If you missed the 3rd meeting you can rewatch it on our youtube channel. 

The topic was then expounded on by Lada Strelnikova who is responsible for managing the investment management mandate for the European Energy Efficiency Fund (EEEF) within DWS. She discussed the aspect of technical assistance of the EEEF as a traditional subsidy option for public authorities to move projects forward and prepare an investment program. She gave the example of a project executed in the Alentejo region, which includes Évora―a POCITYF lighthouse city, who have previously received technical assistance in their investment program and feasibility study for certain projects. She highlighted the importance of properly framing the project because this is related to getting the political support within a territory needed to drive the progress of a project faster. In her example of the Alentejo region, she commended the interregional authority CIMAC, for getting the visions aligned for the project along with the needed political support. Among others, the project consisted of replacing the streetlights and small installations in various communities in the region. She then discussed the project structure and the financing of the technical assistance which is quite straightforward because funding is either received in full or in several steps through the milestones achieved.  

Several questions were posed after Lada’s presentation which stimulated discussions among the participants. Rui Barroso, who also worked with CIMAC on the aforementioned project shared that the project had a long processing implementation route because of the need to ensure a strong political commitment and technical alignment between several municipalities who had about 15 decision contact points. In the end, the project was a win-win situation in terms of public lighting and several areas of energy efficiency.  

After several other interventions and discussions about the future, it was concluded that a survey will be sent to working group members to gather their opinions on what topic should be discussed in the next meeting which is scheduled on the 28th of October 2021.  For more information about the working group’s activities, please contact Ivana Rae Almora. You may also contact her if your organisation would like to contribute content to the next newsletter of the working group. You can subscribe to the newsletter through this link.