Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI
Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI

Project

M-BENEFITS - Valuing and Communicating Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency Measures

The goal of the M-BENEFITS project is to train and build the capacity of energy-efficiency experts to evaluate all benefits (i.e. not only the energy-savings benefits) of industrial and building/tertiary sector focused energy-efficiency projects (i.e., industrial production sites, administrative and commercial buildings). Such training and capacity building is necessary to enable energy professionals to communicate projects in strategic terms to companies' top management, thus increasing the attractiveness of energy projects and the likelihood for project implementation. This work in turn will contribute to reducing the energy-efficiency gap that has been identified by research.

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There is still significant potential to improve energy efficiency in all sectors and levels where measures can be applied. Facing the often cited “energy efficiency gap”, even the profitable potential is not fully exploited. Highlighting and quantifying the additional values of energy efficiency measures and investments considering the Multiple non-energy Impacts (economic, social and environmental impacts) could help closing this gap and facilitate energy-relevant decisions and policy-making.

 

 

The overarching objective of M-BENEFITS is therefore to provide energy experts with a set of tools to enable them apply the multiple benefits approach to evaluate and communicate the benefits of energy-efficiency in a way that resonates with a companies' needs and practices. Such tools would allow energy managers and practitioners to improve the business case of energy-efficiency projects. Thanks to this broader approach, the contacts and champions of projects in companies will cut across all company functions, including top management.
More specifically, the M-BENEFITS project pursues the following main objectives:

  • To provide a robust, conceptual base for the development of tools related to MB evaluation and communication, customized to the needs and practices of energy-user companies on the demand side.
  • To create a harmonised approach and methodology for energy managers and project developers to include MBs in project analysis, to identify, categorize and assess them ex ante (i.e., at the conception/beginning of projects), and to communicate project proposals in technical, operational, strategic and financial terms.
  • To collect energy-efficiency measure and business activity data and develop case studies such that business decision-makers across sectors can account for multiple benefits in investment and business activities based on consistent and comparable methods and evidence.
  • To develop customised approaches to communicate about MBs to relevant stakeholders. This implies considering the different perspectives and incentives of different key actors and organisations, and communicating MBs in strategic terms to companies’ upper management.
  • To train the “efficiency providers” inside and outside companies, including energy-efficiency engineers in charge of conceiving, "selling" and managing energy performance projects.


 

Duration

2018 - 2021

Clients

European Commission/Horizon 2020

Partners

  • Fraunhofer ISI (Germany)
  • UniL (Switzerland)
  • HES-SO (Switzerland)
  • BPIE (Belgium)
  • University of Utrecht (The Netherlands)
  • University of Oxford (UK)
  • Borg & Co AS with ECEEE (Sweden)
  • Grazer EnergieAgentur (Austria)
  • Institute for Resource Efficiency and Energy Strategies (Germany)
  • Italian Federation for energy-efficiency (Italy)
  • KAPE (Poland)
  • NTUA (Greece)
  • The University of Coimbra (Portugal)
  • University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU, Switzerland)

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