Chemical council extends energy-efficiency funding for SMEs

The Sectoral Platform in Chemicals for Energy Efficiency Excellence (SPiCE) initiative was launched in 2013 to provide small and medium-sized chemical companies with accessible, hands-on assistance.

It has been providing them with resources such as workshops, peer-to-peer mentoring, on-site coaching and targeted events promoting best practice.

“Europe’s SMEs represent a huge collective potential for driving energy efficiency, but can face challenges such as the lack of tools, expertise or resources,” said Cefic.

Phase 1 of the SPiCE project was co-financed under the EU's Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. SPiCE partners have now committed to deliver a further two years' support to industry.

“The continued investment by Cefic consolidates an industry-wide commitment to support increasing energy efficiency and competitiveness,” the council said.

Cefic said over 6,500 European companies had so far been reached through these activities, backed up by a series of EU-wide events aimed at raising awareness of energy management best practices.

It has also developed a one-stop online portal for energy efficiency information and resources for smaller companies.

As an energy intensive industry, the chemical sector consumes around 12% of the EU’s total energy demand, and one-third of EU industrial energy use, said Cefic.

Energy can be up to 25% of the total costs of an SME in the EU chemical sector.

“Increasing energy efficiency is thus essential to preserving the industry’s competitiveness while, at the same time, helping to meet the EU’s climate goals,” the council said.

In October last year, Cefic awarded Trinseo Benelux a special commendation for its project 'Energy Efficiency through steam re-compression'.

The emulsion polymer manufacturer was praised for the creative way to use steam previously blown off to the atmosphere or condensed against cooling water at its site in Terneuzen in the Netherlands.