Schneider Electric partnered with Greenbiz to complete a study on the current state on corporate energy and sustainability programs. The research report reveals that most organizations feel prepared for a decentralized, decarbonized and digitized future, but many are not taking the necessary steps to integrate and advance their energy and sustainability programs.

This false sense of security can be attributed to the finding that most companies still take fairly conventional approaches to energy management and climate action. And the gaps in innovation are further complicated by limited coordination between procurement, operations and sustainability departments, as well as inefficient data collection and sharing.

81% of companies have made efficiency upgrades or plan to, but 30% or less are considering new energy opportunities such as microgrids and demand response.

According to the survey of almost 240 large corporations ($100 million in revenue or more) from around the globe, 85 percent of respondents said their company is taking action over the next three years to keep its carbon-reduction plans competitive with industry leaders. But the projects that have been initiated or are in development skew heavily toward energy, water and waste conservation. Outside of renewables, few of the organizations represented are implementing more advanced strategies and technologies to manage energy and emissions.

Key findings include:

• Eighty-one percent of respondents have made energy efficiency upgrades or plan to within the next two years; 75 per cent are working to reduce water consumption and waste.

• Fifty-one per cent have completed or are planning to pursue renewable energy projects.

• Just 30 percent have implemented or are actively planning to use energy storage, microgrids or combined heat and power — or some mix of the technologies.

• Only 23 percent have demand response strategies or plan to in the near term.

Link to the full blog and download report:

https://blog.schneider-electric.com/sustainability/2018/01/26/new-research-reveals-companies-unprepared-new-energy-economy/