Energy efficiency retrofitting services supply chains: Evidence about stakeholders and configurations from the Yorskhire and Humber region case

Abstract

Interest in energy efficiency has risen rapidly in the last few years. In particular, Government institutions have launched several initiatives for improving housing energy efficiency through the implementation of retrofitting measures. As a result, the UK Energy Efficiency Retrofitting Services (EERS) market (estimated at around £2bn in 2010) has significant growth potential related to such large government initiatives. Despite this rapid growth in interest, research into the EERS sector has historically been limited, especially concerning supply chain implications. The supply chain of the EERS sector involves multiple stakeholders. It involves public and private bodies as a significant portion of work is undertaken within large publicly funded projects. This research is the first to examine empirically and theoretically the distinctiveness of the supply chain configurations in the EERS sector. A Delphi-like method is adopted to collect a wide range of data from the organisations operating in the EERS supply chain and government bodies (Local Authorities) in the Yorkshire and Humber region in the UK. These data were used to capture and characterise the EERS sector in the region. Stakeholder theory is used to theorise on the public–private interaction mechanisms shaping the supply chain structure in the EERS sector. Three ideal types of supply chain configurations were identified based on the size and scope of the energy efficiency retrofitting project. The influence of these configurations on the performance of the supply chains was also explored.