Energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries - an evaluation of the Swedish voluntary agreement PFE
Author
Summary, in English
In this paper we evaluate the Swedish Programme for improving energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries (PFE). Since 2005, some 100 energy-intensive companies have entered this five year voluntary agreement (VA) and been exempted from the EU minimum tax on electricity. In return, each company is required to: conduct an energy audit and analysis; identify and invest in profitable electricity saving measures; implement and certify an energy management system; introduce routines for energy efficient procurement and project planning. For most participants the first programme period was completed in 2009 and available data enables this PFE ex-post evaluation. An impact evaluation compiles and analyse data that the companies have reported to the administrating agency, the Swedish Energy Agency (SEA). This assessment of quantifiable results is complemented by a process-oriented approach that combines studies of policy documents, previous evaluations and personal communication with administrators as well as companies. The bottom-up calculation method distinguishes between gross and net impact. While the SEA estimates a gross impact of 1450 GWh/year the net impact consists of an interval between 689 and 1015 GWh of net annual electricity savings. PFE has effectively and to a low cost exceeded the estimated impact of a minimum tax and can thus be judged as successful. A comprehensive evaluation plan could facilitate relevant data gathering in PFE and similar VAs and could, in doing so, improve accuracy and possibly reduce evaluation cost. Such a plan should give weight also to the organisational changes, with potential long-lasting effects, that these programmes are capable of promoting.
Department/s
Publishing year
2012
Language
English
Pages
225-241
Publication/Series
Energy Efficiency
Volume
5
Issue
2
Full text
- Available as PDF - 229 kB
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Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Springer
Topic
- Energy Systems
Keywords
- Bottom-up method
- Policy evaluation
- Energy management system
- PFE
- Voluntary agreement
- Energy-intensive industry
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1570-646X