Consultant sought to expand REEP to residential sector

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development issued an invitation for expressions of interest for firms or groups of firms to obtain consultancy services for the extension of the Western Balkans Regional Energy Efficiency Programme (REEP), particularly in the residential sector. REEP Plus is expected to start in June and has an estimated overall duration of 40 months. The cost estimate for the programme and assignment is EUR 3 million, exclusive of VAT, subject to extension, the bank said. The closing date for expressions of interest is March 14.

The programme is expected to be funded through the EBRD’s donor-funded Technical Cooperation Funds Programme. However, consultant selection and contracting will be subject to availability of funding from an appropriate donor. The consultant will preferably have experience in energy efficiency sector relating to project advisory services, including development and implementation of national energy efficiency action plans, implementation of the energy efficiency obligation schemes, and provision of institutional capacity building assistance. Experience is needed in the area of supporting public administrations in providing key policy recommendations, including assisting with development of primary and secondary legislationgoverning energy efficiency, development and implementation of policies to support investments in residential energy efficiency, assisting countries with development and implementing of monitoring, verification and enforcement for energy efficiency policies, the invitation said.

The programme supports energy efficiency investment in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. EBRD established REEP in 2013, with the support of the European Union and in partnership with the Energy Community Secretariat (ECS). Following feedback from the Energy Efficiency Coordination Group (EECG) of the Energy Community, it became clear that there is an urgent need to extend the programme to the residential sector, EBRD said.

Energy intensity of the six Western Balkans countries is around three times higher than the average for the EU, as a result of aged and often obsolete energy infrastructure and poorly maintained and outdated energy-using capital stock – especially in industry and buildings, the bank said and added it is critical to capture the energy efficiency potential. When properly supported by a solid legal and institutional framework and backed up by well designed and implemented investment programmes, increased energy efficiency delivers many cost-effective benefits for competitiveness, the environment, security of energy supply and economic development in general, according to the invitation.

EBRD, in cooperation with the ECS and the EECG, commissioned a regional residential energy efficiency study. The aim of the programme is to provide policy support to the governments to eliminate market barriers and accelerate the take up of energy services.