News
Survey on Eurostat guidance note
Fill in the European survey on the Eurostat guidance note "The impact of EPCs on government accounts"here.
On 7 August 2015, Eurostat published a guidance note titled "The impact of EPCs on government accounts". If until now the European System of National and Regional Accounts (ESA 2010 - in force since September 2014) was subject to interpretation, now with the Eurostat guidance note it is clear and not at all positive for EPCs.
Eurostat Guidance Note confirmed the interpretation of public accounting rules as regards EPC and public debt stating that in order for a project to be considered a public-private partnership (PPP), capital expenditure for improving energy efficiency by private entities in the contract should reach at least 50% of the total value of the building after the energy efficiency renovation. This is considered a major burden to EPC, as national administrations will hesitate to engage in EPC as they might fear of increasing public debt.
This interpretation should be changed, as it does not take into account that the full investment or at least a part of the investment into the energy efficiency projects is offset by monetary savings and that EPCs can provide an energy savings guarantee.
More information is to be found under the following links:
- Guidance note
- Eurostat presentation (Denis Besnard, Eurostat Unit D1) during "Energy Services Market in the EU" Workshop organised by Joint Research Centre on 22 October 2015.
- All presentations of "Energy Services Market in the EU" Workshop.
- Presentation of the results of the Transparense project.
European Utility Week
Transparense project was presented at the European Utility Week in Vienna on 4 November 2015. The presentation "European EPC Markets and the Code of Conduct as a first step towards harmonisation and standardisation" was held by the Transparense co-ordinator Jana Szomolanyiova and can be downloaded here. She also contributed with the project experiences to the panel discussion: Contract complexity, how to reach standardisation?
Transparense Brochure
Download the Transparense Final Brochure: Towards Transparent Energy Performance Contracting Markets
The brochure includes a summary of the project results, a description of the Code of Conduct and information on the latest market developments.
EPC Code of Conduct Video
The video about the EPC Code of Conduct is finally here!
Watch it and get a quick summary of what the European Code of Conduct can do for you, how it works and how to get involved.
(click on the picture below)
New results of EPC market survey 2015
Brand new data has been added into the existing EPC Market Databases which can be found in the website´s menu:
The data draws from a new 2015 Transparense survey distributed to our European partner countries' most relevant energy services companies and EPC market facilitators. Altogether, 112 EPC providers and facilitators from 20 countries across Europe filled in the survey including the largest EPC providers. The survey had been made available online in order to make the distribution process as easy as possible.
The new survey represents a follow-up to the survey carried out in 2013 aimed at obtaining information on the EPC market in the EU. The survey again covers four key areas: existing ESCOs and national EPC market, EPC models, financing models and policy initiatives.
Thanks to the same survey design, comparisons between the years 2013 and 2015 can be made easily. A summary on the new data and the development since the last survey is being prepared and will be published soon.
EFIEES and eu.esco administer the European Code of Conduct for EPC
The European Federation of Intelligent Energy Efficiency Services (EFIEES) and the European Association of Energy Service Companies (eu.esco) become official European co-administrators of the European Code of Conduct for Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) as of 1st September 2015.
The European Code of Conduct for EPC (EPC Code of Conduct) has been developed within the Transparense project(1), which is co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme of the European Union. The EPC Code of Conduct is a voluntary commitment which defines the basic values and principles that are considered fundamental for the successful preparation and implementation of EPC projects within European countries.
The EPC Code of Conduct already has a significant number of signatories across Europe(2) and is being put into practice. It has been successfully used to introduce clients to the EPC concept and has been seen as a unique selling proposition.
"The main role of the European Code of Conduct for EPC is to bring confidence to the EPC market in the EU, taking into account its variety across Member States," says Valérie Plainemaison, Secretary General of the European Federation of Intelligent Energy Efficiency Services (EFIEES).
"It is a positive sign towards the market and a resilient foundation for long-term business development," says Volker Dragon, Chairman of the European Association of Energy Service Companies (eu.esco).
As a proven energy service model, EPC offers the opportunity to make a significant contribution in meeting the EU's carbon and energy targets.
Notes for editors:
The European Federation of Intelligent Energy Efficiency Services (EFIEES) represents private companies (Energy Efficiency Services Companies, EESCs) providing an overall energy management service to end users. Website: www.efiees.eu
The European Association of Energy Service Companies (eu.esco) was founded in 2009 by the European Building Automation and Controls Association (eu.bac). Website: www.euesco.org
For more information, please contact:
EFIEES: Katarzyna Wardal | +32 2 230 65 50 | katarzyna.wardal@efiees.eu
eu.esco: Andrei Litiu | +32 2 706 82 02 | andrei.litiu@eubac.org
1 The EPC Code of Conduct is available on Transparense project's website: www.transparense.eu
2 For the time being, there are 161 signatories in Europe: 118 EPC providers, 12 associations of EPC providers and 31 other entities operating on the EPC market.
Transparense conference - 18th of June - Brussels
Transparense hosts a session "Increase quality and trust to flourish EPC markets across Europe" at the EUSEW confeence on 18th of June 4pm-5.30pm in Brussels. Session takes place in Committee of the Regions building, 5th floor. For registration please first create EUSEW account and register here. Number of seats is limited.
Session is organised in co-operation with the EESI2020 and ICP Europe projects and two European associations of energy service providers: EFIEES and eu.ESCO.
Objective of the conference session is to present reasons why only tiny part of the estimated vast potential of Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) model has been used and what should be done to allow exploitation of this potential so it significantly contributes in meeting ambitious EU climate and energy targets for 2020. Target audience are European and national policy makers, EPC providers and their associations, EPC facilitators and experts. Policy makers also represent potential public clients, large energy consumers. During first hour of the session main outcomes of the European projects focused on the EPC market development: Transparense, EESI2020 and ICP Europe will be presented as well as experience of the two European associations of energy service providers. It will be moderated by Jaroslav Marousek, Board Director of SEVEn, The Energy Efficiency Center, who has been recently using experience with 20 year support of Czech EPC market in developing several Central and Eastern new EPC markets. At the end of the session panel discussion among the speakers and the representative of DG Energy will be facilitated to look for best solutions to make the EPC markets flourish.
Transparense presented in Brussels
European Code of Conduct for EPC and other Transparense project main outcomes have been presented on Public workshop on innovative financing for energy efficiency and renewables on 28 April 2015 in Brussels organised by the EASME - Executive Agency for Small and Medium Enterprises of the European Commission. See the presentation here.
Up-scaling investments in energy efficiency and renewables is a major challenge to meet the European Union's energy and climate targets for 2030. Lack of public resources requires new approaches to investment. Local and regional authorities have a key role to play in mobilising stakeholders, developing projects pipelines and creating the business case for attracting private investment.
This shift to innovative financing approaches is supported by the European Union's Project Development Assistance (PDA) facilities such as ELENA Intelligent Energy Europe PDA funding to launch up to EUR 4 billion of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy, focused on existing public and private buildings, street lighting, district heating and clean urban transport. Most PDA projects are developing innovative solutions to finance investments through private capital in a sustainable manner.
The workshop focused on operational solutions implemented by local and regional authorities when developing a pipeline of investments, as well as the achievements of on-going projects focused on innovative financing approaches.
33 new signatories
On 31 March 33 parties have signed the European Code of Conduct for Energy Performance Contracting, a set of guidelines, values and principles that are fundamental for a successful implementation of EPC projects (EPCs) in Europe. The Code of Conduct was developed within the IEE project ‘Transparense’ with partners from 20 different EU countries. ECN represents the Netherlands in this project.
“ECN has introduced the code in the Netherlands and cooperates with ESCoNetwerk.nl to ensure that as many companies as possible adopt the code. The fact that so many new companies have endorsed the code is good news for clients of EPC providers. They have gained a better understanding of what to expect and demand from EPC-providers”, says Marijke Menkveld, senior consultant at ECN.
The companies that have endorsed the Code of Conduct are recognized parties in de ESCo industry, a.o.: Cofely, BAM, Strukton, Eneco, Siemens, Honeywell, Ovvia, Veolia, GETEC, Greenfox and in the real estate and financial sector such as CBRE Global Investors, Schiphol Real Estate, Energiefonds Overijssel and the ASN Bank.
EPCs are a relatively new and smart way to achieve energy savings in real estate. The contracts include a commitment to guaranteed energy savings for several years. The client and supplier (the Energy Service Company) come to an agreement on the sustainability (measures, guarantees, refunds, etc.). ESCo’s remain involved in the project for a longer period of time and retrieve their investments from the realised energy savings. This way ESCo’s can enable the client to focus on their core business.
Energy Performance Contracts require a non-traditional relationship between contractor and client, for long-term partnerships require different behaviour and a new mindset. Therefore the European Code of Conduct for Energy Performance Contracts was developed; EPC providers who are signatories of the EPC Code are committed to carry out EPC projects in accordance with the principles of the Code of Conduct.
Transparense UK Newsletter No2
The second UK Transparense newsletter is now available! Find it here.
European Code of Conduct for EPC launched - become one of the first signatories!
European Code of Conduct for Energy Performance Contracting has been finalised and is available for download on the Transparense project website! EPC providers and their associations can apply for signatory status under the EPC Code of Conduct by signing the form to be downloaded here.
The European Code of Conduct for Energy Performance Contracting defines the basic values and principles that are considered fundamental for the successful preparation and implementation of EPC projects within European countries.
The EPC Code of Conduct has been developed within the Intelligent Energy Europe project Transparense in cooperation with inter alia EPC providers, clients and European ESCO associations. The two organisations representing ESCOs at the European level - European Association of Energy Service Companies (eu.ESCO) and EuropeanFederation of Intelligent Energy Efficiency Services (EFIEES) endorse the European Codeof Conduct for EPC and support its use when implementing EPC projects.
European ESCO Market Report available now
The European Commission DG JRC analyses and researches the activities and development of ESCO as part of Scientific & Technical Reference System on Renewable Energy and Energy End-use Efficiency in order to provide accurate information to policy makers, experts and other interested parties. The latest ESCO Market Report for the EU Member States and neighbouring countries, relative to the market situation in year 2013, is now available.
The report concludes that the current forecasts regarding the 2020 target for energy efficiency is on the way to being achieved. The Commission does not intend to propose new measures but calls on the Member States to step up their current efforts to ensure collective delivery of the 2020 target. The Commission will complement these efforts with appropriate guidance and dissemination of best practice to ensure full exploitation of the available Union funds.
The Commission's Communication on a 2030 policy framework for climate and energy identified a level of energy savings of 25% as part of a strategy to deliver the 40% greenhouse gas emission reduction target in the most cost-effective manner. However, given the increased relevance of bolstering EU energy security and reducing the Union's import dependency, the Commission considers it appropriate to propose a higher target of 30%. This would increase the costs of the 2030 Framework by €20 billion per annum but would still deliver tangible economic and energy security benefits.
You can download the full report here.
Code of Conduct for ESCO's: official launching seminar on August 28th in Brussels: register now!
The EPC Code of Conduct defines a set of fundamental values expected from ESCO's in the preparation and implementation of EPC projects. The Code is a strong statement and quality label for ESCO's signing to respect it.
On August 28th the Agoria Green Building Platform organizes the official launching seminar in Brussels, where the Code of Conduct will be presented. Check the program here (French) or here (Dutch), where you can also find the link to register.
European conference ESCO Europe 2014
Transparense project will be presented at the European conference ESCO Europe 2014 that will take place in January 22-23 in Barcelona.
ESCO Europe 2014 will bring together Europe's ESCOs to discuss EPC business models and results at Europe's largest conference dedicated to energy performance contracting. Initial results from the Transparense project will be presented by Jana Szomolányiová and Vladimír Sochor, SEVEn. For more information about the conference, please visit www.esco-europe.com/programme.
Transparense UK Newsletter No1
The first UK Transparense newsletter is now available! Find it in here.
