Current state of Industrial Symbiosis and Energy Efficiency in the European energy intensive sectors

Abstract

The implementation of Industrial Symbiosis and Energy Efficiency is linked to the ongoing technological development. New technologies can lead to an increased up-take of these concepts, which affect all areas of process industries and involve the whole workforce. The present paper describes part of the work developed in the early stage of a current Erasmus+ project entitled “Skills Alliance for Industrial Symbiosis: A Cross-sectoral Blueprint for a Sustainable Process Industry (SPIRE-SAIS)”. Such project aims at developing an industry-driven and proactive skills strategy to assist the implementation and exploitation of Industrial Symbiosis and Energy Efficiency across the energy-intensive industrial sectors, which are represented by the association of Sustainable Process Industry through Resource and Energy Efficiency (SPIRE). The main aspects of the current state of implementation of Industrial Symbiosis and Energy Efficiency in European process industries are analyzed. In addition, upcoming techniques and developments are taken into account for the main considered sectors, e.g., Iron and Steel, Chemical, Non-ferrous Metals, Mineral, Water, Ceramics, and Cement. Achieved results on implementation of technologies and practices based on Industrial Symbiosis and Energy Efficiency, as well as new challenges coming from their accomplishments are considered. Companies’ perceptions on future implementation of Industrial Symbiosis and Energy Efficiency are explored, together with possible barriers resulting in implementation practices and expected solutions to satisfy related ongoing and future skill demands.

Skills Demand in Energy Intensive Industries Targeting Industrial Symbiosis and Energy Efficiency

“…Industries can enforce their sustainability, resiliency and competitiveness only by actively involving their workforce in a transition phase characterised by new skill requirements, as well as by attracting and retaining talented people. In the next few years, in EIIs, an increase of new jobs is expected, accompanied by the attraction of young talents, the development of new business lines and higher workload [7]. In this context, skill demands are present in any category of workers, and to fill the emerging and future skill gaps internal and external training activities should be identified.…”

“…Furthermore, collaborative approaches are needed to improve resource efficiency, and an increased institutional capacity is crucial for supporting these goals [6]. In particular, IS and EE implementation can be promoted by policies and regulations, but also by economic incentives and by new synergies among sectors [7]. With the support of the European Commission (EC) [8] IS has already been introduced to the agenda of some countries.…”

“…As a matter of fact, although specific skills depend on the symbiosis project developed, and on the sector, some key competences are required for all levels and sectors. According to the company survey across the different sectors carried out inside the SPIRE-SAIS project [7], the current level of skills is generally lower for IS than for EE (see Figure 4). In addition, the implementation of both in different sectors is expected leading to working conditions, green skills and performance of the workforce improvement and to new job implementations, higher for IS than EE.…”

“…Consequently, training and education providers cannot quickly react to these rapid changes in skill demands [48]. In particular, according to [7], in the next few years highly qualified profiles and attracting young talents are expected, due to the development of emerging technologies. On the other hand, future skill gaps will be overcome by internal and external training activities, particularly focused on specific job-related skills, digital and personal skills (see Figure 5).…”