Energy Efficiency Analysis of SME Sector at Macro and Meso Levels: Problem and Solutions

Abstract

Russia joined the global Agenda for Sustainable Development, what implies a doubling of energy efficiency of the economy by 2030, what is ensured by special measures of state policy and monitoring of its effectiveness. Energy efficiency improvement in the field of SMEs is essential both to reduce the energy intensity of the entire economy and to improve the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, the Russian system of accounting and analysis of energy efficiency is not sufficiently developed. Currently, Rosstat does not produce data on the consumption of the SME sector and does not calculate energy intensity either for the SME sector as a whole, or by types of activity or by territories. The development of energy efficiency analysis tools of SMEs is an urgent scientific and practical problem. The article suggests a method for the analysis of relevant Rosstat data which allows to identify the most important areas for energy efficiency improvement in the SME sector by territories and types of activity. The authors identified federal districts and regions that are leaders in the contribution of the SME sector to the gross regional product and, at the same time, outsiders in terms of the rate of reduction in the energy intensity of the economy. These regions are expected to give special attention to strengthening measures which improve the energy efficiency of SMEs. The authors identified the types of activities in which the strengthening of energy efficiency policies is of paramount importance due to the largest weight in the turnover structure of SMEs and due to the significantly higher energy intensity of production than the average for the economy. The authors suggest studying the possibility of introducing an energy management level index to improve the tools for energy intensity analysis of the SME sector.