Scientia et Technica Año XXVI, Vol. 26, No. 03, septiembre de 2021. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira. ISSN 0122-1701 y ISSN-e: 2344-7214
425
Abstract Pollution and environmental deterioration are two
problems that have been exacerbated in recent years, encouraged
by the dramatic increase in the world's energy consumption, the
burning of fossil fuels, and the lack of adequate management of
natural resources. The global approach to this problem has been
made from different perspectives, where the proposals related to
the rational and efficient use of energy highlight. In this sense,
this paper identifies the barriers and motivators related to the
massification of programs that motivate Energy Efficiency in the
Colombian industry, presenting possible proposals for the
solution of challenges of the national context.
Index TermsEnergy Management Systems, Energy
Efficiency, Industry, ISO 50001.
ResumenLa contaminación y el deterioro ambiental son dos
problemas que se han agravado en los últimos años, alentados
por el dramático aumento del consumo energético mundial, la
quema de combustibles fósiles y la falta de una gestión adecuada
de los recursos naturales. El abordaje global de esta problemática
se ha realizado desde diferentes perspectivas, donde destacan las
propuestas relacionadas con el uso racional y eficiente de la
energía. En este sentido, este trabajo identifica las barreras y
motivadores relacionados con la masificación de programas que
motivan la Eficiencia Energética en la industria colombiana,
presentando posibles propuestas para la solución de desafíos del
contexto nacional.
Palabras clavesSistemas de gestión energética, eficiencia
energética, industria, ISO 50001.
This manuscript was sent on October 11, 2021 and accepted on November
26, 2021.
The development of this paper was possible thanks to the Ministerio de
Ciencia y Tecnología - Minciencias, through the project "Valoración de los
criterios técnicos, económicos y regulatorios para la integración de sistemas
de gestión de la energía en la industria y su impacto en las redes de
distribución típicas colombianas", which is a beneficiary of call 891 of
Minciencias "Fortalecimiento de vocaciones y formación en CTeI para la
reactivación económica en el marco de la postpandemia 2020".
J. D. Beltrán Gallego is a student at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Sede Manizales (e-mail: jbeltrang@unal.edu.co).
M. Quintero Ríos is a student at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Sede Manizales (e-mail: maquinterori@unal.edu.co).
D. López García works in the Department of Electrical, Electronic and
Computer Engineering at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede
Manizales (e-mail: dahlopezgar@unal.edu.co).
S. X. Carvajal Quintero works in the Department of Electrical, Electronic
and Computer Engineering at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede
Manizales (e-mail: sxcarvajalq@unal.edu.co).
I. INTRODUCTION
HE increase in the consumption of natural resources
worldwide and the increasingly latent risk of the depletion
of fossil resources is a constant that has lasted in recent
decades, creating widespread concern in the world about the
proper use of natural resources and Greenhouse Gases (GHG)
emissions, recognizing all the harmful and irremediable long-
term effects of not controlling these emissions and the intensive
use of the fossil fuels [1], [2]. Hence, it is vital to search for
methods to reduce energy consumption and GHG emissions
and keep the energy price at reasonable levels [2] since
projections show that, in the coming decades, demand will
continuously increase due to the growing industry dependence
on energy [3].
Electrical energy demand reduction is possible with the
implementation of saving schemes, Energy Efficiency (EE)
programs, and the diversification of the energy matrix through
the massive inclusion of renewable distributed generation units
that take advantage of the regional energy potentials, which are
strategic starting points for the development of energy policies
[4]. Here, EE programs can potentially lead to an intelligent,
sustainable, and inclusive growth of society, as recognized by
the European community [5]. Here, it is necessary to consider
that the industry has an influential weight in the energy
consumption of any nation, being one of the main contributors
to GHG emissions, where the reduction of these stands out as a
significant non-energy benefit in EE programs [3], [6], [7].
Also, it is relevant to highlight that in the industrial sector is
possible to obtain encouraging results through programs that
promote rational energy use and efficiency improvements,
leading to help in mitigating emissions to the atmosphere and
reducing the accelerated increase in electrical energy demand
[8].
Therefore, it is necessary to identify the barriers that hinder
the integration of energy management programs, as well as to
determine the factors that motivate the implementation of
industry-focused EE programs. These programs allow greater
productive use of electricity and promote small-scale
renewable energy projects, helping to reduce dependence on
imported fossil fuels [4], [9].
Also, the current world energy transition has to be
highlighted, where economic, technological, political, and
cultural phenomena interact, promoting measures to encourage
and contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.
Challenges and recommendations for the
massification of energy management systems in
Colombian industry
Desafíos y recomendaciones para la masificación de los sistemas de gestión
energética en la industria colombiana
J. D. Beltrán-Gallego ; M Quintero-Ríos ; D. López-García ; S. X. Carvajal Quintero
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22517/23447214.24946
Artículo de Revisión
T
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Energy transition has as fundamental pillars the increase in EE
and the massification of renewable energy generation sources
in order to reduce the energy sector carbon footprint; with EE
measures being one of the best short-term alternatives that can
have a significant impact in the industry through a reduction in
operating costs and an increase in business competitiveness
[10].
This paper reviews the alternatives that allow the
massification of EE in the industry, focusing on Energy
Management Systems (EnMS) and evaluating the challenges
found in the Colombian paradigm. In addition, a series of
recommendations are established that can make it possible to
face the challenges identified in the national panorama; for this,
the second section presents the importance of EnMS in the
industry and introduces the motivations and barriers that exist
when implementing alternatives in EE in the world. Then, the
third section shows the panorama of EE in Colombia, the main
limitations of the current context, and the economic
implications of the Covid-19 pandemic in the industry. The
fourth section proposes a series of recommendations to address
the main challenges of the national industry related to the
incorporation of EE programs. Finally, the conclusions and
final comments are presented.
II. ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE INDUSTRY
Energy efficiency is not a new term for the world, this
definition began to be used in 1970 due to the oil crisis, seeking
that countries promote policies aimed at saving energy to avoid
economic crisis associated with high fossil fuel prices [11],
[12]. It is possible to understand the definition of EE from
several perspectives depending on the author but, all agree on
minimizing energy consumption without compromising the
quality of the final product by eliminating losses and wastes in
the processes [13][18]. Nevertheless, the concern about
making energy savings remains due to the increase of the fossil
fuels prices and the pollution associated with the GHG
emissions; these are essential points for the renewal of interest
in the massification of alternative energy resources through
sustainable development [19], the search for alternatives for
EnMS, and the performance of EE programs to contribute to
the reduction of GHG emissions in the world [10], [11] since
from the environmental point of view the reduction of energy
consumption is a cornerstone in global GHG emissions
mitigation [20].
In this sense, one of the measures that promote EE is the
EnMS which are defined as the collection and transformation
of concepts, approaches, and methodologies for allowing end-
users to become active users, improving the rational use of
energy and energy performance through constant monitoring
and evaluation of its processes without reducing the
production, the quality or the comfort levels [21]. These
methodological structures allow organizations to establish
guidelines that promote continuous improvement at all levels
of the company, creating an interaction between processes
allowing to set objectives and establishing clear goals, as well
as providing the possibility of evaluating the effectiveness of
actions taken in the EnMS [22], [23].
Nevertheless, it is convenient to consider the multiple
factors that restrict the planning and implementation of EnMS,
preventing them from being prolonged over time, these barriers
hinder sustainable development and the competitiveness of
companies. Therefore, recognizing the conditions and benefits
of the implementation of the EnMS is crucial for the design of
an adequate methodology adapted to a specific industry, since
this will allow to establish from a multidisciplinary perspective
the economic, technological and social phenomena that impact
each organization [24]. The last will allow the selection of
criteria for the replacement of factors that do not generate
added value in the products or tools to enhance the benefits of
the system [25].
From the economic point of view, the initial investment for
projects associated with EE, and the long period of return on
investment, are fundamental factors when making an
investment decision within the industries. The preceding added
to the ignorance presented by industries management related to
the credits available from the government, and the scarcity of
economic support generates a disinterest in banking entities
and a perception of high risk in financial institutions due to the
limited awareness of the benefits of the measures framed in
EE, representing a great barrier for the massification of EnMS
[12], [26][28].
Regarding Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs),
financial institutions have considerations when committing to
this type of project due to the lack of guarantees and the
transactional costs of generating a loan to these enterprises
[28]. In this sense, risk aversion is one of the companies'
central problems when implementing EE programs [26], [27].
Furthermore, the need to focus resources on priorities defined
by the organization, such as production and quality diverts the
gaze from projects associated with EE, generating resistance to
changes due to the perception that any action framed in the
EnMS is something complex and challenging [26].
On the other hand, EnMS and programs aimed to increase
EE in the industry bring with it several non-energy benefits
such as the reduction of maintenance in equipment [29], the
production increase [6], the enhancement of the product quality
[29], and the improvement of the efficiency in the use of raw
materials [13]. These aspects, far from being negligible, are
reflected in the increase of economic benefits within the
company, becoming drivers for EE investors [30];
unfortunately, these non-energy benefits are usually
overlooked, leading to the underestimation of the potential total
financial profit of this kind of program [6].
The economic benefits of EnMS must be accompanied by
management aimed at the use of resources, thus reducing waste
and losses in each process. Management oriented towards
resource efficiency helps reduce environmental impacts and
costs in manufacturing systems; this involves having a more
sustainable society. For this reason, the rise of energy prices,
juridical environmental constraints, and incentives are
fundamental elements to stimulate the industry, motivating
companies to implement EE strategies [31].
At the managerial level, decisions are the starting element
for any EnMS, since its successful implementation depends on
the commitment of all levels of the organization, especially
senior management. Without this commitment, it makes no
sense to implement this kind of program since this would imply
efforts in vain, loss of time, and unsatisfactory results [11]. On
the other hand, the active participation of all levels of the
organization will guarantee the success of the EE project [32].
Having strong leadership from the management plays a
fundamental role with its employees by supporting their
contributions, influencing their cooperation with the energy
manager and the senior management of the organization [33].
Management should be made to understand that the
implementation of EnMS in the industry allows organizations
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to improve the public image [29] and the projection of a
broader potential in the market; since showing the public the
measures implemented and the results generated by EE
programs are aspects that can influence customers when
making a purchase decision [34]. In this way, the advantages at
the financial and organizational level are also perceived with
great relevance to promote a better EE, this due to the
marketing interests of entrepreneurs and managers of large
industries [35].
In this way, productivity improvement is an essential
motivator [6], [34]. In search of increasing business
competitiveness, it is possible to understand it as lower use of
energy per unit produced and can be presented as a time and/or
resources saving due to automation processes or data collection
[34]. Production can be a vehicle to reduce the waste of energy
and resources at the same time [35] since by reducing the
energy consumption necessary for the product manufacturing
and increasing production levels, the industrial sector is
benefited and is being encouraged to be competitive at national
and international level [36]. Also, it creates new jobs, directly
and indirectly, because new traders are generated that revolve
around EE, where the effort is not focused only on
manufacturing but also on research and development, service,
and installation programs [37].
The ecological benefits that the implementation of EnMS
brings are one of the greatest motivators for the deployment of
EE programs [2], [19], [20], [34], [38][43]. Well, the literature
indicates that these motivators can be even more attractive than
the same economic benefits, since the organization is showing
social responsibility and harmony with the sustainable
development objectives that seek to reduce GHG, at the same
time that this translates into energy savings [13], [29].
Taking into account the above, it is important that the
regulations that arise respond to the reality of each country and
the limited resources on the industry, in such a way that they
can attract the top management of the companies to make
strategic decisions based on the potential improvement, utilities
and the perceived performance generated by an EnMS, where
commitments and objectives are established for allowing the
success of development and implementation of this EnMS
programs [44].
The regulation must ensure that the state promotes
innovation and competitiveness in the industry, prioritizing
social purposes and promoting sustainable development
through measurable and clear goals, and by setting
performance standards that generate a real commitment from
state policies to promote the industry through sustainable
development, implementing a vision of shared value between
government and industry with programs that encourage a more
competitive and less polluting industry [36]. But, it is crucial to
consider which this type of program does not last over time
since although initial economic support is envisioned, in an
extended time-horizon each company must appropriate its
system and sustain it over time, maintaining the performance
standard achieved and raising it in as much as possible [44].
Accordingly, it is necessary to establish a clear, coherent
regulatory framework able to be sustainable over time, and it is
essential to secure the way to monitor the measures, provide
the industries with tools to implement the EnMS, and designate
public entities to operate as control agents [45].
The industrial sector is incentivized by the government with
general reductions in taxes, linking favorable tax treatment to
energy-saving efforts [46], with subsidies or public funding to
motivate the adoption of EE technologies [47]. Public EE
policies are composed of mechanisms such as price regulation,
management or legislation, and economic and fiscal incentives
[48]. Non-fiscal incentives such as subsidies, preferential loans,
and research and development funds potentially encourage
investment in EE; these incentives will make EE programs
more attractive for companies [46].
In this context, technological renovation is a crucial factor
in the EE programs since the use of obsolete technologies is
one of the principal causes of inefficiencies and high energy
consumption in the industries, consequently, factories with
reduced EE can improve substantially by introducing high
energy-efficiency technologies, which allow the reduction of
intensive energy consumption due to the losses associated with
their processes, reducing the associated cost for each gross unit
produced [13], [29], [49], [50]. Therefore, searching for the
maximization of efficiency in machines and industrial
processes contributes to the development of efficient and
sustainable production [31].
Finally, the industries have technical limitations that can
lead to an increase in losses and inefficiencies in the industry, a
clear example of this is that due to the immersion of reagents in
the network, it leads to a reduction in the power transport
capacity active, to an increase in the losses in the network, to
the deterioration of the voltage profile and with all this to the
decrease in the quality of the service [51]. Another aspect to be
highlighted at a technical level is that in practice it is common
to oversize equipment, for example, the choice of motors with
greater capacity than is really needed, this to satisfy the
demand for additional loads and make a projection in the team
time [52].
III. COLOMBIA AND THE MASSIFICATION OF ENERGY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC
The energy consumption registered by the industrial and
commercial sectors at a global level is the cause of around
40% of GHG emissions; therefore, the decrease in this type of
consumption is decisive for countries to meet their national
commitments to reduce emissions to the atmosphere [38]. In
the Colombian case, according to the characterization of the
demand made in [42] and [53] for the year 2015, the industrial
sector consumes around 29.8% of the energy at the national
level, which is equivalent to 327,693 TJ of energy, this being
the second sector with the highest consumption after the
transport sector, which consumes approximately 40% of the
country's total energy [53]. This massive consumption is
comparable with the importance of this sector for the Gross
Domestic Production (GDP), with the industrial sector
showing a share of 11-14% of GDP between 1994 and 2014
[36]. The GDP belonging to the industrial sector is a
determining variable in the national economy, which
according to DANE, in 2015 was up to 21 USD billion [42].
However, for the year 2020 the national GDP presented a drop
of 6.8% due to the effects generated by the Covid-19
pandemic, particularly the industry decreased by 11.1% for the
third quarter of 2020, this contributes -1.4% to the annual
variation [54].
In this context, the EE of industries plays a crucial role in
social sustainability, economic performance, and
environmental protection [3], because it leads to energy
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conservation. Hence, many programs and measures have been
proposed to promote the improvement of EE in industrial
sectors, which has been strengthened not only by the concern
associated with climate change but also because the measures
framed in the EE allow incentives for energy security,
development, and economic competitiveness which are
essential factors for the growth of any nation [36].
In this context, for organizations to reduce their energy
consumption and to contribute to the solution of environmental
problems, the ISO 50001 Standard was originated in 2011
which implementation can lead to a high impact on EE and
climate change [55], within this standard, international
experience of the best practices in implementation,
maintenance, and operation of EnMS at all organizational
levels have been collected [21]. This standard brings significant
benefits to industries by supporting the establishment of
processes and systems that encourage energy performance
improvement, its use, and consumption, all this aimed at
achieving cleaner production within the industrial sector [55].
In consequence, Colombia adopted this standard through the
NTC-ISO 50001 at the end of 2011 to comply with the
international recommendations outlined in the ISO standard
[11].
In Colombia, through the University - Company - State
strategy, there have been several studies and pilot projects that
allow the country to have extensive experience in energy
management [21], [56]. In this strategy, research has been the
main actor through the EE benefits dissemination and with the
development of route maps adapted to the current state of
national energy consumption. Based on these ideas, the
Colombian Network of Knowledge in Energy Efficiency -
(RECIEE by its Spanish initials) was created in 2003 [11]. One
of the main objectives of this network is the identification of a
management model that allows the continuity and
sustainability of the results of EE programs and strategies in
the country, and the integration of energy management in
industry, through the development of energy management
projects and research lines with an impact on industry's
productivity and competitiveness [57]. On the other hand, in
2007, the Comprehensive Energy Management model was
developed, which originates the Comprehensive Energy
Management System. Thanks to this background, RECIEE led
the National Strategic Program on Comprehensive Energy
Management Systems was planned and developed between
2010 and 2013, thanks to which 12 companies nationwide
implemented sustainable EnMS [11]. Consequently, at the end
of 2016, the Industrial Energy Efficiency program began in
Colombia, which aimed to transform and promote the market
for EE services and products for the industry through
regulations and technical standards for capacities in EnMS and
process optimization methods [58].
Al the national level, in the last five (5) years, one of the
highlighted elements that promote the massification of
alternatives in EE is the demand projections made by the
Mining and Energy Planning Unit (UPME by its Spanish
initials), in which an increase of energy of approximately 52%
between 2016 and 2030 is projected [53]. Although national
planning seeks the energy matrix diversification to meet the
growing demand without increasing GHG emissions, EE
should be considered a complementary path for reliability
improvement, keeping constant or even reducing the level of
GHG emissions and other pollutants [53]. The last will make it
possible to cooperate with the commitment that the Colombian
state currently has to reduce GHG emissions by 20%, which is
one of the main reasons for strategies enhancement to preserve
the environment and improve the EE of national industries
[59]. In this sense, due to the energy transition and the
extensive national trajectory related to EE, different regulatory
incentives have been created, such as Law 1715 of 2014, which
highlights because it defines efficient energy management as
the set of actions aimed at ensuring energy supply through the
implementation of EE measures and demand response [60].
Also, this Act makes it possible for those interested in invest in
projects related to non-conventional energy sources and
efficient energy management to access tax incentives set by
this Law once the requirements and procedures established by
the pertinent entities are fulfilled [61].
Despite the incentives that exist at the national level for
these initiatives, it is necessary not to lose sight of the most
relevant barriers that prevent the massification of EnMS in the
Colombian industry. These can be grouped into organizational,
cultural, economic, and regulatory aspects [62], [53], [63]. At
the regulatory level, the participation of the local and national
administration in the design of programs that take into account
all business levels, from SMEs to large enterprises, is pertinent
so that the programs do not fall short when implemented.
However, from the financial sphere, it is essential to have the
necessary resources and inputs [63], since, even with the will
of the organization, if the resources are not available to build
effective measures in EE, it will not be possible to have a
development of these programs.
From the organizational point of view, strong leadership is
essential for guiding the habits and customs of the members of
the organization towards a culture of energy saving, this
without forgetting that the support and encouragement of
senior managers, in disposition and economically, is decisive
for the performance of a correct exercise in EE [64], [32], [33].
Here, it is crucial to consider the stimuli that public entities
offer to companies that implement EE programs, which has a
significant influence on the process. Nevertheless, these
motivators are not always visible or perceived as influential on
decision-making for marked influence people within the
organization. The last, together with the little belief of some
individuals within companies regarding the benefits of these
kinds of programs is one of the greatest limitations within the
national context for the massification of EnMS in the industry
[62], [53], [63]. In short, there is a need for greater
dissemination of the benefits of these programs to increase the
number of companies that dare to seek certification in energy
management and thereby support these initiatives. Finally, it is
crucial to highlight that the existing barriers in the country are
also present at the international level in countries that seek to
incorporate EE as a state policy [63].
Furthermore, an element to consider in the national
panorama related to the EE is the results presented by the
Useful Energy Balance (UEB) study, which compares the
consumption of the current technologies used in the country
with the electricity demand of the use of the best national or
international technologies (Best Available Technologies -
BAT). The results show that the useful energy in Colombia
represents 31% of the final energy; also, inefficiency in
consumption is around 67%, which costs the country between
6,600 and 11,000 million USD per year. From the point of
view of efficiency in the industry, in this context, the final
energy could be reduced between 71,000 TJ and 97,000 TJ,
achieving savings up to 810 USD million and 1,400 USD
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million by measuring respectively national BAT and
international BAT [10]. There is currently an unpromising
horizon for Colombian industry because according to the
national development plan, only 22% of companies are
considered innovative, and the relationship between industry
and university was 2.7% for the year 2016, the latter turns out
to be an impediment to the development of qualified
professionals with a pragmatic vision of the industry [65].
In this sense, it is worth highlighting the effect that Covid-
19 has had on the national economy and industry. In Colombia,
like the vast majority of countries in the world, it was
necessary to implement restrictive and confinement measures
[66]; thus, global mobility fell significantly, falling by as much
as 50% in April 2020. These measures had a substantial impact
on the companies operational activities, the mobility of people,
the distribution of products, and the supply of goods and
services. In economic terms, it is a crisis both in the supply and
demand sectors with different characteristics and possible
solutions [54].
As expected, an effect of the above-mentioned is that the
region had a negative economic impact. In fact, the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
presented its traditional Preliminary Balance in December of
2020 of the Economies of Latin America and the Caribbean, in
which America's continent was the most affected region
globally, to such an extent that the Covid-19 pandemic is
considered the worst economic crisis in the last 120 years [67].
At the sectoral level, it must be said that, although the current
situation has had a negative influence on all sectors of the
economy, the intensity is different according to the sector,
where the least affected have been mining, financial services,
essential character services, and agriculture; however, the most
affected ones have been construction, transport, manufacturing,
and commerce [67].
Consequently, the difficulties in the industry that have been
occurring in Colombia resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic
should lead each sector of the economy to seek a way to reduce
costs and increase their income; for this, savings and reducing
of surpluses in production is a crucial factor. Considering this,
from an economic, environmental, and sustainable point of
view, EnMS and EE programs have aspects that can be used by
the Colombian industry to potentiate and make effective the
benefits of these programs; therefore, it is advisable to rely on
frameworks such as Lean Manufacturing and regulations such
as ISO 50001 since, although it is possible to have good results
without a certified system, experience has shown that the most
outstanding results belong to those systems with certification
[40]. In a complementary way, an important aspect to consider
is the relevance of the use of technology since the
encouragement of BAT use would lead to the energy losses
reduction, and therefore, a decrease in economic losses, the
latter being a crucial aspect to attract investors and motivate
top management in companies.
IV. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS IN COLOMBIA
Based on the above, Table I shows the main challenges
associated with the EE programs implementation in the
Colombian industry and a series of recommendations and
proposals that would help to overcome these challenges in the
national context.
TABLE I
CHALLENGES WITHIN THE COLOMBIAN INDUSTRY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF EE PROGRAMS
Sociocultural challenges
Challenges of the country with the
international community
Economic challenges
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Technical and technological challenges
It is pertinent to enforce what is stipulated in article 28 of Law
1715, related to the setting of specific sectoral objectives that
allow the establishment of measures and instruments for the
renewal of equipment for others with a higher energy performance
[71].
The importance of regulation regarding the industry's actions that
can improve technical parameters of the network is evident, this is
the case of Resolution CREG 015 of 2018, which required
industries, through penalties establishment, to pay attention to
reactive power injection to the electrical system, allowing the
improvement in the voltage profile, the correction of the power
factor and therefore, the reduction of the system congestion [52],
[72]. At the same time, it is also necessary to understand and
highlight the impact that technological renewal would generate in
industrial processes and the potential improvement associated with
the equipment replacement by better energy performance
appliances [29], [13], [49], [50].
At a technical level, the oversizing of equipment is a factor that
affects the decrease in the power factor, increasing the use of
reactive energy that circulates through electrical systems [52],
[51]. Hence, it is convenient to carefully apply the two
fundamental criteria for the equipment sizing according to the
needs of the system [52]: (1) It is necessary to deeply know each
process to establish strategies aimed at the efficient use of energy,
and (2) Establish the amount of energy consumed by each of the
equipment through decentralized metering.
Regulatory challenges
Law 1715 of 2014 regulates the integration of non-conventional
renewable energies into the national electricity system establishing
the criteria for the massification of these energy sources. The fifth
chapter of this Law refers to efficient energy management
promotion through the Indicative Action Plan for Energy
Efficiency (PAI-PROURE by its Spanish initials), which enables
the creation of planning and information instruments of a
technical, legal, economic, and financial nature to allow the
development of energy regulations and incentive the development
of EE in the country [71]. The last allows the creation of a
comprehensive regulatory framework aimed at identifying the
forms of financing and budgetary needs for the promotion of
efficient energy management, the establishment of clear goals in
specific time frames, and the creation of methodologies that allow
evaluating the performance of the industry in terms of EE. Then, it
is necessary to establish, in the National Development Plan, clear
sectorial goals, adapted to the reality of the country, for the
improvement of energy performance that allows sustainable
development, thus generating a real commitment from state
policies for the massification of renewable and efficient energy
generation [65]. In addition, in a complementary manner, the
necessary financial means for the development of activities by
RECIEE must be established, which allows generating new spaces
for the continuously dissemination and exchange of knowledge on
good operational practices, to allow industries to improve their
energy performance, thus complying with the provisions of Law
1715 [71].
Organizational challenges
The main challenges at the organizational level are associated with
the commitment of the organization's members to EE programs
since the importance of senior management commitment during
the EnMS implementation process should be highlighted [21]. The
latter since the administrative leadership will be in charge of
defining authorities guarantees so that the planning and execution
processes have good endowments of resources, activities, and
responsibilities that allow the effective operation in the planning
and implementation of the system, thus leading to integrate the
SGEn into the organizational culture [34], [49], [33], [27]. A
proposed strategy is the appointment of a manager with technical
knowledge of energy consumption, who will be in charge of the
energy management within the company, and who participate in
the administrative decisions of the company [73]. The last could
guarantee the constant awareness of administrators and investors
about the importance of executing EE actions, which will have a
significant impact on the rest of the organization due to the vital
role that management commitment plays in EE strategies. In
addition, clear communication channels are necessary for allowing
top management to stay informed about the status and risks of the
EnMS [73].
V. CONCLUDING REMARKS
This paper reviewed the alternatives that allow the
massification of EE in the industry, focusing on EnMS and
evaluating the challenges found in the Colombian paradigm
for proposing some recommendations that can make it
possible to overcome the challenges identified in the national
panorama.
To fulfill the country's commitments to the SDGs, and in
turn promote the massification of the EnMS and EE programs
in the country, a state policy is necessary for supporting
industries, providing subsidies for the purchase of more
efficient equipment, and tax incentives that support and
encourage companies to be certified in regulations such as ISO
50001, ensuring that these incentives are not held only by
large companies since although the industries with the highest
energy consumption should be the more promoted to
implement this type of programs due to their energy savings
potential, it is also essential to motivate SMEs since it
contributes to their growth, as well as, the impact of EE
becomes widespread. Here, it is noteworthy that although the
government has encouraged companies to implement energy
management programs, the incentives that are currently
present are not enough to motivate more companies to invest
in these areas.
Strong awareness of the importance of saving and
conscious consumption of energy is necessary for the
successful implementation of EnMS because the lack of
knowledge of the impacts of EE in the industry is still
common in the national context. Therefore, to attack the
problem hearth, education institutions should make these
issues more visible, either by incorporating them into the
syllabus or through annual conferences where energy agents
develop campaigns for educational institutions that allow the
young population to understand the importance of these issues.
In a complementary way, the increase in economic benefits
and educational aid by the government and individuals, for
those who wish to study EE-related issues is an initiative that,
in the long term, will lead to better research and widespread
knowledge about the EE methodologies, thus leading to more
attractive future for EE projects and EnMS.
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José David Beltrán Gallego es estudiante
de ingeniería eléctrica de último semestre
de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia
Sede Manizales. Es miembro activo del
grupo de investigación Environmental
Energy and Education Policy E3P. Sus
áreas de investigación son la eficiencia
energética y las redes inteligentes y
microrredes.
ORCID: http://orcid.org/ 0000-0003-4382-3026
Scientia et Technica Año XXVI, Vol. 26, No. 04, diciembre de 2020. Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira
433
Mauricio Quintero Ríos es ingeniero
electricista y estudiante de maestría en
ingeniería eléctrica de la Universidad
Nacional de Colombia Sede Manizales.
Es miembro activo del grupo de
investigación Environmental Energy and
Education Policy E3P. Sus áreas de
investigación son la respuesta de la
demanda y eficiencia energética.
ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4365-5798
Dahiana López García es ingeniera
electricista, magíster en ingeniería
eléctrica y estudiante de doctorado en
ingeniería automática de la Universidad
Nacional de Colombia Sede Manizales.
Es miembro activo del grupo de
investigación Environmental Energy and
Education Policy E3P. Sus áreas de
investigación son los mercados de
energía, la respuesta de la demanda y las redes inteligentes.
ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6611-7402
Sandra Ximena Carvajal Quintero es
ingeniera electricista, magíster en
ingeniería eléctrica y doctora en ingeniería
automática graduada de la Universidad
Nacional de Colombia Sede Manizales.
Actualmente es profesora de dedicación
exclusiva en el Departamento de
Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y
Computación de la Universidad Nacional
de Colombia Sede Manizales. Sus áreas de investigación son
la gestión eléctrica, las redes inteligentes y los mercados de
energía eléctrica.
ORCID: http://orcid.org/ 0000-0001-6774-9065