SMEmPower Efficiency

A holistic framework for Empowering SME‘s capacity to increase their energy efficiency

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Contact person:

NINA MEGLIČ

Source of financing:

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
research and innovation programme under grant agreement No : 847132

Aim:

The purpose of the project is to encourage and assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in carrying out and implementing energy audits and measures to increase energy efficiency.

Main objective:

The objective of the project is to “Empower” SMEs to undergo energy audits and implement their proposals. A holistic methodology has been chosen to address different barriers based on three dimensions, i.e. Individual, Organizational and Institutional. The first concerns the design and delivery of an integrated Education & Training (E&T) programme targeting energy related SME staff, of 5 ECTS/EQF 6. At least 720 experts will be trained. The E&T programme will focus on financial and technical data required to prove that specific measures are cost-effective, while the trainees will apply their acquired knowledge to at least 160 pilot installations as practical action. This is connected with the second dimension targeting SME decision makers. In-house short trainings for decision makers of grouped SMEs according to their specificities will be delivered, during the practical action in pilots, by both partners and trainees. Such short trainings will be delivered to operational personnel as well, a total of at least 800 SME persons. Finally, the third dimension relates to targeted workshops where both SME decision makers and stakeholders from entities able to finance energy projects will come together and interact based on the real data provided from pilots, aiming to bridge the gap between energy audits and actual financing of measures. In addition, 4 long lasting training tools will be developed:

an advanced training handbook in 7 languages
a web platform for energy analytics
a tool for Monitoring & Targeting
a tool for Measurement & Verification.

The above activities will bring significant and validated energy savings in SMEs, and establish suitable energy culture. We estimate that SMEmPower’s actions will result in 24.87 GWh/year primary energy savings and trigger at least 4 mil € of investments. SMEmPower will involve several market actors and multiplier organizations, either as members of Advisory Group, or as participants in various activities.

Short term: SMEmPower Efficiency will ensure that barriers to energy efficiency projects are removed for an uptake of energy efficiency projects by decision triggering of the teaming between energy professionals and decision makers, as SMEmPower Efficiency trainees experts, SME consulting companies, financing entities and ESCOs, relevant associations and especially industrial professional or patronal associations.

Medium term: SMEmPower Efficiency will enable better implementation of energy-efficiency policies and enhance the digitalization of industry towards the fourth industry revolution.

Long term: SMEmPower Efficiency will be a strongly promoted, enabling and supporting the Energy experts to use effective tools for energy optimization, new technologies and processes driven by energy efficiency, in a close and improved connection with top decision makers –CEOs, CFOs etc.

Main activities:

training for at least 720 energy experts from SMEs (energy managers, energy auditors, environmental protection managers, energy efficiency experts, etc.,
develop and publish one (1) online platform for energy management, which will promote the creation of the proposed I&U program, enable users to actively enter their own data on energy use (energy management), inform about initial measures in companies and enable cooperation and communication between users platforms (in the framework of digitization and Industry 4.0). See link to EEFIGs De-risking Energy Efficiency Platform(DEEP),
develop and establish two (2) specialized tools from the online platform, namely: Monitoring & Targeting (M&T) and Measurement & Verification (M&V). Use these two tools in the I&U program for the purpose of collecting energy and financial savings, use financial indicators to evaluate investment opportunities, perform sensitivity analyzes of proposed solutions and persistence of savings (according to energy analytics). Use these two tools in the I&U program for the purpose of collecting energy and financial savings, use financial indicators to evaluate investment opportunities, perform sensitivity analyzes of proposed solutions and persistence of savings (according to energy analytics),
implementation of short “in-house” trainings, which will be carried out during practical training in pilot companies, by experts, project partners and training participants,
promote the strengthening of energy experts and energy and financial savings with the SMEmPower Efficiency project through the web portal and at least 24 national and international seminars or workshops,
establish and transfer the evaluation mechanisms of the M&V tool to at least 15 associations dealing with energy efficiency and local and cross-border energy agencies.
stay connected to the online platform for energy management,
present financial solutions and ensure connection with various local and European ESCO companies, financial institutions and other interested stakeholders and companies dealing with energy efficiency, etc.,
facilitate cooperation with over 5,000 energy experts via an online platform,
promotion and dissemination of the project,
in the future to provide the educational program for at least 5 years after the end of the project, according to the specific sustainability plan,
promote greater energy efficiency in at least 80 pilot companies and accelerate active and smart energy management, with the aim of contributing to the 18 GWh/year of primary energy savings,
contribute 24.87 GWh/year of primary energy savings and encourage at least €4 million of investments to improve energy efficiency.