Project description
Engaging SMEs in energy audits
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 99 % of all businesses in the EU. They also represent significant energy saving potential. However, a lack of expertise, time and capital often hinders SMEs from implementing energy conservation measures. The EU-funded GEAR-at-SME project will substantiate the role of a local Trusted Partner who will work to bridge the gap between SMEs and suppliers of energy services by taking a local, collective approach based on multiple benefits. The project will reach out to 300 SMEs per location (Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Romania) and another 600 locations following the project’s lifetime. The overall goal of the project is to lead SMEs to become fully aware of the multiple benefits resulting from energy audits.
Objective
The untapped potential of energy efficiency will be addressed by the GEAR@SME consortium by substantiating the role of a local Trusted Partner to bridge the gap between SMEs (demand side) and suppliers of energy services toward SMEs (supply side) such that SMEs will effectively undergo energy audits and implement energy saving measures. The Trusted Partner will be supported by the GEAR@SME methodology, which aims to catalyse the implementation of energy efficiency measures by taking a local, collective approach based on multiple benefits, tailored to the specific locality. After demonstrating the effectiveness of the common methodology in four use cases, large-scale rollout will be supported by an online platform offering documentation, stand-alone tools, and an interactive platform to support a Community of Practice for Trusted Partners. The GEAR@SME methodology will be tested and validated in four countries (Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Romania), reaching out to a minimum of 300 SMEs per location. While four locations will be targeted within the project as use case, another 80 locations will be reached through the communication and exploitation activities within project lifetime. Beyond project lifetime, another 600 locations will be reached through dissemination events and the online portal. The GEAR@SME consortium has extensive expertise on activating, organising and enabling SMEs to take energy efficiency actions, from concept to validation to implementation. The team includes research organisations (TNO, C-MAC), consultancies with expertise on SMEs and energy efficiency (CIT, CCS). Validation of the methodology will be carried out by CCS, C-MAC, BEA and SERVELECT all of whom have track records in engaging with SMEs on energy issues. Finally, an exploitation strategy and further roll out will be carried out by SYNYO and multiplier organisations (CNA, CLOK and TUCN).
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CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
2595 DA Den Haag
Netherlands