On the 3rd of February, Energy Efficiency for Europe participated in the second roundtable of the Energy Efficiency Financing Coalition at the European Commission, which brought together Member States, financial institutions, industry stakeholders and high-level representatives of the Commission to identify concrete solutions to scale investment in Europe’s energy efficiency market.
The roundtable underscored energy efficiency as a strategic imperative for Europe’s energy security and prosperity with, as outlined by Energy and Housing Commissioner Dan Jørgensen, the potential to deliver up to 40% of required CO₂ reductions by 2030 if the €170 billion annual investment gap is addressed. Discussions also highlighted the role of the European Commission’s forthcoming Clean Energy Investment Strategy, expected to include a dedicated package on energy efficiency.
Participants emphasised the central role of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) in delivering the Coalition’s objectives and accelerating project implementation across Europe. The importance of stable andpredictable public funding frameworks was reiterated, alongside the need to revise third-party financing rules under the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) to unlock further investment.
Energy Efficiency for Europe’s General Secretary Valérie Plainemaison called for the recognition of professional energy services to industry within the European Green Taxonomy, to further support investment and project development. Valérie further noted that standardisation efforts must remain feasible at national level, with sectoral contract models offering practical solutions.
The roundtable notably demonstrated strong momentum around ESCO-led delivery and the expansion of energy performance contracting (EnPCs) through the Coalition’s National Hubs as key tools for advancing investment across Europe. Overall, the Coalition reaffirmed its role as valuable platform for driving constructive dialogue on financing energy efficiency and addressing barriers to investment across Europe.