Energy-efficient SMEs

Project facts

Project promoter:
National Council for Small and Medium Sized Private Enterprises in Romania (CNIPMMR)(RO)
Project Number:
RO-ENERGY-0143
Status:
Completed
Initial project cost:
€190,508
Final project cost:
€153,360
Donor Project Partners:
SMB Norge(NO)

Description

The project aims at increasing the knowledge and awareness of Romanian SMEs on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security. The main objectives of the project are:
   - raising awareness on the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy, informing a considerable number of people and SMEs representatives, 
   - increasing knowledge on legislation and programmes for SMEs in the energy field, 
   - identification of tools for calculating energy consumption and ways to minimize it within an SME.

Results targeted by the implementation of the project are:
   - 1 awareness raising campaign that will reach at least 300 people in order to increase desire to switch to renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security;
   - 100 people completing a 3 days training on renewable energy and energy efficiency;
   - 90 people (SME representatives) participant to the 3 promotion conferences for renewable energy and energy efficiency on SMEs;
   - 200 SMEs informed about the Analysis / guide "How to become an energy-efficient SME" - steps that an SME must go through to become energy efficient, the legislation to follow, programs dedicated to energy, awareness of energy consumption;
   - 30 SMEs participating in the Platform / application created to calculate the energy consumption level and trying to reach a minimum energy efficiency threshold;
   - 11 people participating in the Study visit to Norway - how energy efficiency is implemented in SMEs in Norway.

SMB Norge will participate in the following project activities: training for SME staff, enhancing the level of energy efficiency for SMEs, and they will deliver on trainings, analysis and on the study visit.

Summary of project results

CNIPMMR is the only Romanian employers’ confederation representing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) at national level.
CNIPMMR is worried about the sustainable future of SMEs in Romania and energy is an important aspect of that future in the context of new EU green regulations and energy price rises in the pandemic period. In this context, CNIPMMR conducted research on: energy supply methods for SMEs, degree of knowledge regarding the energy sector, alternative sources of energy, applicable law, and funding opportunities regarding new energy sources. The result of the research revealed that the SMEs representatives have no or low knowledge on the
importance of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Therefore, the implementation of the project was justified and represented an opportunity for the Romanian SMEs regarding awareness-raising on the importance of energy efficiency, knowledge raising on the legislation to follow, programmes dedicated to energy, awareness of energy consumption, and funding programs for SMEs in the energy field. 

The project aimed at increasing the knowledge and awareness of Romanian SMEs on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security. The project contributed to:
   - raising awareness on the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy, having informed a considerable number of people and SMEs representatives, 
   - increasing knowledge on legislation and programmes for SMEs in the energy field, 
   - identification of tools for calculating energy consumption and ways to minimize it within an SME.

Outcomes:
   a) Level of self-reported desirability for renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security: 5 (scale from 1-low, 7-high)
   b) Level of self-reported knowledge on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security: 5 (scale from 1-low, 7-high)
   c) Number of people self-reporting enhanced capacity/skills related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security: 32
   d) Number of people self-reporting on improved knowledge related to renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security: 100

Outputs: 
   a) Number of awareness raising campaigns: 1
   b) Number of people completing comprehensive (more than 2 days) trainings on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security implemented: 100
   c) Number of people reached by the awareness-raising on renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security: 200

Results of the implementation of the project:
   - 1 awareness raising campaign in order to increase desire to switch to renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy security;
   - 101 persons completing a 3 days training on renewable energy and energy efficiency;
   - 90 persons (SME representatives) participant to the 3 promotion conferences for renewable energy and energy efficiency on SMEs;
   - 200 SMEs informed about the Analysis / guide "How to become an energy-efficient SME" - steps that an SME must go through to become energy efficient, the legislation to follow, programs dedicated to energy, awareness of energy consumption;
   - 32 SMEs participating in the Platform / application created to calculate the energy consumption level and trying to reach a minimum energy efficiency threshold;
   - 10 persons participating in the Study visit to Norway - how energy efficiency is implemented in SMEs in Norway.

Summary of bilateral results

SMB Norge (SME Norway) is working to change the rules of the game in Norwegian business to the benefit of small and medium-sized businesses. SME Norway has 5.500 members across all industries. SME Norway has been involved in the following project activities: Activity 1 Training for SME staff, Activity 2 Enhancing the level of energy efficiency for SMEs, having delivered training, performed analysis and contributed to the organisation of the study visit in Norway.

Information on the projects funded by the EEA and Norway Grants is provided by the Programme and Fund Operators in the Beneficiary States, who are responsible for the completeness and accuracy of this information.