Enhancing SME Energy Management: Development of an Assessment Tool to Identify Improvement Opportunities and Support their Implementation

To address the gap in energy management tools tailored specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this paper discusses a research project aimed at developing an assessment tool to evaluate and improve energy management practices within this critical economic group. The methodology presented includes a thorough literature review focused also on principles from the ISO 50001 family of international technical standards to ensure that the tool meets global best practices in energy management. The resulting maturity model will aim to help SMEs to perform comprehensive self-assessments, helping to identify strengths and weaknesses in their energy management practices. The tool is designed to be user-friendly and provide immediate feedback to help identify and address areas for improvement. The expected outcomes include enhanced energy management, increased efficiency, and the collection of relevant information about the general state of energy management in SMEs. We anticipate that the tool will provide helpful support to SMEs in understanding their energy management needs and in starting a practical and solid improvement plan.