The potential for energy conserving capital equipment in the UK industry

Abstract

Energy conservation, the improvement of energy efficiency, is recognised as an important part of energy policy. This thesis examines the potential for conservation investment and possible energy savings, in part of the UK industrial sector. Assessments of the extent and type of energy conservation activity to date, both investments and energy management, within the brewing, malting, distilling and dairy sectors are made. Achievements to date affect future potentials. In the light of a model of technical change related to energy conservation several potentials are defined. The inter-related problems of estimating or measuring these and measuring performance in energy management are discussed. Some estimates of potentials, with explicit assumptions, are made for the four sectors studied. As any definition or measurement of potential is arbitrary, processes of change are also examined. A soft systems model of necessary activities in energy management is advanced and used to explore managerial barriers to profitable conservation investments in companies studied. Managerial factors for promoting successful energy management are discussed. Economic barriers to change are explored by profitability modelling for several energy conservation techniques used within the four sectors, including heat pumps and combined heat and power. The approach used throughout has been systematic and on several levels.