Absorptive capacity and energy efficiency in manufacturing firms – An empirical analysis in Norway

Solnørdal, Mette Talseth; Thyholdt, Sverre Braathen

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2019.06.069

Cited by 25 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 112 publications

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“…This finding, that the reduction in waste and participation in networks are strong drivers for an SME to engage in energy management practices, are, to the authors' awareness, new. One conclusion from this is that participation in energy efficiency network policy programs is a key policy means to improve energy efficiency among industrial SMEs, which confirms previous findings that collaborations with competitors increases the energy efficiency innovation [67]. The other two ranked drivers, management commitment and reduced costs, have been found to be high ranked in other driver-related studies related to energy efficiency [66].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…The finding related to organizational barriers strengthens previous research about barriers to energy efficiency where these types of barriers also have been ranked high among SMEs [54]. Related to the knowledge barrier, this finding relates to the study by Solnørdal and Thyholdt [67], where improved energy efficiency and eco innovation was found to be stronger among Norwegian companies that have staff with higher educations. One major conclusion from this paper is that in order to reduce the energy efficiency gap, SMEs are in need for increased knowledge of energy efficiency internally, and participation in an energy efficiency network is not fully sufficient.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…Lane et al ranked 16 drivers for battery storage of a photovoltaic system in modern agriculture [59]. In addition to this, a study of manufacturing firms in Norway suggests that higher education among the workforce, as well as external cooperation with competitors or universities, leads to increased energy efficiency innovation among the sector [67].…”

Section: Driversmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Barriers to and Drivers of Energy Management in Swedish SMEs

et al. 2021

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The energy efficiency gap is known as the difference between optimal level of energy efficiency and the actual level of achieved energy efficiency. Energy management has proven to further close the energy efficiency gap. Energy management may differ depending on whether it concerns a large, energy-intensive company or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are of high interest since they form a large share of the economy today. For SMEs, a lighter form of energy management, in the form of energy efficiency network participation, has proven to deliver sound energy efficiency impact, while for larger, energy-intensive firms, a certified energy management system may be more suitable. However, various barriers inhibit adoption of energy efficiency measures. While there is an array of research on barriers to and driving forces for energy efficiency in general, research on barriers to, and driving forces for, energy management is rare, one exception being a study of energy-intensive pulp and paper mills. This holds even more so for industrial SMEs. This paper aims to identify the barriers to, and drivers for, energy management in manufacturing SMEs. Results of this explorative study show that the top four barriers to energy management are lack of time/other priorities, non-energy-related working tasks are prioritized higher, slim organization, and lack of internal expert competences, i.e., mainly organizational barriers. The top four drivers for energy management are to reduce production waste, participation in energy efficiency networks, cost reduction from lower energy use, and commitment from top management. Furthermore, results show that energy management among the studied SMEs seems to not be as mature, even though the companies participated in an energy management capacity building program in the form of energy efficiency networks, which, in turn, shows a still largely untapped potential in the societal aim to reduce the energy efficiency and management gaps. The main contribution of this paper is a first novel attempt to explore barriers to, and drivers for, energy management among SMEs.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Driversmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Barriers to and Drivers of Energy Management in Swedish SMEs

et al. 2021

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“…Energy management is intrinsically connected to economic and environmental issues, but it could also lay the foundations of a comprehensive management system, which includes not only energy efficiency but also quality and environmental management, occupational safety and health, and other risk components [11,12]. However, instead of the multiple benefits of the adoption of energy efficiency strategies, there are multiple barriers involved in the energy efficiency gap that limit the implementation of EnMSs or EPIAs [13][14][15], or the adoption of the EnMSs in companies with implemented environmental management systems (EMSs) [16].…”

Section: Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Energy Monitoring and Management Systems on the Implementation and Planning of Energy Performance Improved Actions: An Empirical Analysis Based on Energy Audits in Italy

et al. 2021

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The implementation of monitoring tools and energy management systems (EnMSs) supports companies in their long-term energy efficiency strategies, and they are essential to analyse the effectiveness of energy performance improvement actions (EPIAs). The first fundamental step towards increasing energy efficiency is the development of energy audits (EAs). EAs provide comprehensive information about the energy usage in a specific facility, identifying and quantifying cost-effective EPIAs. The crucial role of these tools in clean energy transition is remarked by the European Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which promotes the implementation of EAs and EnMS programmes. The purpose of this work is to better understand the link between EnMSs (specifically ISO 50001) and EAs in the EED Article 8 implementation in two industrial and two tertiary sectors in Italy. Moreover, the impact of company size, energy monitoring systems, and EnMSs on planned and/or implemented EPIAs is analysed. Our findings show that, albeit the complexity of the variables involved in energy efficiency gap, the “energy savings/company” and “EPIA/site” ratios are higher in enterprises with an EnMS and monitoring system. Thus, a correct energy audit must always be accompanied by a specific monitoring plan if it is to be effective and useful to the company decision maker.

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“…However, to motivate operational personnel to work collectively with EnM, Pharma provided several competence-enhancing schemes and activities such as internal training programs and education support, which are found to be significant drivers for industrial EE [28,79]. The following interviewee quote illustrates how the benefits of energy improvements at the individual level were identified and communicated to provide motivation to make energy improvements:…”

Section: Period 3: Maturitymentioning

confidence: 99%

From Program to Practice: Translating Energy Management in a Manufacturing Firm

Solnørdal

Nilsen

2020

Sustainability

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A promising way to stimulate industrial energy efficiency is via energy management (EnM) practices. There is, however, limited knowledge on the implementation process of EnM in manufacturing firms. Aiming to fill this research gap, this study explores the implementation of a corporate environmental program in an incumbent firm and the ensuing emergence of EnM practices. Translation theory and the ‘travel of management ideas’ is used as a theoretical lens in this case study when analysing the process over a period of 10 years. Furthermore, based on a review and synthesis of prior studies, a ‘best EnM practice’ is developed and used as a baseline when assessing the EnM practices of the case firm. Building on this premise, we highlight four main findings: the pattern of translation dynamics, the key role of the energy manager during the implementation process, the abstraction level of the environmental program and, ‘translation competence’ as a new EnM practice. Managerial and policy implications, as well as avenues for further research, are provided based on these results.

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Absorptive capacity and energy efficiency in manufacturing firms – An empirical analysis in Norway

Cited by 25 publications

References 112 publications

Barriers to and Drivers of Energy Management in Swedish SMEs

Barriers to and Drivers of Energy Management in Swedish SMEs

Impact of Energy Monitoring and Management Systems on the Implementation and Planning of Energy Performance Improved Actions: An Empirical Analysis Based on Energy Audits in Italy

From Program to Practice: Translating Energy Management in a Manufacturing Firm

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