SKILLS CERTIFICATION FOR EGE IN THE ERA OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE 2030 AGENDA
Over the past decade, the activities carried out by Energy Managers/EGEs have become increasingly intertwined with the world of sustainability, especially since the adoption of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Many companies have embraced goals and pathways that include different dimensions of sustainability, such as energy, environment, ecosystem protection, equity, equality, respect for workers and resources, and more.
The rational use of energy assumes a crucial role in policies aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change and global warming. Energy efficiency and the adoption of renewable sources increasingly influence business costs, including direct and indirect costs such as the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), reduced supply risks, and access to more cost-effective resources to support business growth.
The increasing adoption of approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly those attributable to the supply and distribution chain, reinforces the connection between energy and sustainability, placing energy management policies front and center and linking them to the concept of circularity.
This development underscores the importance of complementing the energy skills of the energy manager with a knowledge base on issues of sustainability, circularity, and emissions reduction. However, it is crucial to emphasize that the goal is not to create an all-encompassing manager profile, but rather to foster collaboration among specialists in these areas by providing similar pathways for their acquisition of energy knowledge.
As of October 2022, the ACCREDIA website reports the presence of 3,091 certificates, issued by various certification bodies, related to the certification of Expert in Energy Management (UNI CEI 11339), in accordance with Legislative Decree 102/2014.
The UNI CEI 11339 standard on EGEs makes it possible to certify the skills of energy managers and take advantage of the opportunities offered by Law No. 4 of January 14, 2013 on professional figures not organized in orders and colleges. According to the definition in Legislative Decree 115/2008, the EGE is described as a “person who has the knowledge, experience and capacity to manage the use of energy efficiently.” The EGE thus represents a qualification assigned to a modern, interdisciplinary professional figure, called upon to operate in a new European energy market that, in compliance with EU directives to liberalize the sector, is redefining the balance between consumers, energy suppliers and ESCOs.
The green transition requires a wider diffusion of energy efficiency, and to achieve the goals of the energy transition, the market needs professionals with certified skills: technology alone is not enough.
Competency certifications, issued by an accredited third party such as Ricec International, are a recognition of the skills and knowledge acquired by the person over the course of his or her work, training and life experience.
