International ESCO Symposium 2025 – Practical Implementation – ESCO Implementation Frameworks and EPC Facilitation for Local Governments

The second day of the symposium opened with reflections from Pierre Langlois (Co-chair, Global ESCO Network; President, Econoler) and Onur Ünlü (President, Energy Efficiency and Management Association of Türkiye – EYODER). They highlighted the depth and productivity of the first day, which covered a wide range of topics, including ESCO associations, international agreements, national regulations, development perspectives, and the emerging role of SuperESCOs.

Pierre emphasised the value of the symposium as a platform for practitioner-level exchange, noting that the sessions went beyond surface-level discussions to explore real implementation challenges and solutions. Onur added a light-hearted note about the enthusiasm of the speakers, who were already deep in discussion early in the morning, eager to continue the momentum.

They also announced that the next ESCO Symposium will be hosted in Madrid, encouraging participants to continue building on the collaborative spirit and knowledge-sharing that defines the Global ESCO Network.

Session Summary

Moderated by Serkan Emin (Board Member, EYODER – Türkiye), this session focused on how municipalities and sub-national governments can practically implement energy efficiency measures through Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) and ESCO facilitation frameworks. The panel featured experts from Canada, Poland, Belgium, and Ireland, who shared real-world experiences, digital innovations, and legal insights into enabling local governments to scale up energy efficiency projects.

Key Insights by Speaker

• Rafał Cieślak (University of Warsaw, Poland): Shared Poland’s efforts to develop a One-Stop-Shop (OSS) model to support municipalities in EPC implementation, highlighting barriers such as grant dependency, lack of policy, and public procurement complexity.
• John O’Rourke (SEFA, Ireland): Emphasised the need for national procurement frameworks and scalable models to attract large-scale finance. Advocated for energy efficiency to be treated as a transactable commodity.
• Ingmar Hermans (Ainglie): Presented a digital OSS platform to simplify EPC processes and empower municipalities through self-service tools. Highlighted the importance of standardisation, ambition, and data-driven decision-making.
• Geneviève Gauthier (Econoler, Canada): Brought insights from 15 years of EPC facilitation in Canada. Stressed the role of facilitators in aligning client expectations with technical and financial realities, and the need for education and standard frameworks.

Common Themes and Takeaways

• One-Stop-Shops (OSS) are effective in simplifying EPC procurement and building trust with local governments.
• Digitalisation is essential for scaling EPCs, enabling self-service, standardisation, and better data use.
• Legal and procurement barriers remain significant, especially in emerging markets.
• Capacity building and knowledge transfer are critical to empowering municipalities and aligning stakeholders.
• Ambition and leadership are necessary to overcome inertia and drive meaningful energy efficiency outcomes.

Conclusion

This session underscored that while the ESCO model is well-established in theory, its practical implementation—especially at the local government level—requires tailored frameworks, facilitation, and digital innovation. One-Stop-Shops, whether physical or digital, are proving to be powerful tools for bridging the gap between policy ambition and on-the-ground execution.

Speakers emphasised that standardisation, procurement reform, and capacity building are essential to unlock the full potential of EPCs. Facilitators play a crucial role in aligning diverse stakeholders, while digital platforms can democratize access and accelerate project pipelines. The session also highlighted the need for ambitious leadership, particularly in the public sector, to overcome inertia and drive meaningful energy efficiency outcomes.

As the global ESCO community continues to evolve, the lessons shared in this session offer a roadmap for scaling up local government action through practical, replicable, and innovative implementation models.