicz: Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 21/25 Nowowiejska St., 00-665 Warsaw, Poland
Arkadiusz Węglarz: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 16 Armii Ludowej Ave., 00-637 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-53

Abstract: Energy-intensive industries (EIIs) face mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining international competitiveness—a balance that is central to achieving the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate objectives. In this context, energy management (EM) emerges as a strategic instrument to decouple industrial growth from fossil energy consumption. This study proposes a redefinition of EM to support carbon-neutral supply chains within the European Union’s EIIs, addressing critical limitations of conventional EM frameworks under increasingly stringent carbon regulations. Using a modified systematic literature review based on PRISMA methodology, complemented by expert insights from EU Member States, this research identifies structural gaps in current EM practices and highlights opportunities for integrating sustainable innovations across the whole industrial value chain. The proposed EM concept is validated through an analysis of 24 EM definitions, over 170 scientific publications, and over 80 EU legal and strategic documents. The framework incorporates advanced digital technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics—to enable real-time optimisation, predictive control, and greater system adaptability. Going beyond traditional energy efficiency, the redefined EM encompasses the entire energy lifecycle, including use, transformation, storage, and generation. It also incorporates social dimensions, such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder engagement, to cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship within EIIs. This holistic approach provides a strategic management tool for optimising energy use, reducing emissions, and strengthening resilience to regulatory, environmental, and market pressures, thereby promoting more sustainable, inclusive, and transparent supply chain operations.

Keywords: energy management; sustainable supply chain; energy efficiency; energy-intensive industries; industry decarbonisation; corporate social responsibility; ESG (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: 2025
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