About Infinite Solutions
Although many cities and regions have engaged in an energy
transition, financing sustainable energy measures remains a great
challenge. Some project investment costs are high and covering them by
using only municipal budget and traditional financing mechanisms is
difficult.
Through the Infinite Solutions project, 11 local authorities and
associated partners have successfully implemented 3 innovative financing
schemes inspired by the cities of Stuttgart (Germany) and Delft (the
Netherlands)... and it works!
Internal Contracting
4 European cities of all sizes and 4 French universities have set up a
revolving fund linked to an internal contracting (intracting) financing
scheme to finance energy saving measures in public buildings and
facilities: Agueda (Portugal), Almada (Portugal), Koprivnica (Croatia),
Udine (Italy), the Universities of Rennes, Clermont-Ferrand, Nanterre
and Reims (France).
Soft loans
Brussels-Capital Region (Belgium), Frederikshavn (Denmark), Riga
(Latvia), Parma (Italy), and Bordeaux Metropole (France) in partnership
with 18 local banks and financing institutions have developed soft loan
financing schemes to motivate homeowners to invest in energy renovation.
Soft loans are accompanied by non-financial incentives such as
technical assistance to homeowners.
Third-party investment
The city of Stuttgart developed a ‘carefree energy renovation package’
for homeowners. The package includes: planning, building and
construction, operation and maintenance, financing, guarantee and risk
assumption. Homeowners do not need to secure upfront financing for the
replacement of the heating system. This is financed by a municipal ESCO
to whom the homeowners pay a monthly service fee through energy supply
contracting.
Infinite Solutions was an Intelligent Energy Europe project also supported by ADEME and Caisse des Dépôts.
