Poor energy performances of public buildings as well as growing financial issues are at the core of the European Energy Efficiency Directive and Energy Performance Building Directive. If we are to reach ambitious climate goals innovative financing schemes for deep renovation of public buildings seem to be more important than ever. The eCentral project supports key stakeholders to realize benefits of nearly zero energy buildings, using innovative financing schemes such as public private partnership (PPP), energy performance contracting (EPC) and crowdfunding (CF). To demonstrate viability of these models they were tested in form of pilot actions in the eCentral project, focused on (re)construction of public buildings in three Central European target countries: Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia. These countries generally represent less developed markets in the context of innovative financial models which makes them an ideal ground for testing technical, legal and financial aspects of nZEB (re)constructions.

A general regulation on public procurement already exists within the European Union, which must be fulfilled. Public tenders and public procurement have a very strong impact on the economic performance in Europe: in 2011 approximately 19% of the EU’s GDP or € 2406 Billion was the volume of public procurement markets. In this term, some harmonised regulations for the tender processes were developed by the European Commission to ensure a fair environment for all businesses across Europe.

You can read more on innovative financing schemes, their structure, advantages and risks, different types and how they are regulated in different Central Europe countries in the documents below.

List of the documents:

 Analysis of innovative financing schemes for deep renovation of public buildings (DT1.5.1)

Authors: EASt, REGEA, KSSENA, ENERGIAKLUB, EURAC
Key words: Public Private Partnership, Energy Performance Contracting, Crowdfunding
Who could find it useful: Public authorities

For this report innovative financing schemes such as public private partnership, energy performance contracting and crowdfunding were investigated and one successful example per financing scheme is described. Additionally, the technical aspects of renovations are shortly assessed by rating different measures, e.g. thermal insulation of walls, window change, change of heating system, etc. according to their investment, payback time, implementation intensity, energy saving potential and effect on user comfort level.

 Assessment of policy framework in CE partner countries for introduction of new financing schemes (DT1.5.2)

Authors: EASt, REGEA, KSSENA, ENERGIAKLUB, EURAC
Key words: Public Private Partnership, Energy Performance Contracting, Crowdfunding
Who could find it useful: Public authorities

While Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia generally represent less developed markets in the context of innovative financial models, Austria and Italy, on the other hand, are seen as mature financial markets whose success stories could be used for replication in other countries. However, findings in this report have shown that public nZEB projects in all eCentral countries face certain difficulties when it comes to use of innovative financial models.

Joint strategy for wider implementation of innovative financing schemes in Central Europe (DT2.4.4)

Authors: EASt, REGEA, KSSENA, ENERGIAKLUB, EURAC
Key words: Public Private Partnership, Energy Performance Contracting, Crowdfunding
Who could find it useful: Public authorities

The strategy is the culmination of theoretical and practical assessments performed within the eCentral project with all key financial market stakeholders. The document provides a short status of policy frameworks in Central European countries for use of innovative financing schemes for nZEB projects (public private partnership, energy performance contracting and crowdfunding) and proposes clear recommendations for removal of barriers that hinder a wider uptake of these schemes.

Step by step decision support tool (DST) for nZEB renovation with innovative financing schemes (DT1.5.3)

Authors: EASt, REGEA, KSSENA, ENERGIAKLUB, EURAC
Key words: Public Private Partnership, Energy Performance Contracting, Crowdfunding
Who could find it useful: Public authorities

This guide provides information about nZEB renovation (nearly zero energy building) with innovative financing schemes Public Private Partnership (PPP), Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) and Crowdfunding (CF). This guide uses results from policy analysis, from the eCentral pilot actions in Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia and from literature research.