Welcome to Transparense project
The Transparense project started in April 2013 and was completed in September 2015. The project brought together 20 European partners and was financed by Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Union with co-funding from the project partners.
The goal of the Transparense project was to help increase the transparency and trustworthiness of Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) markets throughout Europe. With its twenty partners covering both mature and emerging EPC markets, the project tried to exploit its potential to transfer the know-how across Europe, support EPC markets in Europe and thereby achieve substantial energy efficiency improvement.
The European Code of Conduct for EPC launched by Transparense in 2014 defines the basic values and principles that are considered fundamental for the successful preparation and implementation of EPC projects. It went through two year stakeholder process to make sure market players accept their principles. The Code of Conduct was developed in co-operation with the European associations of EPC providers - the European Association of Energy Service Companies (eu.ESCO) and the European Federation of Intelligent Energy Efficiency Services (EFIEES). While the Transparense project was completed in September 2015, the two European associations continue in administering and maintaining the European Code of Conduct for EPC and related activities as it is in line with their goals in supporting the European EPC markets.
The main role of the Code of Conduct is to bring confidence to the EPC market in Europe and compliance with the Code of Conduct serves as a minimum guarantee of the quality of EPC projects implemented. The Code has vast potential to support EPC market development, which can be exploited, for example as discussion guideline between client and EPC provider, guidance for preparation of tender dossiers and contracts, marketing tool and foundation for EPC quality assurance scheme.
The Code of Conduct has been tested in 37 pilot projects which at the same time contributed to the promotion of good practice principles both on the side of ESCOs and clients.
Gradually increased demand for EPC and emergence of new ESCOs is expected to be further supported by the new EU directive on energy efficiency, which defines the requirements for making use of energy services by public institutions. Within Transparense, ESCOs were offered high-quality training programmes and materials. Trainings are one of way how the project supported transfer of experience from developed EPC markets, to those less experienced. Such transfer is supported by databases and reports providing an overview of European EPC markets through information about ESCOs, their associations, EPC models and the existing initiatives promoting EPC.
