Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms

Research has identified an extensive potential for energy efficiency within the manufacturing sector, which is responsible for a substantial share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this study is to enhance the knowledge of vital drivers for energy efficiency i...

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Main Authors: Mette Talseth Solnørdal, Lene Foss
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-02-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/3/518
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spelling doaj-6a0ec21507474d0d89099e82e778790f2020-11-24T22:01:22ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732018-02-0111351810.3390/en11030518en11030518Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing FirmsMette Talseth Solnørdal0Lene Foss1School of Business and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Pb 6050 Langnes, 9037 Tromsø, NorwaySchool of Business and Economics, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Pb 6050 Langnes, 9037 Tromsø, NorwayResearch has identified an extensive potential for energy efficiency within the manufacturing sector, which is responsible for a substantial share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this study is to enhance the knowledge of vital drivers for energy efficiency in this sector by providing a critical and systematic review of the empirical literature on drivers to energy efficiency in manufacturing firms at the firm level. The systematic literature review (SLR) is based on peer-reviewed articles published between 1998 and 2016. The findings reveal that organizational and economic drivers are, from the firms’ perspective, the most prominent stimulus for energy efficiency and that they consider policy instruments and market drivers to be less important. Secondly, firm size has a positive effect on the firms’ energy efficiency, while the literature is inconclusive considering sectorial impact. Third, the studies are mainly conducted in the US and Western European countries, despite the fact that future increase in energy demand is expected outside these regions. These findings imply a potential mismatch between energy policy-makers’ and firm mangers’ understanding of which factors are most important for achieving increased energy efficiency in manufacturing firms. Energy policies should target the stimulation of management, competence, and organizational structure in addition to the provision of economic incentives. Further understanding about which and how internal resources, organizational capabilities, and management practices impact energy efficiency in manufacturing firms is needed. Future energy efficiency scholars should advance our theoretical understanding of the relationship between energy efficiency improvements in firms, the related change processes, and the drivers that affect these processes.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/3/518energy efficiencydriversmanufacturing sectorsystematic literature reviewfirm-level analysis
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Mette Talseth Solnørdal
Lene Foss
spellingShingle Mette Talseth Solnørdal
Lene Foss
Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms
Energies
energy efficiency
drivers
manufacturing sector
systematic literature review
firm-level analysis
author_facet Mette Talseth Solnørdal
Lene Foss
author_sort Mette Talseth Solnørdal
title Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms
title_short Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms
title_full Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms
title_fullStr Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms
title_full_unstemmed Closing the Energy Efficiency Gap—A Systematic Review of Empirical Articles on Drivers to Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing Firms
title_sort closing the energy efficiency gap—a systematic review of empirical articles on drivers to energy efficiency in manufacturing firms
publisher MDPI AG
series Energies
issn 1996-1073
publishDate 2018-02-01
description Research has identified an extensive potential for energy efficiency within the manufacturing sector, which is responsible for a substantial share of global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of this study is to enhance the knowledge of vital drivers for energy efficiency in this sector by providing a critical and systematic review of the empirical literature on drivers to energy efficiency in manufacturing firms at the firm level. The systematic literature review (SLR) is based on peer-reviewed articles published between 1998 and 2016. The findings reveal that organizational and economic drivers are, from the firms’ perspective, the most prominent stimulus for energy efficiency and that they consider policy instruments and market drivers to be less important. Secondly, firm size has a positive effect on the firms’ energy efficiency, while the literature is inconclusive considering sectorial impact. Third, the studies are mainly conducted in the US and Western European countries, despite the fact that future increase in energy demand is expected outside these regions. These findings imply a potential mismatch between energy policy-makers’ and firm mangers’ understanding of which factors are most important for achieving increased energy efficiency in manufacturing firms. Energy policies should target the stimulation of management, competence, and organizational structure in addition to the provision of economic incentives. Further understanding about which and how internal resources, organizational capabilities, and management practices impact energy efficiency in manufacturing firms is needed. Future energy efficiency scholars should advance our theoretical understanding of the relationship between energy efficiency improvements in firms, the related change processes, and the drivers that affect these processes.
topic energy efficiency
drivers
manufacturing sector
systematic literature review
firm-level analysis
url http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/3/518
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