The rollout of the ESI model through the ESI Europe 2.0 project is done via a set of activities that are designed to complement each other in achieving the overall objective.
The work started with having market assessments performed in each of the 3 countries, where priority sectors and technologies were identified for the model to be implemented. The sectors identified in the three countries were the hotel and accommodation, food and wood processing industries, as well as the manufacture of motor vehicles. Regarding the technologies, Solar PV, LED Lighting, Solar Water Heaters, HVAC systems, were among the technologies with the most potential to adopt the ESI model.
After having the market results in place, a second assessment was done with the focus on the local financial sector by screening the market of local private financial institutions and by evaluating the adaptation of the ESI model to this market. Adding to that, economic models were simulated for each of the prioritised technologies, feeding the system with real economic indicators. This gave a first snapshot on what the potential IRR and payback time would be for each of the investments in the specific EE technologies.
Once having a good perception of the market situation, the work continued with adapting all the ESI model elements (Validation Process, Standardised Contract, Insurance Product ) to the context of Croatia, Greece, and Slovakia, and engaging the main stakeholders in each of the markets (Validation Entity, Legal Firm, Technology Providers, Insurance Companies, Banks and SMEs).
When it comes to engaging stakeholders, different methods were used from the consortium, such as: through desk research, phone calls, in person meetings, online meetings and consultation workshops. After the elements have been created in each country, the launch of the GoSafe with ESI happened for identifying the pilot projects and building the pipeline of EE investments. This activity was strongly supported by the tools and strategies created for communication, marketing and dissemination throughout this project period. The ESI Europe and GoSafe with ESI website were updated, with the purpose of the former one to disseminate project and the ESI model information, and the purpose of the later one to be used as a commercial tool where SMEs and technology providers can actively consult the model information and documentation and can easily implement the model in their projects.
As a result, the impact reached within the duration of the project was a pipeline of EUR 1.9 million of investments in 18 EE projects in the three countries:
- EUR 300’000 from 3 different projects in Croatia
- EUR 1’440’455,00 from 14 projects in Greece
- EUR 171’000 from 1 project in Slovakia
Furthermore, the consortium has managed to engage several companies in the duration of the project and with 17 of them Memorandum of Understandings were signed, being 3 with insurance companies (one in each country) and 14 with technology providers (3 in Croatia, 7 in Greece and 4 in Slovakia).
Capacity building activities activities reached approximately 442 individuals in Croatia (83), Greece (129) and Slovakia (230) from TPs, SMEs, FIs and insurance sectors through in-person and online sessions, while dissemination activities reach approximately 1’000 individuals (815 in person and other 185 online) from a broader European audience and around the globe. On social media, the outreach surpassed 35'200 through more than 100 posts distributed on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram through the channels of the four consortium partners during the almost 3.5 years of duration of the project.
