Abstract
Currently UK industrial and manufacturing sectors are facing dual challenges of contributing to national 80% reduction targets in CO2 emissions by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels) and improving economic competitiveness in the face of low cost imports. Since energy consumption is the main source of CO2 emissions and directly related to products being manufactured, improving energy efficiency in energy intensive sectors is key to achieve CO2 targets. Energy consumption is unlikely to meet the targets unless energy efficiency opportunities and technologies are fully explored and timely changes are made to business models and policies This study explores potential energy efficiency improvements from three perspectives: system efficiency of steam networks, waste heat recovery technologies and bioenergy/waste utilisation. Two UK energy-intensive sectors, iron and steel, and food and drink, are selected for analysis and discussion. Potential business models for energy efficiency are also reviewed as there are now a variety of energy service companies who can support adoption of appropriate technologies. Furthermore, drivers and barriers to the adoption of energy efficiency technologies are considered in this paper revealing the factors affecting the diffusion of energy efficient and waste heat recovery technologies and their interactions and interdependencies to energy consumptions. Findings show that it is possible to achieve energy consumption reduction in excess of 15% from a technical point of view, however improving energy efficiency in UK industry has been hindered due to some inter-related technical, economic, regulatory and social barriers. The findings help to demonstrate the significant potential for energy efficiency improvement in two industrial sectors, as well as showing the specific types of technologies relevant for different sectoral processes. The range of business models show opportunities for implementation and for developing innovative business models, addressing barriers, and using enablers to accelerate the diffusion of energy efficiency technologies in UK industry.
Highlights
Under the Kyoto protocol, many countries and international communities in general have ambitious targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming
The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the energy consumption and emission reduction potential offered by UK industry, especially by the Iron and Steel and Food and Drink sectors, through three different perspectives: improving energy efficiency in steam systems, waste heat recovery and bioenergy/waste utilisation
At the end of the 1970s and in the early 1980s price pressures from oil disruptions forced the introduction of a series of energy efficiency solutions and commitments from both industry and state, spawning various energy service companies (ESCOs) that provide energy efficiency services
Summary
Under the Kyoto protocol, many countries and international communities in general have ambitious targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. The UK government has embraced biomass strategies to define low-risk pathways that will help to achieve long-term decarbonisation objectives These pathways include optimum utilisation of end-of-life wastes, use of biomass heating for buildings and industrial processes, use of biofuel in the transport sector and use of biomass for electricity generation [14]. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the energy consumption and emission reduction potential offered by UK industry, especially by the Iron and Steel and Food and Drink sectors, through three different perspectives: improving energy efficiency in steam systems, waste heat recovery and bioenergy/waste utilisation. A detailed literature review on energy efficiency markets, different business models and drivers and barriers to energy efficiency is conducted from a global perspective
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