New energy efficiency program for SMEs launched
Many SMEs have considerable energy-saving potential. A new platform from SwissEnergy helps companies to find this and implement sensible measures.
Around 80`000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Switzerland have a considerable energy consumption. Each year, they consume 100,000 to 500,000 kilowatt hours of electricity (as much as 20-100 households), 500,000 to 5 million kilowatt hours of thermal energy (heating and process heat) and more than 10,000 liters of fuel. Together, this results in an energy bill of between 20,000 and 300,000 Swiss francs per SME.
With simple measures and without major investments, these SMEs could reduce their energy bills by 10 to 15%. Reason enough to have their energy-saving potential analyzed once with expert advice and then decide whether and which energy-saving measures can be implemented. From now on, the SMEs will receive support in this process: PEIK - The SME Platform for Energy Efficiency offers the right solution for every need. SMEs decide for themselves whether they only want to take advantage of free procedural advice by phone or online, or whether they want comprehensive energy advice on site or even to be accompanied during the implementation of measures. There is also financial support from SwissEnergy for energy and implementation consulting.
PEIK offers SMEs a needs-based entry point for energy-saving projects that can save them a lot of money. With an energy bill of 30,000 francs for electricity, heat and gasoline, savings of 3,000 to 4,500 francs per year can be achieved very quickly.
Three tailored steps for SMEs
SMEs decide for themselves, without any obligation, when and how to take the energy-saving steps. In this way, energy consulting fits perfectly into the respective business development and can take individual requirements into account.
Procedure Consulting: Online or by telephone, SMEs can quickly and easily obtain an initial rough estimate of their energy-saving potential and cost savings. They also receive information on suitable consulting and support services from cantons, cities, energy suppliers or organizations (e.g. Energy Agency for Industry or Cleantech Agency Switzerland). The process consulting is free of charge for the SMEs.
Energy Consulting: The PEIK consultants, who can be selected by the SMEs themselves from a pool of consultants, analyze the SMEs' energy consumption quickly and efficiently on site. They develop concrete proposals for measures with costs and payback times. As a result, the SMEs receive a clear report with all the results of the PEIK energy consulting and an implementation plan with information on subsidies. The SMEs thus have all the information they need to decide whether and which measures they want to implement, when and how. SwissEnergy contributes to the costs of the energy consulting with 50% or a maximum of 1,500 Swiss francs.
Implementation support: If requested, PEIK consultants also support SMEs with implementation following energy consulting. They help with obtaining offers or applying for subsidies. The cost contribution from SwissEnergy for this is up to CHF 500.
PEIK energy consulting is targeted at the 80,000 SMEs with annual energy costs between CHF 20,000 and 300,000. These are not exempt from the CO2 tax and cannot have the grid surcharge reimbursed. Furthermore, they do not count as large consumers and therefore cannot be obliged by the cantons to improve their energy efficiency.
PEIK - The SME Platform for Energy Efficiency is a new advisory service offered by SwissEnergy. Launched by the Federal Council in 2001, the SwissEnergy program aims to increase energy efficiency and the share of renewable energies. The program focuses on awareness-raising, information and advice, education and training, and quality assurance in various priority areas.
PEIK will initially run until the end of 2019, after which it can be extended for a further 3 years if it is successful. The goal is to carry out 1,200 process consultations, 1,200 energy consultations and 500 implementation support sessions per year. SwissEnergy provides funding in the amount of 1.5 million Swiss francs per year.
Source: SFOE
