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Training on energy audits as an Energy Efficiency DRIVER for the automotive sector

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - E2DRIVER (Training on energy audits as an Energy Efficiency DRIVER for the automotive sector)

Période du rapport: 2020-12-01 au 2022-05-31

Tools like energy audits and energy management systems enable companies the identification of energy saving opportunities and thus the improvement of their energy efficiency ratio. However, their effectiveness relies on a number of factors including the fact that energy audits are not legally mandatory, the staff capabilities in energy related issues and both board and employee behavior towards energy efficiency. Current training and management systems does not fully consider all the economic, behavioral, organizational, competency related and awareness perspectives influencing the uptake of these tools and the assessment of their outputs, which implies the need to ensure that their recommendations lead to actual implementation of energy efficiency measures. This problem is exacerbated in SMEs, therefore is crucial to find a solution to this issue, especially on the automotive sector, which is one of the most important EU sectors in economic terms. The main goal of The E2DRIVER project was to develop a collaborative training platform boosting the automotive sector collective intelligence on energy efficiency by making SMEs fully aware of the multiple benefits resulting from energy audits, while providing them with the required skills and information to implement their recommendations. To this end, E2DRIVER had the objective to implement the training methodology in 12 pilots and 28 replication companies from the automotive sector, which would enable the implementation of 65 energy efficiency measures triggering a total of 13 GWh/year of energy savings and 3,25 M€ of investments for improving the companies’ energy performance.
Throughout the development of the project, a general administration and management of the project has been performed. For this purpose, meetings have been organised and an appropriate follow-up of all the tasks to be developed has been carried out. Likewise, communication and consultation actions have also been developed with the European administration itself. Also in a transversal way, an intense activity has been developed in the field of communication and dissemination to ensure that the scientific, business community and society were aware of the activities that were being developed in the project.
Technically speaking, the first action undertaken in the project was the involvement of a series of pilot companies to provide the experts with knowledge about the characteristics of SMEs in the automotive sector. In the same way, an intense analysis of the main features of this sector was made, as well as the training actions currently present that are offered to these companies. With all this information, it was possible to define the basic characteristics that the E2DRIVER solution should have.
Knowing this, the different parts that were going to constitute the aforementioned solution began to be generated. The platform specifications were defined and a developer was subcontracted to create the E2DRIVER Platform. The format and methodology to be followed to implement the training programmes and ensure effective implementation of energy efficiency measures was defined. Finally, the repository of training materials that would be used to run the E2DRIVER training was developed. At this point, the creation of the virtual reality exercise should be highlighted.
Once all these resources had been generated and the working methodology defined, it was possible to start implementing the solution in the pilot phase to ensure that the solution was effective. A needs analysis was carried out, a specific training programme was generated, customised training was offered for each profile following the Ontological Flip Teaching paradigm and a series of identified energy efficiency measures were subsequently worked on with the company.
Once the solution was tested, a phase of fine-tuning of the methodology and resources began to ensure that all the weaknesses identified in the pilot phase were addressed. The solution was then implemented in 26 replicating companies where, in the same way, a first training phase was offered to the staff and a subsequent consultancy phase for the identification of measures.
In parallel to the implementation of the solution, a continuous analysis of the impact of the measures and training in the companies was performed, trying to identify improvements, consequences in terms of energy and economic savings, as well as avoided emissions.
In the final phase of the project, intensive work was done to identify the best possible business case to ensure that the project would have a life beyond the funding period. Thus, resource properties were defined, as well as suggested collaboration schemes. These suggestions were the first step towards eventually forming more defined agreements.
While different results can be identified, we have to highlight mainly the E2DRIVER platform and the methodology, which are the main tools that allow an implementation of the E2DRIVER solution. For its exploitation, two possible ways have been identified: a Joint Venture scheme or the alliance between specific partners following a national approach.
Related with management issues, several activities have been performed: 1) Signature of Grant Agreement & Consortium Agreement 2) Distribution of the fundings 3) Definition of governance structure and procedures 4) Establishment of communication flows and methods 6) Supervision of project implementation plan and update 7) Advisory Board creation, 8) Amendment implementation 9) Organization of several meetings (face to face and online) and 10) Quality control application with regard to deliverables and milestones.
Thanks to the E2DRIVER project, it has been possible to generate an innovative "training plus consultancy" solution for improving energy efficiency in automotive SMEs.
The main results are as follows:
• Tangible results: the E2DRIVER platform, the trainers' guide, the training repository, the self-assessment tools, the virtual reality, the best practice book and the tracking tool.
• Intangible results: improved skills of employees in 35 companies and an impact on society and the environment.
In terms of impacts, with specific reference to each of the goals identified in the DoA, what has finally been achieved in the project is explained below:
• Goal 1: 230 energy efficiency measures proposed in the involved companies
• Goal 2: 132 energy efficiency measures implemented in the automotive sector in the short term
• Goal 3: 38 GWh/year primary energy savings triggered by E2DRIVER project
• Goal 4: 5 million €/year of savings achieved by implementing E2DRIVER methodology
• Goal 5: 4.4 million € of investments triggered by the project execution
• Goal 6: 5.9 ktCO2/year emissions avoided due to energy savings at the automotive companies
• Goal 7: 35 companies (9 pilots and 26 replication companies) and 271 people with enhanced energy culture and behaviour
• Goal 8: 45 external trainers with the capacity to replicate the project.
• Goal 9: participation in more than 115 physical events with an audience of more than 6,306 people and on the other hand accompanied by a web presence with more than 435,497 views and more than 43,235 impressions on social media.
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