Case Study (151 Kb PDF)

Summary

The Clearinghouse Support project - which received support from the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) programme - helps to facilitate the implementation of energy saving measures in buildings. The 2005 EU Green Paper on Energy Efficiency and the 2006 Energy Efficiency Action Plan focus on the creation of economic and financial arrangements for energy efficiency investments - with the overall aim of establishing a European Clearinghouse for small-medium scale sustainable energy projects. Clearinghouse Support is a pilot initiative for the practical implementation of these policy goals. It sets out to provide direct assistance to project organisers. This assistance is provided in the form of the Project Service Facilities (PSF) operating in Latvia, Lithuania, the Region of Pomerania in Poland, the Czech Republic and Greece (Crete). These facilities act as the catalysts for achieving ClearSupport's ambitious goal of initiating 100-200 specific building renovations. By the end of September 2009, 218 projects were supported by the five PSFs. PSF Pomerania assisted 72 projects until November 2009. The project aims to streamline project handling under a Clearinghouse, thereby addressing the huge need for sustainable energy investment in less developed regions of the EU.

Results

The 72 projects so far supported by the Pomeranian PSF have led to a reduction in energy consumption equal to 17000 MWh/a. 54 of the supported projects belong to the public sector (mainly hospitals, schools, health centres) - the energy consumption reduction in this area equals 14 000 MWh. The remaining 18 projects are in the residential sector (multifamily houses). They have led to energy consumption reductions of approx. 3 000 MWh. The thermomodernisation activities implemented in this initiative include: external wall insulation, roof insulation, window exchange, retrofitting of heating and hot water installations, installation of RES - such as solar collectors and biomass boilers.

The project's goals were exceeded. Originally, the hope was that each PSF would initiate 40 projects. In reality, 72 projects were initialised by the Pomeranian PSF alone.

Implementation of the forementioned projects resulted in CO₂ emission reductions equal to 64,243 tonnes. Over 500 people took part in trainings, and another 400 in several thematic debates organised during fairs (e.g. International Fairs - Technicon 2008 and Infrastructure Pomorze 2009).

Lessons learned and repeatability

Since 2006, when the project started, several factors influencing investors' decisions concerning RUE and RES in buildings have changed. 20x20x20 targets have been accepted (in Poland the target for RES in 2020 is 15%). Operational Programmes, enhancing RUE and RES measures have been implemented both at the national and regional levels. The requirements for thermomodernisation credits admittance have been changed. The system of energy certificates is being implemented. All the measures listed above would not be possible without serious changes in legislation concerning supporting funds, public orders and public assistance. This process is still ongoing, some regulations still need to be changed, while others need to be corrected. This situation prolongs the decision making process. The economic difficulties also increase insecurity.

PSF created a unit to support local governments and investors in the preparation of projects. In order to ensure efficiency, PSF staff training was needed - new standards have been introduced, new computational programmes have appeared, new procedures of application for supportive funds have been accepted as well as new guidelines for environmental impact assessment of the planned enterprises. Through interactions between project partners, PSF staff were able to recommend new, innovative financing mechanisms and exchange information on revolving funds and ESCOs.