SUNShINE Platform Perspectives in Bulgaria

The SUNShINE online platform for deep renovation of multifamily buildings, financed by the FinEERGo-Dom project was officially launched in Bulgaria in the beginning of 2022. The SUNShINE platform makes it possible for all Bulgarian stakeholders, active in the energy efficiency sector, e.g., energy service providers, households, financial institutions, investors, municipalities, etc., to manage their building renovation through an array of services:

• optimally organized for increased transparency for all stakeholders processes, comprising the building renovation project, e.g., feasibility study, project financing, implementation, measurement and verification, etc.;
• tools for benchmarking and financial assessment;
• a rich collection of standardized contract templates, e.g., energy service contracts (EnPCs), forfeiting agreements, maintenance appendixes and the like;
• measurement and verification modules, helping for automating the assessment of the guaranteed energy savings, defined in the EnPC;
• numerous reporting modules suitable for advanced usage on a portfolio level. For example, municipalities can monitor and assess their building stock;
• platform localization (already available in Bulgarian);
• multilayered security access;
• Continued development for more services in the coming months.

Quite recently, Bulgarian Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) has been accepted by the European Commission. Hardly one can imagine a more suitable time for SUNShINE appearance in Bulgaria since a great deal of the “green” objectives, set in the plan, can be facilitated through platform’s tools and services.

According to the RRP, nearly BGN 1,50 billion (EUR 0,75 billion) are planned to be allocated for renovation of multifamily buildings in the course of the next four years. Main stakeholders involved in accomplishing this task include municipalities, condominiums, construction companies, and financial institutions. There will be a preparatory phase for condominiums during which energy audits and other documents necessary for application for financing under the RRP will be prepared. Next comes the approval process by the municipalities, financing by financial partners and/or energy saving companies, implementation and, finally, monitoring of the archived targets. A pretty complex process, prone to errors and difficult to control effectively.

With its library of processes and opportunities for orchestration and control, the SUNShINE platform is in the position to provide answers to the challenges that the RRP faces in Bulgaria – scaling quickly the number of renovation projects while preserving the high quality of their complex management and strict control. For example, municipalities can review online submitted documents and provide feedback/instructions to applicants, financial partners can pre-validate applications and advise on the project structuring, each household can track the progress of the renovation project for its building, etc. At every step, all stakeholders are on the same page and corrective measures can be applied quickly, avoiding unnecessary delays and frustrations during project execution.

Monitoring and reporting features also come handy under the RRP. Besides the possibility a whole portfolio of buildings in the area of a given municipality to be tracked, the SUNShINE platform is fully equipped when it comes to facilitating the implementation of the ESCO business model in terms of contract templates, measurement and verification routines, etc. The RRP foresees that 20% of the investments may be provided by the energy service company (ESCO) for applications submitted after April 2023. The household can repay the investment with the achieved energy savings, which are guaranteed by the ESCO company. As a consequence, repayment capacity of the household is “insured” by the ESCO.

The SUNShINE platform exhibits a versatile design optimized for orchestration of deep renovation projects. The platform can be used by project aggregators, funds, banks and the like, everyone interested to manage their energy efficiency project portfolio in a coherent and transparent manner. For any queries that you may have, get in contact with FinEERGo-Dom partner in Bulgaria –  Mr. Kiril Raytchev here: kraytchev@econoler.com

Try SUNShINE today: https://sunshineplatform.eu/

SUNShINE Platform has been launched in Austria!

The SUNShINE Platform is a stakeholder project management tool designed to refine and guarantee the implementation of energy efficiency measures in the renovation of buildings.

The launch of the SUNShINE Platform is key to facilitating the process of the renovation works as it provides guidelines for Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) to define the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) model with their clients. It aligns the different stakeholders involved across the entire value chain through standardization, efficiency, and transparency. This feature increases economies of scale and decreases costs and risks for owners and investors. The SUNShINE platform in conjunction with the BEEF (Building Energy Efficiency Facility) business model aims to be a benchmark for deep renovation models. Within the SUNSHINE Platform there are four main entity types: Users, Organizations, Assets, and Projects. The relationship between these entities is fundamental for the good functioning of a renovation project. This platform has been developed under the European-funded project FinEERGo-Dom (2019-2023). Within the project, the financial mechanism BEEF developed in Latvia will be replicated in the following European countries (www.fineergodom-eu): Austria, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria.

For more information, please check: https://sunshineplatform.eu/ or get in touch with our point of contact for Austria here: Naghmeh.Altmann@energyagency.at

The first call for applications for the Priority Programme…

The first call for applications for the Priority Programme “Renovation with guaranteed savings EPC (Energy Performance Contract) Plus” has been launched in Poland

The first call for applications for the Priority Programme “Renovation with guaranteed savings EPC (Energy Performance Contract) Plus” has been launched. It is a comprehensive instrument to support investments improving the energy efficiency of buildings implemented under the EPC formula. In the first call for proposals, housing cooperatives, housing associations and local government units may apply for funding for the modernisation of multi-family residential buildings.

From 13 December 2021, applicants will be able to continuously submit fiches (pre-applications) and applications for investment grant funding under the first call of the pilot Priority Programme “Renovation with guaranteed savings EPC (Energy Performance Contract) Plus”.

NFOŚiGW will finance the projects with funds from the Modernisation Fund (FM). The fiches will be delivered from 13 December 2021 to 31 March 2022, while applications for grants will be delivered from 13 December 2021 to 28 February 2023. The beneficiaries of the programme may be housing cooperatives, housing associations, local government units, commercial law companies in which local government units hold 100% of shares and which have been established to implement the tasks of local government units specified in legal acts. The budget of the first pilot call for proposals is PLN 10 million. Co-financing will be provided in the form of grants until the allocation of funds is available under the first call. The amount of the grant will depend on the implemented standard of improvements. The subsidy offered by NFOŚiGW is intended to cover the building owner’s contribution to financing the thermomodernization investment, while the remaining part of financing is provided by the partner – Energy Service Company (ESCO).

The President of NFOŚiGW Prof. Maciej Chorowski emphasizes how important it is to support thermo-modernization investments.

– The scale of needs in the area of energy efficiency of buildings in Poland requires that traditional grant support be supplemented with other financial instruments. This is achieved through a pilot support system for investments in the thermal modernization of buildings in the model of energy service companies (ESCOs) based on the guarantee of energy savings. – emphasizes President Chorowski.

The programme supports the modernization works of multi-family residential buildings enabling a reduction in final energy consumption by at least 30% compared to the existing state (before modernization), with the building’s demand for final energy for heating, ventilation and domestic hot water (EKH+W) after modernization being no more than 85 kWh/(m2*year). The program distinguishes 3 standards of improvements: improvement only installation or combined with the implementation of a minimum scope of thermo-modernization works, optimal scope of energy modernization – works with the dominant share of thermo-modernization works, after which EK will decrease by at least 45% and a high standard of energy modernization – works with the dominant share of thermo-modernization works, after which EK will decrease by at least 60%.

At each stage of preparing the flashcard and the application, the Applicant will have the opportunity to use the support of the Energy Advisor, whose role in the first call will be performed by the National Energy Conservation Agency S.A. (KAPE) Questions regarding support from the Energy Advisor should be sent to the following e-mail address: doradcaepc@kape.gov.pl – KAPE has many years of experience both in comprehensive consulting in the entire construction process for local government units, enterprises, residents, as well as in the implementation of investments in deep thermal modernization of buildings and performing energy audits of buildings. We want to use them to support building owners in identifying projects and talks with ESCO – assures Mariola Zmudzińska, Vice-President of the Management Board of KAPE S.A.

It is worth noting that the pilot program is implemented in cooperation between the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management and the Polish Development Fund (PFR), whose role is to enable the ESCO company to obtain financing in the form of forfaiting or in another, alternative form. By implementing the ESCO investment support program, the National Fund will use the experience from the FinEERGo-Dom project, implemented since 2019, financed by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme, which aims to support innovation in the European Union. The FinEERGo-Dom project, in which, apart from Polish experts, representatives of Austria, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia also take part, assumes the implementation of an energy efficiency financing model based on the EPC formula in these countries.

An Energy Performance Contract (EPC) is a modern way of financing investments affecting reduced energy consumption in buildings. The EPC agreement is concluded by the entity planning thermal modernization with the ESCO Company, which provides energy efficiency improvement measures along with their financing at the stage of investment implementation, while taking on most of the financial risk. The ESCO is also involved in the maintenance and management of energy in buildings during the repayment period, and its remuneration is conditional on the achievement of guaranteed savings.

A New Renovation Programme Based on FinEERGo-Dom in Poland

The investment financing model FinEERGo-Dom has become the basis for launching the Polish National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water (NFOŚiGW) priority programme “Renovation with a guarantee of savings EPC Plus”. It was presented in detail during a meeting with the Covenant of Mayors Signatories in Poland on the 13th September 2021. Mr. Michał Kurtyka – Minister of Climate and Environment, representatives from the Polish National Energy Conservation Agency (KAPE), and the Polish Development Fund were among the key participants of the event.

Building upon the energy performance contracting (EPC) concept, the aim of the new programme is to support investments improving the energy efficiency of buildings. Under the umbrella of the Horizon 2020 FinEERGo-Dom project the first pilot investments in deep thermomodernisation of buildings will be carried out using standardized processes, contracts and the digital platform – SUNShINE developed during the first phase of the project.

See NFOŚiGW full press release

Color your building

FinEERGo-Dom is initiating the “Matryoshka buildings” game. Rules are simple:

1. Download the file below and print. Use heavier (thicker) paper, about 150-180 g/m2, for best results;
2. Cut and glue the old building – the smallest one;
3. Cut and glue the renovated building – the middle one;
4. Color the upper building in the way you like the most. Cut and glue;
5. Now you can hide the old building in the renovated one, and the renovated one in the building you have designed.

Send us pictures of your designs and we will share them on our social media channels and website. In the end of 2021 we will rank the top 3 renovated building by number of likes.

File to Download

FinEERGo-Dom Introduced at the Austrian Green Investment Pioneers Programme

On the 22^nd of June 2021 the second expert workshop took place within the framework of the Austrian Green Investment Pioneers programme. The topic of the workshop was different forms of financing. One of the main objectives of the Austrian Green Investment Pioneers Programme was innovative finance concepts. Experts were invited to this workshop to present a small selection of the possibilities and to discuss them with the interested audience. Ms Michaela Seelig from the Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) mentioned in her opening words the importance of innovation forms of financing within this programme.  Mr. Christian Kaltenegger, head of office for Energy Efficiency Services and Contracting Austria (DECA) presented the general concept of energy contracting as well as their challenges and advantages. Mr. Andreas Hirtl (a member of the FinEERGo-Dom Austrian team) from Austrian Energy Agency (AEA) introduced the forfaiting and its relation to energy saving contracting which is one of the main objectives of the project FinEERGo-dom. Mr. Rainer Bacher from Environment Agency Austria (UBA) spoke about financing of projects, especially their characteristics and structure, as well as a distinction from corporate finance and project finance.

FinEERGo-Dom in Search for Synergies with the H2020 REFINE…

On the 24th of June 2021 the Austrian team of the FinEERGo-Dom project participated in a stakeholder workshop organized by the office for Energy Efficiency Services and Contracting Austria (DECA) in cooperation with the Horizon 2020 REFINE-Project. The topic of the workshop was refinancing models.

Refinancing models can be an interesting business opportunity. Different models were discussed that allow energy service providers to gain financial leeway for new projects and business growth. Selling receivables was an important topic during the workshop. Participants of the workshop were able to get some insight into initial experiences of the FinEERGo-Dom project with forfaiting in Austria.

Members of the REFINE-Project team gave a short overview of the project and explained how the refinancing of energy services work in practice. Basic concepts and case studies where presented. Furthermore important contractual arrangements for the refinancing of energy services was discussed and an overview of standardized contractual modules where given.

The Bulgarian FinEERGo-Dom Partner Joins Forces With 11 other…

The Bulgarian partner in the FinEERGo-Dom project – Econoler S.A., together with 11 other organizations (companies, NGOs and consultancies), issued an official Declaration in an effort to initiate a revision of the Bulgarian Recovery and Resilience Plan (RPP) at a time when the newly elected Parliament contemplates over the possibility whether to revise or submit the plan to the European Commission.

The Declaration points out that a number of opportunities for successful green recovery and transition are missing in the RPP developed by the outgoing Government. Among those are the utilization of ESCO, on-bill-financing and white certificates mechanisms; deep renovation approach; monitoring and control of energy savings; and digitalization of the buildings stock.

Continuation of 100% grant schemes, especially in reference to the energy efficiency in multifamily buildings program, and lack of design and deployment of blended financial instruments is highlighted as a major weakness in the RPP. Without mobilizing private sector funds the RPP support will cover just 1 400 multi-family buildings of the 66 865 that require rehabilitation.

The Declaration initiators offered their full support and readiness to actively participate in working groups if the Parliament opts for a revision and improvement of the RPP. The full text of the Declaration can be viewed below.

Full Declaration

An Interview with Mr. Ognian Markovski

We managed to take an insightful interview from Mr. Ognian Markovski, Chief Expert EE & RES at Bulgarian Sustainable Development Agency (SEDA). Learn more about:

• ESCO during the years in BG
• How FinEERGo-Dom analysis drove changes in BG Energy Efficiency legislation
• BG #deeprenovation strategy and #FinEERGoDom

NFOŚIGW signed a cooperation agreement with Polish Development Fund

On December 18th our FinEERGo-Dom partner NFOŚIGW signed a cooperation agreement with Polish Development Fund that will allow for the implementation of pilot investments in Poland under FinEERGo-Dom project. The ceremony of signing the MoU Agreement was with participation of Mr Michał Kurtyka – Minister of Environment and Climate.

“The multi-family housing sector still has enormous energy savings potential, but to unlock this potential, mobilization of public and private funds is needed. The investment model with ESCO participation is a very good tool leading us to achieve this goal” said Minister Kurtyka opening the event.

Find out more here or view the event: