Conference Magazine - GoingPublic.de - Deutsches Eigenkapitalforum

Special: CSR
Energy management
A requirement for successful long-term corporate management
Energy efficiency: a key factor for competitiveness
For production companies operating in Central Europe, the
energy efficiency levels attained so far have provided
much-needed protection from the low personnel costs in
the BRIC states. The more energy costs have risen, the
more energy-efficient plants have helped to compensate
for these lower personnel costs. This position is now at risk
of being lost. As a result of strong economic growth in the
BRIC states, a lot of capital has been invested in new (and
therefore generally more efficient) plants. Consequently,
market participants in these countries increasingly have
more efficient plants at their disposal AND lower personnel
costs. For companies operating in the Central European
Area, the challenge therefore lies in raising their energy efficiency
levels above the average as a way of retaining their
competitive edge. Some companies believe they need to
increase their efficiency levels by 5% to 6% a year in order
to remain competitive in the long term. This is considerably
more than stated in the European Energy Efficiency Directive,
for example.
How will companies be able to keep energy costs
down in 10 to 20 years?
The demand for energy is rising the world over; indeed, certain
countries are phasing out nuclear power and supply
structures are shifting dramatically. This has made price
increases and supply bottlenecks a realistic scenario. Companies
that are taking a strategic approach to issues, such as
how to secure the long-term provision of cost-effective energy,
have not only reduced their vulnerability. In the process,
many have also come across new upcoming business areas.
Carbon Disclosure Project creates energy transparency
The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) was originally the
brainchild of several international investors who wanted to
gain easy access to information on carbon exposure from
listed companies. As CO 2 emissions are generally closely
linked to energy consumption, the CDP also emerged as a
platform for obtaining information on companies’ energy
performance.
Page 78 Deutsches Eigenkapitalforum 2012
Andreas von Saldern is Executive
Director of Climate Change and Sustainability
Services. Prior to joining
Ernst & Young he was founder and
CEO of ESolutions and Managing
Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Environmental Consulting, as well as
Managing Director at Arthur D. Little
International Environmental Certification.
Andreas von Saldern, Executive Director,
Ernst & Young Climate Change and
Sustainability Services, Germany
Increasing call for certified energy management
systems
Companies in a number of countries must face the
challenge of energy costs rising above the international
average. In some cases, taxes and charges make up more
than 40% of energy costs. It is therefore of vital importance
that action is taken to optimise these charges.
Germany, for example, is granting extensive tax relief, such
as balancing tax payments or exemption from the renewable
energy surcharge. These relief measures are becoming
increasingly conditional on the existence of certified energy
management systems, e.g. pursuant to ISO 50001, which
must now be expanded or adjusted.
Holistic approach for identifying potential
Energy management systems should not merely concentrate
on how to “manage” and minimise current energy
consumption. More importantly, a holistic approach must
be taken that not only goes beyond the formal requirements
of the standards, but also incorporates strategic aspects,
such as integration into product and process development
through to making optimum use of tax relief and subsidy
opportunities. When planning any new investment, energysaving
measures must be taken into particular considera-