EU DG Regional Policy Conference on Energy Efficiency
Cohesion policy investing in energy efficiency in buildings

On 29 and 30 November experts from Member States, from civil society, from the academic world and the EU Institutions met in Brussels to discuss around “Cohesion policy investing in energy efficiency in buildings”.

The aim of this conference and workshop, organised by DG Regional Policy, was to inform participants about developments at EU level which are relevant to the period 2014-2020, and to focus on implementation difficulties encountered and possible solutions for the future.

A workshop session took place on 30 November to discuss difficulties in implementation experienced in Member States.

The presentation of DG Regional Policy is particularly relevant to Sustainable Energy regions:

• Conditionalities and other framework conditions relevant to cohesion policy investment in energy efficiency 2014-2020 (Agnes Kelemen, Policy Analyst, DG REGIO)

For example, it states:  

• Different approaches may be needed in different cities, regions and Member States
• Integrated action is required
  
  • Physical investment in energy efficiency
  • Innovation
  • New skills for new jobs
  • Enterprise support
  • Technical Assistance for capacity building in public administrations, preparation of strategies, implementing regulations

A key element in the programming process will be that the Member States are to comply with certain requirements - notably in the form of transposing relevant EC Directives – as a requisite for the release of the EU grants.

Presentation include two by ENNEREG project coordinator, Nils Daugaard on energy efficiency in multi-apartment buildings, as well as others concern different financing schemes which can be of relevant for SEAP/SEP measures such as those proposed under ENNEREG.

The presentations from this event can be accessed on the Europa website  by clicking on the links below:

Background papers

• Energy poverty in the EU: a review of the evidence (Stefan Bouzarovski, University of Birmingham)
• Energy poverty in the UK (Brenda Boardman, University of Oxford)
• Observations and recommendations on getting the framework right for energy efficient investments in multi-apartment buildings (Nils Daugaard, Energy Consulting Network)
• Investing in Energy Efficiency in Buildings with District Heating (Sergio Tirado Herrero & Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Central European University of Budapest)

Introduction

• New legislation on EE in buildings and centrally managed funding options for energy efficiency 2014-2020  (Paul Hodson, Head of Unit, DG ENER)
• Energy efficiency in buildings: Investing in Europe's climate and energy security (Torsten Wöllert, Head of Unit, DG CLIMA)
• Social housing and future cohesion policy (Vit Vanicek, President, CECODHAS Housing Europe)

Session 1 – Social and economic benefits of investing in energy efficiency in buildings (Chair: Tudor Constantinescu, Acting Director and Principal Adviser, DG ENER)

• Social and economic benefits of investing in energy efficiency – summary of IA of EPB Directive and new Energy Services Directive (Gergana Miladinova, Policy Officer, DG ENER)
• Energy poverty in the UK (Brenda Boardman, University of Oxford)
• Energy poverty in the EU (Stefan Bouzarovski, University of Birmingham)
• Economic effects of investing in energy efficiency in buildings using the BEAM model (Thomas Boermans, Ecofys)
• Case study – Economic recovery with energy efficiency in buildings in France (Carine Puyol, Union sociale pour l'habitat)

Session 2 – Financial instruments for energy efficiency investments (Chair: Antonio Goncalves, Acting Head of Unit, DG REGIO)

• Financial instruments in energy efficiency in housing – Experience to date with JESSICA and cohesion policy 2014-2020 (Björn Gabriel, DG REGIO)
• Financial instruments for energy efficiency in housing (Cordula Glitzner, KfW)
• KredEx in Estonia (Mirja Adler, KredEx, Estonia)
• London Green Fund (Frank Lee, EIB)
• Financial instrument in Greece (Nikos Kleniatis, Ministry of Environment, Energy, Climate change, Greece)

Session 3 – Energy efficiency and innovation (Chair: Maud Skaringer, DG REGIO)

• Research programmes of DG RTD 2007-2013 and Horizon 2020 (Patrice Millet, DG RTD)
• EU projects facilitating the use of Structural funds for energy efficiency - Powerhouse Europe, CLEARSUPPORT, SF-Energy Invest, E4C, PROMOSCENE (Gordon Sutherland, EACI)
• Green Building Cluster in Lower Austria (Alois Geißlhofer, Cluster Manager, Regional Government of Lower Austria)

Session 4– Framework conditions relevant to investments (Chair: Antonio Almagro, Head of Division, JASPERS - Knowledge Economy, Energy and Waste, European Investment Bank)

• Conditionalities and other framework conditions relevant to cohesion policy investment in energy efficiency 2014-2020 (Agnes Kelemen, Policy Analyst, DG REGIO)
• Market context - Investing in energy efficiency in housing with a single district heat supplier (Sergio Tirado Herrero, Central European University)
• Ownership structure and multi-apartment buildings in CZ, EL, LT, LV, PL, SL. Presentation of the results of the ClearSupport project (Nils Daugaard, Energy Consulting Network)
• Sustainable Energy Action Plans for cities (Kristina Dely, Head of office of the Covenant of Mayors)

Session 5 – Experience with investing in EE in buildings in the Member States (Chair: Katarina Korytarova, Ministry of Economy, Slovakia)

• Report of the Expert Evaluation Network on renewable energy and energy efficiency in housing 2007-2013 (Terry Ward, Applica sprl)
• Lessons learned from funding energy efficiency in buildings – Conclusions from the synthesis from 32 EU case studies (Adrian M Joyce, Secretary-General, EuroACE)
• Experience in the Czech Republic in implementing the Green Investment Scheme and using cohesion policy for energy efficiency in buildings (Martin Fiala, Ministry of Environment, Czech Republic)
• Investing in energy efficiency in housing in Lithuania (Inesis Kiskis, Head of EU Assistance Management Department in the Ministry of Environment, Lithuania)