Energy4Climate

Striving for resource efficiency, Belgium

essenscia, the Belgian federation for the chemical and life sciences industry, has launched, with the support of the Flemish Government, the Energy4Climate-initiative, consisting of two unique mentoring projects for more energy efficiency and CO2 reduction in the chemical, plastics and life sciences industry. Depending on their annual energy consumption there are two possible guidance paths for participating companies, mainly SMEs, specifically aimed at their energy-saving potential and tailored to the nature of their activities. In this way, companies gain an in-depth understanding of their savings potential and receive tailored advice and support to actually implement energy and climate-saving measures.

1. Energy and Climate Deals: a pioneering project

This is a pilot project for Flanders in which experts carry out an in-depth thematic energy and climate audit at companies with often complex production processes. It involves a customised approach that identifies potential savings within themes such as steam, green heat, renewable energy or electrification possibilities.

2. Mini-EBOs for maximum results

Companies with a lower annual primary energy consumption, can subscribe to mini-EBOs (EBO stands for ‘energiebeleidsovereenkomsten’ or energy policy agreements). In these, energy and climate scans are carried out and external energy and climate coaches provide appropriate guidance to invest in the optimisation of compressed air or cooling systems, the recovery of (residual) heat and the installation of solar panels or extra insulation.

Companies participate in Energy4Climate voluntarily, but they do commit to actually implementing a number of measures proposed by the energy and climate experts. The cost and the potential energy savings of the investment are always taken into account. Energy4Climate receives €300,000 in financial support from the Flemish government – resources that are used entirely to have independent experts assist the companies – and runs in close collaboration with the Flemish Energy and Climate Agency and the energy and climate experts of essenscia.

Three unique strengths of the Energy4Climate project

Energy4Climate clearly gives smaller companies a firm push to take effective action in line with the European Green Deal and is therefore complementary to the existing actions that essenscia has been taking for several years to improve the energy efficiency of larger, more energy-intensive companies.

Companies that participate in Energy4Climate gain access to external expertise for which they do not always have the time, knowledge or resources themselves. Best practices are shared through inspiration sessions organized by essenscia.

In the current energy crisis, Energy4Climate is making an important contribution to greater energy efficiency and less energy dependence. In economically challenging times, this is a strong commitment by the participating companies to join in the energy transition.

Energy and CO2 savings

The overall energy and CO2 savings depend on the savings opportunities that will be detected via the scans and audits. The first provisional results indicate a potential saving of around 2% of annual primary energy consumption and between 2 and 5% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (in CO2 equivalent).

The two projects within Energy4Climate have a duration of one and a half (Energy and Climate Deals) and two years (mini-EBOs) respectively. The project started with 27 companies and now already supports more than forty production sites from all segments of the sector: from chemicals to plastics, from coatings to lubricants, from pharma to medical gases.

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