Financing energy efficiency Main barriers and solutions

Transcription

1 Financing energy efficiency Main barriers and solutions RES4MED One-day workshop A step change in the deployment of RE and EE solutions in the Mediterranean

2 Energy costs reduction Transaction costs Investing in Energy efficiency Main actors and issues (1) NPV NetSavings>Committed resources Project promoter (Beneficiary) 2 nd issue Risks on energy savings achievements 5 th issue Own finance 1 st issue Upfront costs 3 rd issue Lenghty process Technology NO EE investment GO project 4 th issue Technology reliability Better risk allocation needed 3

3 Energy costs reduction Transaction costs Investing in Energy efficiency Main actors and issues (2) Project promoter NPV NetSavings>Committed resources+interests Loan repayment 2 nd issue Risks on energy savings achievements 3 rd issue Lenghty process (Beneficiary) Borrowed finance Energy Service Company Loan Financial institution 5 th issue Technology NO EE investment GO project 4 th issue Technology reliability Better risk allocation needed 4

4 Energy costs reduction Transaction costs Transaction costs Investing in Energy efficiency Main actors and issues (3) Project promoter Likely to GO Better financial instruments needed within an EPC NPV NetSavings>Committed resources+interests+operational costs Payment (shared savings) (Beneficiary) Loan repayment Financial institution Energy Service Company Loan 2 nd issue Risks on energy savings achievements 4 th issue Technology reliability Technology EE investment project 5 th issue Borrowed finance 3 rd issue Lenghty process 5

5 Financing Energy efficiency Outstanding issues: non financial barriers technical knowledge Source: Energy efficiency Report 2011, Energy&Strategy group, POLIMI 6

6 Financing Energy efficiency Outstanding issues: financial barriers (1) Banks and other financial institutions are suffering from information asymmetries about the potential of EE technologies. Especially in case of investments with long times of return: commercial banks react to exposure to risk preferring a restriction of credit while investment funds, which have a greater appetite for risk, they prefer to invest in large volume transactions. Therefore, investments in EE fall into the trap of the absence of mechanisms mixed "corporate-finance project" that require specific expertise (and interest) of banks. Financing mechanisms may be available at all levels, applying well known approaches. 7

7 Financing Energy efficiency Outstanding issues: financial barriers (2) matching needs ESCOs Banks Many single projects, independent and small Preference for segregation Many projects in one single ESCO Portfolio financing asks for homogeneous projects Contractual clauses variable from project to project Standardisation Risks not segmented, mixed flows Risk profiling needed Mixed financing needs (investment, working capital) Different financing lines 8

8 Financing Energy efficiency Enabling factors: Information Energy audits Energy audits provide information on the current consumption pattern of the beneficiary and help establishing a baseline where to build an EPC upon. It s necessary energy audits do not only measure energy demand but also provide an estimation of the energy consumption function (linked to level of activity, weather conditions, etc.) Such baseline must be dynamic. IT-based monitoring systems Monitoring and controlling systems, based on softwares which gather and elaborate data coming from meters, are fundamental as facilitators of the entire EPC process as: they help controlling the energy performances after the intervention against the baseline; they help checking the technological performances Such IT systems help overcoming many information barriers (and related transaction costs) 9

9 Financing Energy efficiency Solutions: forfeiting schemes The intermediation of an ESCO between the project promoter and the bank allows you to finance the investment, with a share of risk borne by the technical operator and paid by the bank, which buys part of receivables energy savings resulting from the customer's ESCO. Lenders may, in turn, refinance at a fund operating in the medium to long term to mitigate the risks of their exposure. 10

10 Financing Energy efficiency Solutions: more complex project finance schemes ESCO Long term bank Credit bank Availability fee Fixed consumption quota Variable consumption quota 11

11 Conclusions As highlighted before, one of the main condition for projects to start is minimising transaction costs. Incentives can help project start and a good design of supporting schemes is crucial (for example, tradable certificates). But, basically, Energy Performance Contracts need, to work, proper: allocation of risks, according to competences; segregation of cash flows, each one covering a given risk; reflection of such risks/flows into contract clauses (ToR); standardisation; financial instruments; information system as a guidance through the contract. 12

12 Thanks for your attention Paolo Gentili Senior Manager tel cell This publication has been prepared for general guidance on matters of interest only, and does not constitute professional advice. You should not act upon the information contained in this publication without obtaining specific professional advice. No representation or warranty (express or implied) is given as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this publication, and, to the extent permitted by law, PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory SpA, its members, employees and agents do not accept or assume any liability, responsibility or duty of care for any consequences of you or anyone else acting, or refraining to act, in reliance on the information contained in this publication or for any decision based on it PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory SpA. All rights reserved. In this document, refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory SpA which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.