Page 29 - European Energy Innovation - summer 2019 publication
P. 29
Summer 2019 European Energy Innovation 29
SMART BUILDINGS
80.6 million in 2021. Even with small In addition to putting the
adjustments, buildings can become current regulation into
flexible players in the energy system practice, effective, scalable,
today. and affordable financing
However, clear regulations and good
planning from European to municipal
level are required to exploit the
full potential of buildings and get
them where they need to be: smart,
decarbonised and efficient.
Drivers for a Smart building schemes are much needed.
transition
Smart Buildings are essential assessment tool to drive the schemes are much needed. As
players in ongoing efforts to drive digital decarbonisation transition flexibility markets open further in all
the clean energy transition, increase of the EU building stock. It should European countries, more revenue
energy efficiency and the uptake allow tenants to see what their streams from buildings will become
and power system integration of building is capable of and help possible, provided that investment
renewable energy sources – goals market parties, like service barriers can be overcome.
that are guided by EU-wide targets providers such as aggregators,
set out in the 2030 climate and easily identity the existing Currently public support mainly
energy framework and the long- protentional of a building. circles around enabling banks to
term decarbonisation objectives. To provide renovation loans, which
achieve these goals, renovation rates The SRI should measure the ability of results in an unbalanced treatment
need to triple and the investment of the building to communicate in three of financing sources. To facilitate a
an added €100bn is needed annually ways: massive scale-up of renovations,
until 2030¹. new and additional types of financing
• To itself, assessing how different schemes could enable home-
To achieve this, at least three steps building devices speak to each owners, tenants and businesses to
are needed: minimum requirements, other to optimize and manage access necessary funding for Smart
a way of assessing progress and energy consumption Buildings. Governments, banks, and
innovative finance. citizens initiatives have an important
• To its occupants assessing how role to play in driving innovative
Important elements are included it transmits information about financing tools such as crowd funding
in the recently revised EU energy consumption, through a and so-called energy performance
Energy Performance of Buildings phone App for example contracts, that allow for different
Directive (EPBD) that sets out investment avenues.1
recommendations with minimum • To the grid in its ability to react to
requirements and drive the uptake of signals Smart Buildings are the way forward.
Smart buildings to: Smart Buildings’ demand side
The Smart Readiness Indicator should flexibility will permit savings and
• achieve a high degree of efficient address the fact that the smartness market participation for consumers,
and decarbonized building stock of a building is usually not yet all while driving decarbonisation,
by 2050 accurately reflected in the value of a renewable energy integration and
building. the overall efficiency of our energy
• integrate e-mobility system. That is, so long as minimum
In addition to putting the current requirements are implemented
• provide a renovation strategy regulation into practice, effective, and progress assessed, backed by
scalable, and affordable financing innovative finance. l
As well, a Smart Readiness Indicator
(SRI) is under development as an
[1] An arrangement between the client and energy services provider to improve energy productivity of buildings and supply guaranteed energy savings, all
without the need for upfront capital investment.
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