From Tech to Transformation: Accelerating Building Energy Efficiency through ICT Solutions

Buildings accounted for 42% of the energy consumed in the EU in 2021 and for over one-third of the EU's energy-related GHG emissions.

In order to address this, the new Energy Efficiency Directive (EU) 2023/1791 introduces a series of measures to help accelerate energy efficiency, including embracing the “energy efficiency first” principle in the energy and non-energy policies while establishing an EU legally binding target to reduce the EU’s final energy consumption by 11.7%. However, implementing and investing in energy efficiency projects in buildings imply a complex decision-making process involving several stages and different stakeholders.

The scope of this event, co-organised by InEExS, ENERGATE and FORTESIE is thus to present different services, business models and tools that can be replicated by the stakeholders involved in the value chain of sustainable building renovation, to accelerate the implementation of energy efficiency in buildings.

The event will:

• Focus on Energy Efficiency, in line with the objectives of 3 EU-funded projects, by underlining the importance of reducing energy consumption in buildings.
• Emphasize ICT tools and Platforms by reflecting the technological advancements and digital tools developed and implemented by these projects to promote energy efficiency.
• Focus on specific tools and technologies used in the projects, such as blockchain, AI, IoT, ML and smart energy services.
• Discuss related challenges like data collection, legal issues for blockchain, integration of multiple platforms and opportunities like energy transition, consumption reduction and facilitated engagement of stakeholders.

The event is a joint effort by the following projects:

• ENERGATE - Energy Efficiency Aggregation platform for Sustainable Investments in Buildings: The ENERGATE project aims to facilitate communication between market actors and upstream Energy Efficiency in buildings, by focusing on the development of an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) enabled marketplace. The ENERGATE platform pursues to enable effective collection of project-related information, business matchmaking and aggregation of projects while supporting Energy Efficiency investment by providing services for sustainable financing of building renovation.
• InEExS - Innovative Energy (Efficiency) Service Models for Sector Integration via Blockchain: The core concept of InEExS is the deployment of integrated energy services across sectors and carriers, and the tokenization of energy-saving data in a public blockchain to facilitate cooperation among market segments and actors. InEExS improves the implementation of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) Art7 and supports Obligated Parties to provide integrated service offers that enable energy savings, and system efficiency and include non-energy benefits. Particular attention is placed on the development of business models and contractual schemes that facilitate the implementation of sector-integrating smart energy services and the deployment of a wide range of sustainable technologies.
• Fortesie - CBDC powered Smart PerFORrmance contracTs for Efficiency, Sustainable, Inclusive, Energy use: The construction sector is one of the largest energy-consuming industries and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Fortunately, there is a growing trend in Europe’s building industry towards achieving high energy efficiency and sustainability performance. The EU-funded FORTESIE project will develop building renovation packages tailored to meet the needs of different target groups and optimised for improved energy performance, CO2 reduction and increased comfort levels. These renovation packages will combine state-of-the-art construction materials and technologies, including prefabricated facades, building-integrated photovoltaics and heat pumps. Overall, FORTESIE aims to accelerate the Renovation Wave in Europe and promote more sustainable practices in the building industry.