Enhancing industrial energy efficiency: Strategies, barriers and opportunities in the context of electricity supply challenges

Abstract

Industrial energy efficiency is widely promoted as a means of reducing operating costs and advancing sustainability, yet its adoption within energy-intensive manufacturing remains uneven. This study examined how energy efficiency strategies, barriers, and policy influences manifest within a metal processing plant to identify practical levers for cost reduction and sustainable energy management. A quantitative case-study approach was adopted, using structured questionnaires administered to managerial and technical staff ( n = 29 ). Descriptive and comparative analyses were applied to assess energy monitoring practices, technology adoption, perceived barriers and drivers, and policy effectiveness. The findings reveal a strong operational culture of energy monitoring and benchmarking, contrasted by limited system-wide optimisation and weak institutional alignment. Financial constraints and competing investment priorities were the most significant barriers, while cost savings, long-term planning, and integration of energy into environmental management systems emerged as dominant drivers. Policy instruments were viewed as moderately effective at present but increasingly crucial for future adoption. These insights are valuable for industrial managers and policymakers seeking to translate energy awareness into sustained efficiency gains and improved governance at the plant level. • High energy monitoring coexists with weak policy institutionalisation at the plant level. • Financial constraints dominate decisions despite widespread efficiency awareness. • Cost reduction and internal governance outweigh external policy incentives. • Public audits and voluntary schemes show limited influence on plant decisions. • Policy impact depends on alignment with firm-level governance and investment cycles.