Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU Perspective
Energy-intensive industries (EIIs) face mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining international competitiveness—a balance that is central to achieving the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate objectives. In this context, energy management (EM) emerges as a strategic instrument to...
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| Language: | English |
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/3932 |
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| author | Tadeusz Skoczkowski Sławomir Bielecki Marcin Wołowicz Arkadiusz Węglarz |
| author_facet | Tadeusz Skoczkowski Sławomir Bielecki Marcin Wołowicz Arkadiusz Węglarz |
| author_sort | Tadeusz Skoczkowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Energy-intensive industries (EIIs) face mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining international competitiveness—a balance that is central to achieving the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate objectives. In this context, energy management (EM) emerges as a strategic instrument to decouple industrial growth from fossil energy consumption. This study proposes a redefinition of EM to support carbon-neutral supply chains within the European Union’s EIIs, addressing critical limitations of conventional EM frameworks under increasingly stringent carbon regulations. Using a modified systematic literature review based on PRISMA methodology, complemented by expert insights from EU Member States, this research identifies structural gaps in current EM practices and highlights opportunities for integrating sustainable innovations across the whole industrial value chain. The proposed EM concept is validated through an analysis of 24 EM definitions, over 170 scientific publications, and over 80 EU legal and strategic documents. The framework incorporates advanced digital technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics—to enable real-time optimisation, predictive control, and greater system adaptability. Going beyond traditional energy efficiency, the redefined EM encompasses the entire energy lifecycle, including use, transformation, storage, and generation. It also incorporates social dimensions, such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder engagement, to cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship within EIIs. This holistic approach provides a strategic management tool for optimising energy use, reducing emissions, and strengthening resilience to regulatory, environmental, and market pressures, thereby promoting more sustainable, inclusive, and transparent supply chain operations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1cbe789dcdb34b5bbf657484fa720bc7 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj-art-1cbe789dcdb34b5bbf657484fa720bc72025-08-20T04:00:53ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-07-011815393210.3390/en18153932Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU PerspectiveTadeusz Skoczkowski0Sławomir Bielecki1Marcin Wołowicz2Arkadiusz Węglarz3Faculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 21/25 Nowowiejska St., 00-665 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 21/25 Nowowiejska St., 00-665 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Power and Aeronautical Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 21/25 Nowowiejska St., 00-665 Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, 16 Armii Ludowej Ave., 00-637 Warsaw, PolandEnergy-intensive industries (EIIs) face mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining international competitiveness—a balance that is central to achieving the EU’s 2030 and 2050 climate objectives. In this context, energy management (EM) emerges as a strategic instrument to decouple industrial growth from fossil energy consumption. This study proposes a redefinition of EM to support carbon-neutral supply chains within the European Union’s EIIs, addressing critical limitations of conventional EM frameworks under increasingly stringent carbon regulations. Using a modified systematic literature review based on PRISMA methodology, complemented by expert insights from EU Member States, this research identifies structural gaps in current EM practices and highlights opportunities for integrating sustainable innovations across the whole industrial value chain. The proposed EM concept is validated through an analysis of 24 EM definitions, over 170 scientific publications, and over 80 EU legal and strategic documents. The framework incorporates advanced digital technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data analytics—to enable real-time optimisation, predictive control, and greater system adaptability. Going beyond traditional energy efficiency, the redefined EM encompasses the entire energy lifecycle, including use, transformation, storage, and generation. It also incorporates social dimensions, such as corporate social responsibility (CSR) and stakeholder engagement, to cultivate a culture of environmental stewardship within EIIs. This holistic approach provides a strategic management tool for optimising energy use, reducing emissions, and strengthening resilience to regulatory, environmental, and market pressures, thereby promoting more sustainable, inclusive, and transparent supply chain operations.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/3932energy managementsustainable supply chainenergy efficiencyenergy-intensive industriesindustry decarbonisationcorporate social responsibility |
| spellingShingle | Tadeusz Skoczkowski Sławomir Bielecki Marcin Wołowicz Arkadiusz Węglarz Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU Perspective Energies energy management sustainable supply chain energy efficiency energy-intensive industries industry decarbonisation corporate social responsibility |
| title | Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU Perspective |
| title_full | Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU Perspective |
| title_short | Redefining Energy Management for Carbon-Neutral Supply Chains in Energy-Intensive Industries: An EU Perspective |
| title_sort | redefining energy management for carbon neutral supply chains in energy intensive industries an eu perspective |
| topic | energy management sustainable supply chain energy efficiency energy-intensive industries industry decarbonisation corporate social responsibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/3932 |
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