PRIMEPrivate Investments Move Ecopower

Dr. Dag Schulze, Climate Alliance - European Secretariat d.schulze@climatealliance.org

June 2007

Table of contents

• Project overview• Definition of PRIME projects• Participatory approach• Examples of existing PRIME-like projects• Problems identified• PRIME Tools• Recommendations for the PRIME approach• Project partners

Project overview

• Overview of existing PRIME-like projects• Preparation of PRIME Tools• Testing of the PRIME Tools• Pilot cities starting projects• Development of an Action Package

Definition of PRIME Projects:

PRIME projects are local Rational Use of Energy (RUE) and / or Renewable Energy Sources (RES) projects for which private capital from citizens and local stakeholders has been mobilised for the investments via a participatory approach. Primary focus is on integrated RUE and RES investments in public buildings.

Participatory approach

• Direct involvement from citizens and local stakeholders in PRIME projects

• More than only financial participation• Interest in a sustainable energy supply• Responsibility for the living place

Citizens and local stakeholders as “joint venturers” for a local and sustainable energy

supply

Citizens / Local Stakeholders

ESCO

Municipality as Building Owner

Investments

Contract

Energy Service COmpany

Legal scheme:

Examples of existing PRIME-like projects

Solar & Save Projects (5 projects in Germany)• Willibrord Grammar School, Emmerich

• Aggertal Grammar School, Engelskirchen RUE + R E S

Biomass district heating station • Location: Greußenheim (Village in Germany)• Heating of nine public buildings: town hall, church,

parsonage, parish asylum, kindergarten, unmanned station, building yard, school and community center

• Combustible: wood chips from the local forest

R E S

Problems identified

• All existing PRIME-like projects are located in the German-speaking area.

• Most of the existing PRIME-like projects include a “photovoltaic component”.

• Participatory approaches in the energy sector and even Energy Performance Contracting are not well known in the whole EU.

• The conditions for renewable energy sources, the awareness of climate change and the income situation of the people differ over a wide range in the member states of the EU.

PRIME Tools

• Tool 1: Three Step Approach and Guide, Decision Tree, Quick&Easy Economic Tool

• Tool 2: Spreadsheets for Cost Assessment and Cost-Benefit Analysis, Documentation of the PRIME Project

• Tool 3: Model Concepts and Contracts• Tool 4: Motivation Tool

Recommendations for the PRIME approach (1)

• High consumption is recommended (big buildings)• High saving potential is needed• Increasing awareness of administration• Public pressure via media to find political support• Press articles / media support• Support from various associations, like for instance teachers

associations

Recommendations for the PRIME approach (2)

• Increasing awareness of citizens for ethic investment• Create trust for collecting citizens money• Well-known institutions backing up money collection• Best practices and positive examples have positive effects

Project partnersBerlin, Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung, Germany

Bond Beter Leefmilieu - Vlaanderen, Belgium

Alleanza per il Clima Italia onlus, Italy

Energieberatung Prenzlauer Berg, Germany

Center for Energy Efficiency EnEffect, Bulgaria

EPTA, Greece

Graz, Amt für Umweltschutz, Austria

Klimabündnis Österreich, Austria

Mestna občina Maribor, Slovenia

Provincia di Bologna, Italy

Slovenski E-Forum, Društvo za energetsko ekonomiko in ekologijo, Slovenia

SWS Group, Ireland

Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, Germany