Use of smart technologies for energy efficiency, energy- and load management in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)

Abstract

Currently, the impact of digitalisation on the energy sector enables new approaches of products and business models on the market. The use of smart technologies can create added value such as lowering the energy costs by increasing energy efficiency in enterprises. While the topic of using digital and smart technologies for energy efficiency already plays an essential role in large enterprises, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) are still not aware of the topic in general as well as the benefits of investing in energy efficiency measures.This paper presents an application-oriented scientific approach of identifying the application potential of smart technologies for energy efficiency as well as energy- and load-management in SMEs. Due to the diversity of smart technologies which are actually offered on the market, a technology-screening classifies the different systems into specific categories. These categories are evaluated and assessed in a cross-system comparison regarding the application potential in SMEs. Based on onsite investigations in SMEs, the results show the practical application potential for each technology category according to specific criteria. According to these criteria, smart technologies can be used in different sections of the enterprise, which are also developed during onsite investigations. The key-findings of the onsite investigations will feed into the foreseen application test of smart technologies in SMEs, analysing technical, software-specific and socio-economic aspects of smart technologies close to and in dialogue with the stakeholders.