Overview
Funding:
European Commission, Intelligent Energy Europe Programme
Timeframe:
01/04/2013 – 30/09/2015
Budget:
2 099 670 Euro
Contractors:
SEVEn, Czech Republic (Coordinator); EEVS, The United Kingdom; Josef Stefan Institute, Slovenia; BEA, Germany; IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Sweden; Factor4, Belgium; e7, Austria; BSERC, Bulgaria; DTTN, Italy; LEI, Lithuania; ECN, The Netherlands; KAPE, Poland; Institute of Systems and Robotics – University of Coimbra, Portugal; Energy Centre Bratislava, Slovak Republic; ESCAN, Spain; REACM, Greece; GDI, Hungary; Ekodoma, Latvia; ECNet, Denmark; Norwegian Energy Efficiency, Norway
Description
The goal of the Transparense project was to help increase the transparency and trustworthiness of Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) markets throughout Europe. With its twenty partners covering both mature and emerging EPC markets, the project tried to exploit its potential to transfer the know-how across Europe, support EPC markets in Europe and thereby achieve substantial energy efficiency improvement.
The European Code of Conduct for EPC launched by Transparense in 2014 defines the basic values and principles that are considered fundamental for the successful preparation and implementation of EPC projects. It went through two year stakeholder process to make sure market players accept their principles. The Code of Conduct was developed in co-operation with the European associations of EPC providers – the European Association of Energy Service Companies (eu.ESCO) and the European Federation of Intelligent Energy Efficiency Services (EFIEES). While the Transparense project was completed in September 2015, the two European associations continue in administering and maintaining the European Code of Conduct for EPC and related activities as it is in line with their goals in supporting the European EPC markets.
The main role of the Code of Conduct is to bring confidence to the EPC market in Europe and compliance with the Code of Conduct serves as a minimum guarantee of the quality of EPC projects implemented. The Code has vast potential to support EPC market development, which can be exploited, for example as discussion guideline between client and EPC provider, guidance for preparation of tender dossiers and contracts, marketing tool and foundation for EPC quality assurance scheme.
The Code of Conduct has been tested in 37 pilot projects which at the same time contributed to the promotion of good practice principles both on the side of ESCOs and clients.
Results
Training programmes for new and existing ESCOs were developed in order to ensure the endorsement and application of the developed Code of Conduct.
In addition, the project provided a comprehensive overview of the EPC market across Europe by developing an exhaustive online database of ESCOs, ESCOs associations, EPC models, financing models and EPC policy initiatives.
It also enhanced the institutionalization of the EPC markets by promoting the establishment of ESCO associations and networking.