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Energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries - an evaluation of the Swedish voluntary agreement PFE

Stenqvist, Christian LU and Nilsson, Lars J LU (2012) In Energy Efficiency 5(2). p.225-241
Abstract
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... (More)
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. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bottom-up method, Policy evaluation, Energy management system, PFE, Voluntary agreement, Energy-intensive industry
in
Energy Efficiency
volume
5
issue
2
pages
225 - 241
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000301605600006
  • scopus:84858277015
ISSN
1570-646X
DOI
10.1007/s12053-011-9131-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d6232367-dccc-40f6-91f2-782ce67dca67 (old id 2026521)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:39:13
date last changed
2022-01-26 01:13:21
@article{d6232367-dccc-40f6-91f2-782ce67dca67,
  abstract     = {{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.}},
  author       = {{Stenqvist, Christian and Nilsson, Lars J}},
  issn         = {{1570-646X}},
  keywords     = {{Bottom-up method; Policy evaluation; Energy management system; PFE; Voluntary agreement; Energy-intensive industry}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{225--241}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Energy Efficiency}},
  title        = {{Energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries - an evaluation of the Swedish voluntary agreement PFE}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2026257/2026522.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s12053-011-9131-9}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}