Objective
Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) is generally looked upon favourably, but its implementation can be complicated and lengthy. The reason lies mainly in the procurement law provisions and the long-term and complex contracts, which impede a real breakthrough in the spread of the EPC methodology. The other main barriers for the implementation of EPC in SMEs are:
• The transaction costs for procuring energy services are too high
• Investments and project sizes are too small
• It is difficult to obtain financing for such small projects
• High costs for guarantees, measurement and verification procedures
The ultimate goal of the EPC+ project is to reduce transaction costs of energy service packages drastically so that smaller investments and projects in SMEs become possible for companies offering energy services. This can only happen if both the technical solutions as well as the contractual issues of energy services are highly standardized. The energy services offered can be either partly or wholly financed with innovative financing solutions, or may be more service-oriented solutions with guaranteed energy performances.
The major outputs of the project include: (1) the development of commercial, standardized energy service packages for SMEs in each participant country. Each participant country will develop energy service packages that suit the specific and particular requirements of their country. These will include a standardized technical solution for a specific market sector, a model contract and, where possible, a financing solution. (2) the implementation of pilot projects for the EPC+ packages in each participant country (3) the set-up and management of clusters of companies (SPINS) in each participant countries. These clusters will offer energy services to the SME market, (4) the training of these clusters of companies in each participant country and (4) the development of an international e-market for energy service providers.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
19009 Pikermi
Greece
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Participants (13)
50933 Koln
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2570 Duffel
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
8010 Graz
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1020 Wien
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
E21 Cahir
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28029 Madrid
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
3030-290 Coimbra
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
3004-531 Coimbra
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20145 Milano
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
12000 Praha
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1000 Ljubljana
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10682 Athina
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
1606 Sofia
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