From practice to policy — exploring the travel and transformation of energy savings calculations and its implications for future energy transitions

Abstract

Improving energy efficiency in industries is imperative for sustainable transitions. This article explores the logic behind calculating energy savings from energy efficiency improvements. Based on a qualitative study of industry-research projects and policies to improve energy efficiency in Norway, the article presents different ways energy savings are estimated when assessing the viability of novel technologies. Here, energy savings are calculated as the difference in energy consumption between a proposed technology (use-case) and an alternative scenario (base-case). We discuss the heterogeneity of the chosen cases of comparison, as they are associated with a wide variety of uncertainty, contextual preconditions, estimates, and projections. Further, we trace the calculations of energy savings of one of these projects as they move from the context of research and technology assessment to official reporting. We show how the circumstances where these numbers are produced become black-boxed as the calculations are transformed and aggregated into a policy program-specific measurement “energy results” in Norway. Our findings show that the project and policy objectives and measurements point in somewhat different directions. Through this, we unpack the logic inscribed in energy savings calculations and the way these are applied to reach multiple goals.

Transitions through numbers? A critical inquiry into superior numeric targets in climate and energy policymaking

“…The 10 TWh figure was calculated upon expectations in three areas: 1) the construction rate of new buildings and the extent to which existing buildings are refurbished each year, known as area projection; 2) the level of ambition to reduce energy use, done by estimating the effects of future regulatory levels, compared with the current standards, in construction and rehabilitation; and 3) the estimated additional costs involved for the levels of ambition and estimations of what incentives should be ( [39] p. 62). Johansen, Almklov, and Skjølsvold [52] show that it may be challenging to calculate and measure the effects of energy efficiency policies but it was, nevertheless, the basis for the Arnstad report.…”

Improving Energy Efficiency of Grain Cleaning Technology

“…Two-dimensional cross-section of the response surface characterizing the unit capacity and the connected capacity of electric motors (Figure 4) at x 3 = 0: With production development, the electrical load increases significantly, so the issues of electricity rationing are relevant [38]. Improving energy efficiency in the sector is a prerequisite for the transition to sustainable development [39,40]. The logic of calculating energy saving by increasing energy efficiency was investigated.…”