Structural hurdles hinder energy savings

A PWC study commissioned by Deneff shows that companies are not tapping into energy efficiency potential. According to the study, a lack of incentives, uncertainty and internal structures are holding them back.

Using energy efficiently makes economic sense in many industrial companies. Nevertheless, large potential savings remain untapped. According to a short study conducted by the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on behalf of the German Business Initiative for Energy Efficiency (Deneff), the reasons for this lie less in technology than in internal company and political framework conditions.

The analysis shows that even economically viable efficiency measures often fail due to short-term investment criteria. Unclear responsibilities within companies and a lack of planning certainty make decisions even more difficult. According to PWC, this is compounded by an unfavorable electricity-gas price structure, which hinders the electrification of process heat in particular. Uncertainty about future energy price trends and regulatory requirements increase the investment risk from the perspective of many companies.

The study sees organizational structures as a further obstacle. Investment decisions are often made by other bodies than those that will later benefit from lower energy costs. As a result, there are no incentives to implement measures, even if they are economically viable. Deneff board member Christian Noll speaks of a systematic problem. "Using energy more efficiently makes economic sense, but is held back by existing decision-making logic," says Noll.

Five fields of action identified

PWC identifies five fields of action in which a particularly large amount of economic potential remains untapped. These include the use of industrial heat pumps, which can raise waste heat to a temperature level suitable for production processes. In practice, however, high electricity costs and a lack of grid connections prevent widespread use, according to the study.

High-temperature heat storage systems could also help companies to provide process heat more flexibly. They make it possible to absorb energy at low prices and use it at different times. However, regulatory hurdles and existing price structures reduce their cost-effectiveness, as PWC notes.

Another field is the systematic use of waste heat. In many companies, heat is lost because internal networks are lacking or only individual measures are promoted. According to the study, integrated heat networks could enable considerable savings, but have hardly been implemented to date.

Quick measures possible

PWC describes measures in energy management and user behavior as comparatively simple and quickly effective. Monitoring, intelligent control and trained employees could significantly reduce energy consumption. However, there is often a lack of clear responsibilities and attention in day-to-day operations. The energy management systems provided for in the Energy Efficiency Act form the basis for this, but are not used consistently everywhere.

Finally, the study points to the importance of technical insulation. Measures such as insulating pipelines are considered mature and cost-effective, but are often treated as a secondary priority internally. As a result, avoidable heat losses remain.

According to PWC, the implementation deficit is particularly evident in the case of simple measures with short payback periods. These include waste heat recovery or consistent energy management. Although they require little investment, many companies do not implement them.

Focusing on efficiency

The authors of the study therefore emphasize the principle of "Energy Efficiency First". Companies should reduce their energy requirements before setting up new generation or supply solutions. Every kWh saved reduces costs and risks and facilitates the conversion of industrial processes. Reliable political framework conditions and transparent energy management systems are a prerequisite.

Deneff warns against weakening the Energy Efficiency Act. According to Noll, a draft that became public at the end of last year has already caused uncertainty and slowed down investment. "Watering down established standards and requirements delays investment - and weakens the location," he warns.

The PWC study on energy-saving obstacles is available to download as a PDF.

Author: Susanne Harmsen