In the context of a four step learning programme offered by the Prospect project, the regional energy agency of Upper Austria (ESV) is sharing its expertise on financing and implementing successful EPC streetlighting projects with the Municipality of Nea Ionia (Greece), the Municipality of Irakleio Attica (Greece), the City of Khmelnytsky (Ukraine) and a project manager in the region south of Athens (Greece).

Two online sessions allowed the group to gain first insight on the mentor’s experience and on the mentees’ needs and objectives.

On 5 - 6 June 2019, a two-day site visit was organised in Upper Austria. The main objective was to deepen the mentees’ know-how of EPC-related topics and to create an environment for dialogue and exchange on details of the practical implementation of streetlighting refurbishment projects and EPC. The programme focussed on LED streetlighting technology, EPC and funding issues through presentations, the calculation of concrete examples and site visits.

Image: Eva Athanasakou from EUDITI Ltd. (Greece), Anja Gahleitner/Christiane Egger/Christine Öhlinger from OÖ Energiesparverband, Rania Mavridou from the Municipality of Nea Ionia (Greece), Dmytro Leskiv from the Centre for Energy Efficiency/City of Khmelnytskyi (Ukraine), Konstantinos Diamantis from the Municipality of Irakleio Attica (Greece).

Prior to the site visit, the mentees sent key data on their "candidate" projects. Based on this data, ESV conducted a initial feasibility analysis of the projects economic viability. The results were presented and discussed during the meeting. This permitted partners to transpose the theoretical information they were receiving into the context of their respective regions. Each participant went home with realistic numbers and valuable information about their potential project. This information can be communicated to municipalities and regional leaders to help increase interest in streetlight refurbishment with EPC.

On the second day, one of Upper Austria’s major ESCOs held a detailed presentation about the steps to implement an streetlighting project with EPC, offering partners insight into the world of ESCOs. This session was also complemented by a site visit. First of all, the group visited the "Light Demonstraton Street" in Wels, where various lighting technologies and LED luminaires have been set up by the city’s electricity utility (which is also active as ESCO). This was followed by a visit of 2 streetlighting refurbishment projects implemented using EPC (in the City of Wels and the Municipality of Lichtenberg).

Participants benefited from sharing internal know-how (among each other and with the ESV as EPC facilitator) as well as from external inputs provided by a very experienced ESCO from Upper Austria (EWW) and the municipalities.

“Every aspect of EPC (technical, financial and contractual) was presented and addressed thoroughly. I couldn’t ask for anything else! I am really grateful for the participation in the Prospect learning programme. I will do my best to disseminate the valuable knowledge gained to my municipality and I truly hope that we will be able to implement EPC for our future energy projects!” Rania Mavridou, Municipality of Nea Ionia (Greece)

Author: Anja Gahleitner (Facilitator Prospect)