Evaluating industrial energy management systems – considerations for an evaluation plan

Since year 2000 a number of national energy management systems (EnMS) standards and specifications have been developed. To support EnMS implementation in industry some governments have launched agreements centered around energy management practices. National experiences show that such policy programs can achieve significant energy efficiency improvements. Implementation of industrial EnMSs has gradually increased and uptake can be expected to accelerate as the international standard (ISO 50001) gains further recognition. Since EnMS complements, or replaces, other energy or climate policies (e.g. emissions trading, energy or carbon taxes) it makes sense to systematically evaluate its implementation in industry. Accurate information needs to be compiled and rated against relevant criteria to confirm desired impact. In their assessments evaluators need to address several issues. Firstly, EnMS are embedded in a context which makes it difficult to attribute results. Secondly, a principle of EnMS is that firms set internal targets to improve energy performance, but these targets might not be consistent with societal objectives. Finally, EnMS certification issued by external auditors gives approval according to standard but cannot guarantee a desired impact. These and other aspects are analyzed and also proposed to be considered in EnMS evaluation. The methods include literature studies, stakeholder consultations to gather empirical input from practitioners, and quantitative data assessments of energy performance. The main contributions are documented experiences from industrial EnMS implementation in Sweden and based on these a set of considerations to be addressed by policy makers and academics in developing a plan for industrial EnMS evaluation