The 2023 Covenant of Mayors Investment Forum - Energy Efficiency Finance Market Place took place in Brussels on 25th October with more than 450 participants attending. A large majority of 350 stakeholders joined the event on-site, resulting in very lively discussions during the breakout sessions and intensive networking throughout the event. This illustrated once again the strong interest among stakeholders in this Event, and the vital role of the Forum in fostering discussions around energy efficiency, climate adaptation and finance.
Paloma Aba Garrote (Director of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency - CINEA) opened the conference together with Kurt Vandenberghe (Director General of the Directorate-General for Climate Action), Hans Van Steen (Principal Adviser for the Coordination of the Just and Green Energy Transition at the Directorate-General for Energy), José Antonio Álvarez Álvarez (Vice-Chair of Banco Santander) and Josko Klisovic (President of the City Assembly of Zagreb and Rapporteur at the Commission for Environment of the Committee of the Regions). They all stressed the importance of focusing on the implementation phase of the Green Deal and latest European Energy and Climate policies, the key role of energy transition leaders in cities and regions and how private finance is mobilised to support investments.
The event was closed by Aneta Willems (Head of the Department Natural Resources, Climate, Sustainable Blue Economy and Clean Energy at CINEA), Eero Ailio (Adviser for the Energy transition and local governance at the Directorate-General for Energy) and Frédéric Boyer (Co-lead of the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy - Europe Office).
15 projects and initiatives. Three thematic strands
15 projects/initiatives described in detail their pioneering work that advances the necessary change at all levels, such as local decarbonisation strategies for the energy transition, novel ways of financing energy efficiency in the public and private sectors, boosting home renovations through dedicated one-stop-shops, effective ways to support energy poor households and emerging energy communities as well as building climate resilience of cities. The majority of those initiatives are financed by the EU through different funding programs, and were grouped around three thematic strands: Cities and regions at the centre of the Clean Energy Transition and climate adaptation; Mobilizing sustainable energy investments in the public and private sectors; and Emerging approaches to boost energy efficiency finance.
Networking
Additionally, 13 stands were available to participants to provide them with information on relevant activities and support, which allowed for further networking among the participants and the institutions represented.
More information
Proceedings – available soon
Opening – Recordings
Strand 1: Cities and regions at the centre of the Clean Energy Transition and climate adaptation.
ACT!ONHEAT - How public authorities can prepare local heating and cooling plans and initiate impactful projects. Presentation - Recordings
REMARKABLE - Stimulating Investment Towards Carbon Neutrality. Presentation - Recordings
MAKING-CITY and SMARTCITIES MARKETPLACE - The role of Positive Energy Districts in the ongoing energy transition in urban areas. Presentation - Recordings
LIFE GREEN HEART - Generating resilient actions against the heat island effect on urban territory. Presentation - Recordings
SOLAR IMPULSE FOUNDATION - The City of Amsterdam and its technology partner unveil the keys to successful implementation – Presentation available soon - Recordings
Strand 2: Mobilizing sustainable energy investments in the public and private sectors.
SHEERENOV and EU PEERS - Seamless services for Housing Energy Efficiency Renovation in Sofia, Bulgaria. Presentation - Recordings
UP-STAIRS - One stop shops to support energy communities. Presentation - Recordings
ELENA – INTERACT: INTegrated sustainable enERgy ACTions and projects in Crete. Presentation - Recordings
3DIVERSE - Transformation of the district heating system in the Šaleška valley. Presentation - Recordings
EU CITY FACILITY - Support to cities and municipalities in mobilising sustainable energy investments. Presentation - Recordings
Strand 3: Emerging approaches to boost energy efficiency finance.
DELIVEREE - Dublin’s innovative project finance and delivery structure to upscale sustainable energy investments. Presentation - Recordings
SMARTER4EU - Improving energy security and citizens’ lives. Presentation - Recordings
FINEERGO-DOM - Guaranteed financing schemes for deep energy renovations of multifamily buildings. Presentation - Recordings
FITHOME - Accelerating family home retrofitting with a cost neutral, on-tax, end-to-end solution in The Netherlands. Presentation - Recordings
POWER UP - Social energy services - co-designing communities with people in energy poverty. Presentation - Recordings
Closing – Recordings