Within EnTRAINER projects, funded by the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) program under Grant Agreement No 101076424, two accredited training courses have been developed. These are the “Energy Transition Course” trainings for energy professionals and energy auditors.
The general learning outcomes of the course are to enable participants to understand the potential of Energy Transition Audits (ETA) and multiple benefits, such as environmental, economic, and organizational; to become familiar with current legal obligations and frameworks related to energy efficiency; to gain knowledge of methodologies for developing energy audits; to build a basis for in-house energy evaluations, and to be able to design a company-level decarbonization plan.
The course is composed of six learning units that are listed below:
- European and national policies for energy efficiency, transition, and decarbonization
This unit introduces the regulatory and policy frameworks guiding Europe’s energy efficiency, energy transition, and decarbonization efforts, with a focus on their implications for the industrial sector. The course will explore the environmental impact of industry, understand both EU and national climate and energy targets, analyze existing legislation and policies. Both the challenges and opportunities faced by energy-intensive companies in adapting to the energy transition will be explored.
- Cutting-edge energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions for energy transition audits
This unit focuses on technical and organizational solutions to enhance energy efficiency and promote decarbonization in industrial contexts. The course will explore the potential of implementation of energy efficiency measures related to building performance, industrial processes, electrical systems, and renewable energy integration. The content covers optimization of energy contracts, process improvements, waste heat recovery and self-production through renewables and co-generation. Moreover, it also focuses on the role of energy management systems and behavioral changes in achieving energy efficiency goals.
- Energy Transition Audits and Decarbonization Action Plans
This unit focuses on the methodology and application of ETAs as tools to drive industrial decarbonization. It builds on conventional energy audits by integrating multiple benefit analysis, decarbonization action plans and roadmap and industry sector benchmarking. The course will explore how to collect and analyze energy data, identify inefficiencies, and design Decarbonization Action Plans.
- Tools for Monitoring and Managing Energy and CO₂ Emissions
This unit introduces the digital tools used to monitor, manage, and optimize energy consumption and related CO₂ emissions. The course will explore different types of Energy Management Systems and national platforms, as well as specific EnTRAINER tools such as the Monitoring & Targeting (M&T) and Measurement & Verification (M&V) tool, heat loss calculator, online energy audit estimator, and on-site auditor. The unit focuses on how these tools can be applied within ETAs to identify energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities, using the M&T and M&V tools.
- Financing energy efficiency and decarbonization measures
This unit focuses on the economic and financial aspects of implementing energy efficiency and decarbonization projects. The course will explore methods for evaluating project feasibility through financial indicators, Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). It also examines funding opportunities, comparing financing schemes and their advantages, and introduces the theory and practical application of Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), to facilitate investing in energy improvements.
- Team Project – Applying an Energy Transition Audit (ETA) to a Case Study
This final unit provides a practical application of the topics covered by the course by analyzing a realistic industrial case study, simulating the stages of an ETA. Suitable energy efficiency and decarbonization measures will be explored to assess their economic feasibility, prioritizing actions through a multi-benefit approach, and drafting a decarbonization plan for the company.
The EnTRAINER training program is performed through both face-to-face and distance learning and it is delivered hrough the EnTRAINER training and knowledge hub platform, available at this link. In addition, a handbook containing all learning units will be made available online for long-term professional use.
