Project Impacts
Expected impacts will result from the implementation of the GEAR@SME methodology in the four use case countries as well as from a further rollout beyond the project lifetime.
| Project Performance Indicator | Quantification | |
| Within project duration | 5 years after project ends | |
| Primary energy savings triggered by the project | 18GWh/year | 2.700 GWh/year |
| Investments in sustainable energy triggered by the project | 3,0 MEUR | 450 MEUR |
| Market stakeholders with increased skills and long-lasting training schemes | 120 | 2.000 |
| Number of enterprises with enhanced energy culture as well in terms of the sustainability of the behavioural change | 200 | 30.000 |
| Reduction of the CO2 emissions | 3,5 ktCO2/year | 500 ktCO2/year |
Primary energy savings and investments in energy savings
The GEAR@SME project is focused on unlocking the energy savings potential in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through tailored activating-organising-enabling activities. In order to calculate energy savings and investments in energy saving measures, we take as a starting point the use cases, which are foreseen to include four business parks/industrial areas covering at least 800 SMEs. We assume that at least 60% of the total SMEs in the business parks/industrial areas will be activated in the GEAR@SME use cases, and again 40% of the activated SMEs commit to actually implementing energy efficiency measures, either through a collective approach or individually.
Reductions in CO2 emissions
The energy efficiency measures during the project lifetime will result in a CO2 reduction of 3,5 ktCO2/year.
Market stakeholders with increased skills and long-lasting training schemes
Trusted partners play a key role in the success of the GEAR@SME methodology, by bridging the gap between SMEs and energy service providers. Hence, GEAR@SME will ensure the necessary enhancement of skills and dedicated training course first and foremost to Trusted Partner organizations. To this end, 1 Trusted Partner will be trained for each of the 4 project use cases, and an additional 20 per use case via the national upscaling workshops. These Trusted Partners can be from different organisations and have access to new business parks or groups of SMEs. In each use case, the skills of 10 energy service providers (such as auditors, contractors, financial service providers and energy service companies) will also be enhanced.
Number of enterprises with enhanced energy culture/sustainability of behavioural change
In GEAR@SME, SMEs will be activated and their interest in energy efficiency will be raised by focusing on the multiple benefits of energy savings to their business. Trusted Partners in the use cases will have a key role in educating the SMEs, taking into account the core business logic and values of the SMEs. Information materials and collected experiences from the use cases will be made available to create an environment conducive for change in at least 200 SMEs. Behavioural change requires targeting both managerial and operational level.
Other relevant impacts
Following the validation of the GEAR@SME methodology, (cross-border) lesson learned will be summarized and recommendations will be disseminated. The project team will in particular reach out to national government, municipalities and/or managing authorities to influence local and national programmes geared towards promoting energy audits and energy efficiency measures in the use case countries.