Tracking Industrial Energy Efficiency And Co2 Emissions

Improving energy efficiency is the single most important first step toward achieving the three goals of energy policy: security of supply, environmental protection and economic growth. Nearly a third of global energy demand and CO2 emissions are attributable to manufacturing, especially the big primary materials industries. Understanding how this energy is used, the national and international trends and the potential for efficiency gains, is crucial. This book shows that, while impressive efficiency gains have already been achieved in the past two decades, energy use and CO2 emissions in manufacturing industries could be reduced by a further quarter to a third, if best available technology were to be applied worldwide. Some of these additional reductions may not be economic in the short- and medium-term, but the sheer extent of the potential suggests that striving for significant improvements is a worthwhile and realistic effort. A systems approach is needed that transcends process or sector boundaries and that offers significant potential to save energy and cut CO2 emissions. The growth of industrial energy use in China has recently dwarfed the combined growth of all other countries. This structural change has had notable consequences for industrial energy use worldwide. It illustrates the importance of more international co-operation.The IEA has undertaken an extensive programme to assess industrial energy efficiencies worldwide. This study of industrial energy use represents important methodological progress. It pioneers powerful new statistical tools, or "indicators" that will provide the basis for future analysis at the IEA. At the same time it contains a wealth of recent data that provide a good overview of energy use for manufacturing worldwide. It also identifies areas where further analysis of industrial energy efficiency is warranted. Industry has provided significant input and support for this analysis and its publication is intended as a basis for further discussion. I am encouraged by the strong commitment that industry is demonstrating to address energy challenges and welcome the valuable contributions from the Industrial Energy-Related Technologies and Systems Implementing Agreement of the IEA collaborative network. This book is part of the IEA work in support of the G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action that mandated the Agency in 2005 to chart the path to a clean, clever and competitive energy future. It is hoped that this study will provide another step toward the realisation of a sustainable energy future.