{"id":395,"date":"2025-05-08T11:15:49","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T11:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/?p=395"},"modified":"2025-09-11T15:15:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T15:15:30","slug":"international-esco-symposium-2025-financing-and-structuring-esco-investments-at-scale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/esco\/international-esco-symposium-2025-financing-and-structuring-esco-investments-at-scale\/","title":{"rendered":"International ESCO Symposium 2025 \u2013 Financing and structuring ESCO investments at scale"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_video src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gwtH_Lhxt_s&#038;t=1s&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<p>Moderated by\u00a0<strong>Svetlana Adamek<\/strong>\u00a0(Managing Director, adamek &amp; adamek consulting GmbH), this session addressed one of the most persistent challenges in the ESCO sector:\u00a0<strong>access to finance<\/strong>. The panel explored how to overcome financing barriers through\u00a0<strong>aggregation<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>forfaiting<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>guarantee mechanisms<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>energy efficiency funds<\/strong>, with insights from experts across Europe and Mauritius.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Insights by Speaker<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Csaba de Csiky \u2013 Chairman, EnerSave Capital Sarl<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Emphasised the need to align ESCO project structures with investor expectations.<\/li>\n<li>Proposed a\u00a0<strong>conveyor belt model<\/strong>\u00a0using\u00a0<strong>forfaiting<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>securitisation<\/strong>\u00a0of white certificates to unlock capital.<\/li>\n<li>Highlighted the importance of\u00a0<strong>standardisation<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>aggregation<\/strong>\u00a0to attract institutional investors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Lieven Vanstraelen \u2013 President, BELESCO (Belgium)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Shared Belgium\u2019s experience with a large-scale\u00a0<strong>federal renovation program<\/strong>\u00a0using a\u00a0<strong>super ESCO framework<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrated how\u00a0<strong>performance-based maintenance<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>energy performance partnerships<\/strong>\u00a0can enable long-term investment.<\/li>\n<li>Stressed the need for\u00a0<strong>tailored financing models<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>digital platforms<\/strong>\u00a0to manage complexity and scale.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Carlos Ballesteros Barrado \u2013 Director General, ANESE (Spain)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Introduced Spain\u2019s\u00a0<strong>white certificate scheme<\/strong>\u00a0as a financing mechanism for energy efficiency.<\/li>\n<li>Advocated for\u00a0<strong>ESCO accreditation<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>standard contracts<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>verifiers<\/strong>\u00a0to ensure credibility and reduce fraud.<\/li>\n<li>Called for\u00a0<strong>equal treatment of energy efficiency and renewables<\/strong>\u00a0in policy and market mechanisms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Shweta Beeharee \u2013 Portfolio Manager, Capital Asset Management Ltd, Mauritius<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Presented Mauritius\u2019 efforts to establish a\u00a0<strong>national guarantee mechanism<\/strong>\u00a0for ESCOs.<\/li>\n<li>Emphasised a\u00a0<strong>shared-risk model<\/strong>\u00a0involving government, banks, and ESCOs.<\/li>\n<li>Highlighted the importance of\u00a0<strong>capacity building<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>standard contracts<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>governance structures<\/strong>\u00a0in emerging markets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Common Barriers Identified<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Small ticket sizes<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>high transaction costs<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lack of trust<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>limited understanding<\/strong>\u00a0of EPC models by banks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mismatch between ESCO project structures and investor requirements<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limited off-balance sheet financing options<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fragmented markets<\/strong>\u00a0and the absence of aggregators or super ESCOs in many countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Innovative Solutions Discussed<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Aggregation of receivables<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>project portfolios<\/strong>\u00a0to reach scale.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Forfaiting<\/strong>\u00a0of future savings and white certificates to provide upfront capital.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Super ESCOs and one-stop shops<\/strong>\u00a0to standardise, de-risk, and facilitate project development.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Digital platforms<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>AI tools<\/strong>\u00a0to reduce complexity, improve reporting, and lower costs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>White certificate markets<\/strong>\u00a0as a scalable, performance-based financing mechanism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The session made it clear that\u00a0<strong>financing ESCO investments at scale<\/strong>\u00a0requires more than just capital\u2014it demands\u00a0<strong>structural innovation<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>market alignment<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>cross-sector collaboration<\/strong>. Aggregation, standardisation, and digitalisation emerged as key enablers for unlocking large-scale investments. Guarantee mechanisms and white certificate schemes offer promising pathways, especially in emerging markets.<\/p>\n<p>Speakers emphasised that\u00a0<strong>ESCOs must evolve<\/strong>\u00a0from isolated project developers into participants in structured, scalable investment ecosystems. Governments, financiers, and facilitators must work together to build trust, reduce risk, and create the conditions for energy efficiency to thrive as a mainstream investment class.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moderated by\u00a0Svetlana Adamek\u00a0(Managing Director, adamek &amp; adamek consulting GmbH), this session addressed one of the most persistent challenges in the ESCO sector:\u00a0access to finance. The panel explored how to overcome financing barriers through\u00a0aggregation,\u00a0forfaiting,\u00a0guarantee mechanisms, and\u00a0energy efficiency funds, with insights from experts across Europe and Mauritius. Key Insights by Speaker Csaba de Csiky \u2013 Chairman, EnerSave [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":357,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"[et_pb_section fb_built=\"1\" _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_video src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mgfROBSjsy0&t=1s\" _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" hover_enabled=\"0\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_column type=\"4_4\" _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" global_colors_info=\"{}\"][et_pb_text _builder_version=\"4.21.0\" _module_preset=\"default\" hover_enabled=\"0\" global_colors_info=\"{}\" sticky_enabled=\"0\"]<p>The second day of the symposium opened with reflections from\u00a0<strong>Pierre Langlois<\/strong>\u00a0(Co-chair, Global ESCO Network; President, Econoler) and\u00a0<strong>Onur \u00dcnl\u00fc<\/strong>\u00a0(President, Energy Efficiency and Management Association of T\u00fcrkiye \u2013 EYODER). They highlighted the\u00a0<strong>depth and productivity<\/strong>\u00a0of the first day, which covered a wide range of topics, including ESCO associations, international agreements, national regulations, development perspectives, and the emerging role of SuperESCOs.<\/p>\n<p>Pierre emphasised the value of the symposium as a platform for\u00a0<strong>practitioner-level exchange<\/strong>, noting that the sessions went beyond surface-level discussions to explore real implementation challenges and solutions. Onur added a light-hearted note about the enthusiasm of the speakers, who were already deep in discussion early in the morning, eager to continue the momentum.<\/p>\n<p>They also announced that the\u00a0<strong>next ESCO Symposium will be hosted in Madrid<\/strong>, encouraging participants to continue building on the collaborative spirit and knowledge-sharing that defines the Global ESCO Network.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Session Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Moderated by\u00a0<strong>Serkan Emin<\/strong>\u00a0(Board Member, EYODER \u2013 T\u00fcrkiye), this session focused on how municipalities and sub-national governments can practically implement energy efficiency measures through\u00a0<strong>Energy Performance Contracting (EPC)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>ESCO facilitation frameworks<\/strong>. The panel featured experts from Canada, Poland, Belgium, and Ireland, who shared real-world experiences, digital innovations, and legal insights into enabling local governments to scale up energy efficiency projects.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Insights by Speaker<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rafa\u0142 Cie\u015blak<\/strong>\u00a0(University of Warsaw, Poland): Shared Poland\u2019s efforts to develop a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) model to support municipalities in EPC implementation, highlighting barriers such as grant dependency, lack of policy, and public procurement complexity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>John O\u2019Rourke<\/strong>\u00a0(SEFA, Ireland): Emphasised the need for national procurement frameworks and scalable models to attract large-scale finance. Advocated for energy efficiency to be treated as a transactable commodity.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ingmar Hermans<\/strong>\u00a0(Ainglie): Presented a digital OSS platform to simplify EPC processes and empower municipalities through self-service tools. Highlighted the importance of standardisation, ambition, and data-driven decision-making.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Genevi\u00e8ve Gauthier<\/strong>\u00a0(Econoler, Canada): Brought insights from 15 years of EPC facilitation in Canada. Stressed the role of facilitators in aligning client expectations with technical and financial realities, and the need for education and standard frameworks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Common Themes and Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>One-Stop-Shops (OSS)<\/strong>\u00a0are effective in simplifying EPC procurement and building trust with local governments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Digitalisation<\/strong>\u00a0is essential for scaling EPCs, enabling self-service, standardisation, and better data use.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Legal and procurement barriers<\/strong>\u00a0remain significant, especially in emerging markets.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Capacity building<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>knowledge transfer<\/strong>\u00a0are critical to empowering municipalities and aligning stakeholders.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ambition and leadership<\/strong>\u00a0are necessary to overcome inertia and drive meaningful energy efficiency outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This session underscored that while the ESCO model is well-established in theory, its practical implementation\u2014especially at the local government level\u2014requires tailored frameworks, facilitation, and digital innovation. One-Stop-Shops, whether physical or digital, are proving to be powerful tools for bridging the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground execution.<\/p>\n<p>Speakers emphasised that\u00a0<strong>standardisation<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>procurement reform<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>capacity building<\/strong>\u00a0are essential to unlock the full potential of EPCs. Facilitators play a crucial role in aligning diverse stakeholders, while digital platforms can democratize access and accelerate project pipelines. The session also highlighted the need for\u00a0<strong>ambitious leadership<\/strong>, particularly in the public sector, to overcome inertia and drive meaningful energy efficiency outcomes.<\/p>\n<p>As the global ESCO community continues to evolve, the lessons shared in this session offer a roadmap for scaling up local government action through practical, replicable, and innovative implementation models.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-esco","category-front-page"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=395"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":409,"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395\/revisions\/409"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyoder.org.tr\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}