Sustainable energy consumption in European manufacturing: the driver for a new research agenda addressing climate change, energy supply, and global competitiveness

摘要

Addressed are the topics of energy consumption and the future impacts that energy supply and use will have on European manufacturing. The scope of energy related matters encompasses three critical issues: climate change, security of supply, and depletion of world oil reserves. The first issue tends to hold centre stage, but only belatedly, but addressing this problem on its own ignores the second and third of the critical issues considered. The consequences of such an omission, for European manufacturing, are explored. Through the use of a scenario it is argued that a failure to consider all three matters might lead to a circumstance where there will be significant (further) decline of European manufacturing. This decline, it is argued, will be driven by the economics of the comparative advantage of nations, in which countries such as China stand poised to benefit, not because of labour cost or technological advantages, but because of their potential to create low-energy costs relative to other nations. The work presented represents the outcome of the first phase of privately funded research work that is aiming to develop a new research strategy, along with policy recommendations. This first phase has led to some foundational recommendations, presented here, upon which this new research strategy will be based. Development of this strategy will be addressed in the next phase of the work, which will be completed by early 2009.