Energy Indicators for Enabling Energy Transition in Industry

Energy transition is a fundamental process in the move towards sustainable development, but in industry, it is complicated by the remarkable sectoral heterogeneity. Fostering the realization of energy transition in the industrial sector requires the characterization of its energy dimension, in terms of energy mixes and end-uses as the determinants of transition pathways, and energy solutions and tools as the enablers of this transition paradigm. We observe that the suitability of tools for energy analysis depend on trade-offs between comprehensiveness, ease of use, robustness, and generalization ability. In this regard, we discuss the appropriateness of energy indicators and provide an overview of indicator typologies, methodological issues, and applications for energy performance evaluation and improvement. With reference to the dairy processing industry, selected as a representative industrial branch, we outline current and desirable energy benchmarking applications and exemplify the effectiveness of energy indicators in the quantification of the potential of energy solutions. The obtained results are promising and suggest that researchers should further explore the novel applications of energy indicators for energy performance improvement. To foster the establishment of energy indicators in industrial practice and energy policies, we remark that cooperation between industrial stakeholders is essential.

Automated summary

Energy transition is a complex process in the industrial sector due to sectoral heterogeneity, and it requires the understanding of energy mixes, end-uses, and tools for its realization. The suitability of energy analysis tools depends on their comprehensiveness, ease of use, robustness, and generalization ability. This study discusses the appropriateness of energy indicators, provides an overview of indicator typologies and applications, and highlights the importance of cooperation between industrial stakeholders for the establishment of energy indicators in practice and policies.