Background

A main objective of the Directive 2006/32/EC on energy end-use efficiency and energy services (ESD) is to stimulate the market for energy services and for the delivery of other energy efficiency improvement measures to final consumers. In order to achieve this objective, the ESD gives a special role to energy distributors, distribution system operators and retail energy sales companies. On the other hand, there are different types of "pure" energy service companies (ESCOs) in the market ready to expand their business in the field of energy efficiency services (EES).

Against this background, it is important to know, how and to which extent the market for energy efficiency services could be further developed, what are appropriate business strategies and promising services not only for “advanced” companies but also for “beginners”, what is a policy framework suitable to stimulate market development and to overcome existing barriers, and which role energy companies developing towards sustainable ESCOs could play.

Objectives and tasks

Against this background, the main objectives of ChangeBest are:
•  to assist energy companies and ESCOs in entering the B2B and B2C market for EES,
•  to contribute to the development of the EES market as part of the implementation of the ESD,
•  to demonstrate good practice in implementing the ESD.

In order to achieve the objectives specified, the project work will consist of:
•  empirical analysis of the EES market and the respective economic and policy framework in the course of the implementation of the ESD,
•  exchange of experiences, national workshops and a European conference,
•  a large bundle of promising EES business cases and strategies implemented in “field tests”,
•  communication and dissemination activities, and
•  induced further action and networking by energy (service) companies.