Energy Efficiency Barriers in Industrial Operations: Evidence from the Italian SMEs Manufacturing Industry

摘要

This paper aims at providing an identification and analysis of the most relevantbarriers that limit a widespread implementation of the Best Available Technologies andPractices through the investigation of a large number of case studies of non-energy intensivemanufacturing SMEs in Northern Italy. The role of SMEs is particularly relevant in theeconomy of Western countries (and particularly in Italy), where they cover a consistent shareof the energy consumption of a whole National industrial sector. This study, starting from theliterature, proposes a more operational definition of the energy efficiency barriers, evaluatesthe most diffused and perceived barriers and identifies the possible tools in support ofmanufacturing enterprises to overcome them. The final results put in evidence severalbarriers as the lack of capital and issues related to the information, and also the importance toavoid bundling together SMEs of different sizes and sectors. This study represents apreliminary contribution for the promotion of National policies that would lead to awidespread increase of the overall energy efficiency of the investigated territory, along withstrong benefits for the whole local industrial system.