GENERATE ENERGY EFFICIENT ACTING AND RESULTS AT SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

Project Information

GEAR-at-SME

Grant agreement ID: 894356

DOI

10.3030/894356

Project closed

EC signature date 11 May 2020

Start date 1 September 2020

End date 30 April 2023

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 1 993 227,50

EU contribution

€ 1 993 227,50

Coordinated by

NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNO
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - GEAR-at-SME (GENERATE ENERGY EFFICIENT ACTING AND RESULTS AT SMALL & MEDIUM ENTERPRISES)

Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2023-04-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Taking energy audits and implementing the results is an effective way for SMEs to become more energy efficient and contribute to meeting the Paris Agreement. The challenge, however, is to make SMEs do so. Currently, SMEs are approached individually by auditors and other energy service suppliers, often with little success in achieving energy efficiency actions. For individual SMEs, it takes too much effort to find trusted suppliers of energy services and to gain access to finance. Their motivation is often low since they lack full awareness of their energy saving potential and the multiple benefits of energy efficiency measures. GEAR@SME addresses these barriers in the following manner: Firstly, it introduces the role of a Trusted Partner as a key player in bridging the gap between SMEs and the supply side. Secondly, it develops a local collective approach to energy efficiency in SMEs based on geographic proximity (e.g. a business or industrial park). Thirdly, it puts to practice a Multiple Benefits approach to energy efficiency in SMEs. These three ingredients are at the heart of a GEAR@SME common methodology, adaptable to local situation across the European member states, developed in the project and demonstrate in use cases in four different countries; namely, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Romania. The roll-out of the GEAR@SME common methodology is supported by an online portal containing documentation; training materials, stand-alone tools, and an interactive portal to support development of a community of practice for Trusted Partners.

The GEAR@SME methodology was demonstrated in four countries. Each country's experience provided valuable lessons on the challenges and opportunities that arise when implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures in SMEs. Despite some common challenges, such as limited resources, lack of interest from SMEs, and market instability, each country developed tailored strategies to address these obstacles. The importance of involving SMEs, providing concrete support activities, and effective communication strategies was highlighted in all countries. On the other hand, the engagement of SMEs was linked to the Trusted Partner's level of engagement in activities, and funding schemes were also seen a critical factor in making an investment in energy saving measures a realistic option for SMEs. National policymakers must continue to provide national funds to which local SME energy collectives can apply to ensure sustainable energy consumption in SMEs.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The first step of GEAR@SME comprised a compilation of insights into the barriers, drivers, and leverage points regarding capacity building for closing the demand-supply gap for energy efficiency in SMEs. This information served as context to the use cases as well as a basis for exchanging insights across countries. Additionally, setting the scene consisted of providing a detailed description of the selected use cases in terms of types of SMEs, current relations between demand and supply side, currently ongoing initiatives regarding energy efficiency, current degree of collective organization, presence of Trusted Partnerships, and the main local drivers, challenges, and expectations on the demand and supply side.

A second step focused on the development of the GEAR@SME common methodology. The methodology was presented in a GEAR@SME Handbook, which was later adjusted based on experiences gained in the use case. In the third step, a toolset was compiled to support implementation of the common methodology. By toolset, we mean all materials that support interventions for either Trusted Partners, energy service suppliers, SMEs, or any combination of these target groups. In step 4, the common methodology was implemented and validated in four use cases, in the four above-mentioned countries. To ensure a generic use case approach that guarantees interrelation between the use cases, a common work plan was developed for each use case. Workshops were organized, energy scans were performed, and trainings were given, to activate and enable Trusted Partners and SME's in the four use cases. Validation across cultural settings aimed to ensure applicability of the common methodology after the project lifetime. Although the focus is on a collective approach, additional individual approaches to SMEs were also applied depending on the local context. Three activities were key to this step. Firstly, conducting the capacity building activities in the use cases. Secondly, collecting data to assess the energy efficiency potential and relevant energy efficiency measures in each of the use cases. Thirdly, organize national workshops to share the best practices of the use case with other Trusted Partners and to train them in using the common methodology and the toolset. Work was carried out on the development of an Online Portal and Community of Practice. Here, all the information of the GEAR@SME methodology Handbook has been available in an accessible and a clear way. In addition, all the tools, training materials, best practices and inspiring stories for energy efficiency measures at SMEs are gathered and made available to the key target groups in a concise and informative way, see: (https://www.energyefficientsme.eu/).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

All the exploitable results from the project have been compiled into an online portal, which will be further updated and managed by the Romania project partner, the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. This will enable further enhancement of skills through the availability of a variety of tools and training materials to Trusted Partners, energy service suppliers and SMEs. The online portal is an essential tool for showcasing and spreading the project and its results. It enables the adoption and expansion of the GEAR@SME methodology beyond the project lifetime. The expected impacts of the portal are:
• Increased skills and long-lasting training schemes for market stakeholders: The online portal gives access to skill enhancement materials and training for Trusted Partners in the “Explore” and “Implement” sections. Trusted Partners are vital actors in the GEAR@SME methodology, as they bridge SMEs and energy service providers. The online portal also provides information materials and collected experiences from the use cases in the “Get inspired” section, to foster a changing environment in SMEs.
• Enhanced energy culture/sustainability of behavioural change within enterprises: The online portal features a Community of Practice (section “Interact”) that guarantees the sustained impact of the GEAR@SME methodology. The Community of Practice tailors to the local situation in Italy and Romania and motivates managers and operational staff members in SMEs to enhance energy culture and implement energy efficiency measures.
• Based on the fact that the Portal had 4,301 views in the first seven months after the launch (October 2022- April 2023), and based on the number of engaged stakeholders in the duration of a project, we anticipate that for each of the 5 countries (Romania, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Netherlands), during the upscaling phase, 20 Trusted Partners and 40 energy service providers per year can benefit from the GEAR@SME methodology. The result can be 600 trained Trusted Partners and 1200 empowered energy service providers, 5 years after the project.

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