1. |
- Gulbrandsen, Lars H., et al.
(författare)
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The limited effect of EU emissions trading on corporate climate strategies: Comparison of a Swedish and a Norwegian pulp and paper company
- 2013
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Ingår i: Energy Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 1873-6777 .- 0301-4215. ; 56, s. 516-525
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This article article examines to what extent and how the EU ETS has influenced the climate strategies of two Nordic pulp and paper companies: Swedish SCA and Norwegian Norske Skog. Rising electricity prices are perceived to be the greatest effect of the scheme. The EU ETS has served to reinforce commitments to improve energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions in both companies studied. Procedures like monitoring of CO2 emissions and accounting for CO2 prices have become more significant since the introduction of the EU ETS, but the scheme has not triggered a search for innovative, low-carbon solutions. Due to differences in market factors and production factors, SCA has been more active than Norske Skog in investing in and implementing CO2-lean actions. Future studies of climate-mitigation activities, strategies and innovations in the pulp and paper industry should involve more in-depth investigation of the interactions between such factors and the EU ETS. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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2. |
- Nilsson, Lars J, et al.
(författare)
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Counting beans or moving mountains - the predicament of energy efficiency policy
- 2011
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Ingår i: Energy efficiency first. - Stockholm : European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE). - 9789163344558
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Many studies identify energy efficiency as the most important and least costly option for reducing CO2-emissions while at the same time contributing to other policy objectives. The main challenge seems to be how to design, implement and evaluate policy to ensure that these opportunities are captured and policy perceived as legitimate. There is often a gap between rhetoric or broadly stated objectives in policy development and the narrow focus on verifying additional savings in evaluation. Ancillary benefits and costs are often overlooked and the primary criteria for impact evaluations are whether policies deliver additional and cost-effective savings. In practice, however, such impact evaluations are fraught with fundamental methodological difficulties and uncertainty. Double counting, spill-over, free rider and rebound effects are real and recognised factors that complicate evaluation. This has been experienced in the development of a harmonised calculation model as stipulated by the Energy Services Directive where a fair amount of attention has been given to such factors. In the mean time the more challenging, yet non-binding, 20 percent target of the EU Energy Efficiency Action Plan is stressing a need for new policy implementation. The question then becomes: how can the legitimate demands for policy to deliver additional savings be realistically addressed in practice and balanced against broad and long-term objectives? To answer this question, we provide an overview and assessment of the issues, opportunities, and correction factors for energy efficiency policy design and evaluation. We challenge the preoccupation with verifying countable savings and argue that it can be counterproductive. What counts are policy frameworks that can unleash and accelerate energy efficiency across all sectors in order to reach levels that are commensurate with broader energy and climate policy goals.
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3. |
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4. |
- Stenqvist, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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Energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries - an evaluation of the Swedish voluntary agreement PFE
- 2012
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Ingår i: Energy Efficiency. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1570-646X .- 1570-6478. ; 5:2, s. 225-241
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)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.
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5. |
- Stenqvist, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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Energy management in Swedish pulp and paper industry - the daily grind that matters
- 2011
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Swedish pulp and paper industry (PPI) accounts for almost 50 percent of industrial final energy use. It is an energy-intensive industry and process optimization is seen as prerequisite to compete on the global market. This alone should motivate company boards and on-site organisations to put energy management high on the agenda. Definitely, from time to time, energy issues (e.g. fuel shifts, selling of generation capacity, and more lately increasing auto-produced electricity) have been managed with respect to combined effects of policies and market forces. Yet, it was first after 2004 that the industry implemented energy management systems (EnMS), with particular focus on energy efficiency, and received certification according to the Swedish and later the European standard. This was required by the Programme for improving energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries (PFE), a five-year voluntary agreement in which some 100 companies reported gross annual electricity savings of 1.45 TWh, equal to 5 percent of base year consumption. This result highlights the potential role of an EnMS in raising awareness and facilitating investments. In this paper we analyse the case of the Swedish PPI; its relation to energy issues in previous periods and the formalised EnMS practices of recent years. We pose the questions: How are standardised EnMS structured and put into practice? What are the measurable effects and other discernible outcomes? The results are based on in-depth interviews with energy management coordinators at eight pulp and paper mills. The experiences with EnMS are found to be predominantly positive. EnMS has changed organisational structures and created greater focus on energy efficiency, which has resulted in quantified energy savings. Considering that EnMS implementation and certification is at a pioneering stage and that the international ISO 50001 standard is currently being developed, these are important results for the future of EnMS in industry.
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6. |
- Stenqvist, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluating industrial energy management systems – considerations for an evaluation plan
- 2012
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Ingår i: [Host publication title missing].
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Since year 2000 a number of national energy management systems (EnMS) standards and specifications have been developed. To support EnMS implementation in industry some governments have launched agreements centered around energy management practices. National experiences show that such policy programs can achieve significant energy efficiency improvements. Implementation of industrial EnMSs has gradually increased and uptake can be expected to accelerate as the international standard (ISO 50001) gains further recognition. Since EnMS complements, or replaces, other energy or climate policies (e.g. emissions trading, energy or carbon taxes) it makes sense to systematically evaluate its implementation in industry. Accurate information needs to be compiled and rated against relevant criteria to confirm desired impact. In their assessments evaluators need to address several issues. Firstly, EnMS are embedded in a context which makes it difficult to attribute results. Secondly, a principle of EnMS is that firms set internal targets to improve energy performance, but these targets might not be consistent with societal objectives. Finally, EnMS certification issued by external auditors gives approval according to standard but cannot guarantee a desired impact. These and other aspects are analyzed and also proposed to be considered in EnMS evaluation. The methods include literature studies, stakeholder consultations to gather empirical input from practitioners, and quantitative data assessments of energy performance. The main contributions are documented experiences from industrial EnMS implementation in Sweden and based on these a set of considerations to be addressed by policy makers and academics in developing a plan for industrial EnMS evaluation.
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7. |
- Stenqvist, Christian
(författare)
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Industrial energy efficiency improvement – the role of policy and evaluation
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- At EU and to a varying degree at Member State (MS) level, industrial energy efficiency improvement (EEI) is considered an attractive means for reaching political objectives of different dimensions, not least environmental. For energy-intensive manufacturing industry in particular, EEI can lead to cost reductions, improved profitability and competitiveness. However, research and other analyses show that far from all privately profitable EEI actions are implemented, and for this reason a number of policies, programmes and instruments, have been launched to stimulate industrial EEI. For political objectives and measures to be credible, it is essential that the policy process is informed by close evaluations of progress, impact and other outcomes. Evaluation results can also contribute to the improvement of programmes in operation. This thesis contributes with evaluations and assessments of existing programmes and instruments that, besides other objectives, targets industrial EEI and GHG emissions reduction in energy-intensive manufacturing industry in Sweden and partly elsewhere. The research combines a theory-based evaluation approach with impact evaluations and other forms of analysis to find out if and to what extent that desired results in terms of energy savings and GHG emissions reductions are achieved. Outcomes in terms of corporate responses to policies are also addressed in order to identify underlying factors for changes to occur. The results show that the Swedish programme for improving energy efficiency in energy-intensive industries (PFE) has resulted in large and cost-effective electricity savings. As a main programme instrument the implementation and certification of industrial Energy Management Systems (EnMS) has led to organizational changes among interviewed firms in the Swedish pulp and paper industry (PPI). Through its combination of instruments PFE has caused attention-raising effects and norm changes towards a higher priority for EEI. A top-down decomposition analysis of energy trends in the Swedish PPI shows that especially electricity efficiency improvement has increased in the post-2000 period. This result corresponds well with bottom-up reported electricity savings in PFE and confirms the success of the programme. Also CO2 emissions have been reduced in Swedish PPI. An interview-based study on the influence of the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) on corporate climate strategies shows that the economic value of CO2 emissions is accounted for, but that the carbon price tag represents a minor factor among many that underpin industrial investment decisions. In the third period of EU ETS, the amount of free allocation to manufacturing industry is generally reduced compared to previous periods. However, the outcomes of the new allocation rules are dispersed in some industrial sub-sectors. For instance, the Swedish PPI will receive free allocation well above the actual emission level. To further stimulate industrial decarbonisation, the ongoing discussion on structural reforms of EU ETS is welcomed. To further stimulate industrial EEI the continuation of complementary industrial policies is recommended.
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