Study on commercially available innovations with high relevance for energy efficiency in the industrial sector

Increasing competitiveness while at the same saving resources and protecting the climate is considered one of the major challenges in the modern manufacturing sector. In the near future, energy and resource efficient processes and production facilities, as well as innovative materials will allow for significant efficiency gains. Typically, 3D printing, process-integrated material recycling, effective utilization of exhaust heat, and systemic approaches such as intelligent process organization are mentioned in this context and are expected to be the drivers of efficiency improvements. Many of these technologies are available and potentially ready for market penetration. This could however be hindered by certain barriers, thus leaving substantial energy efficiency potentials untapped.

The aim of the study was to determine concrete roadmaps for action by identifying technical and economic energy efficiency potentials of selected innovations, as well as barriers that have so far impeded their market penetration. Based on the investigation results a concept for dissemination and establishment of relevant innovations was drawn up to form a basis for further development of the efficiency-promotion strategy led by the BMWi. Finally, concrete recommendations of actions were derived.

Within the framework of this project, adelphi elaborated a study on technical innovations with the potential to contribute to energy efficiency improvements in the industrial sector. adelphi also identified commercially available innovations with high efficiency potentials for the manufacturing sector, which have not yet seen wide application. In addition, adelphi identified and analysed economic, legal, informational and other barriers that could potentially hinder the breakthrough of the selected innovations. Apart from adelphi, the project consortium included the German Energy Agency (dena), Ecofys, Prognos, the University of Stuttgart, the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI), as well as the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (IPA). The contracting authority was the Department IIB2 of the BMWi (efficiency and heat in industry and commerce).