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What encourages local authorities to engage with energy performance contracting for retrofitting? Evidence from German municipalities

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  • Polzin, Friedemann
  • von Flotow, Paschen
  • Nolden, Colin

Abstract

Municipalities aiming at mitigating climate change by implementing new energy efficiency technologies face budgetary and capacity constraints. Outsourcing through energy service contracting could provide a solution. This paper reports results from a survey of 1298 municipalities concerning barriers to retrofitting public street lighting and the possible role of energy service contracting to overcome these barriers. Using a logistic regression analysis, the authors investigate determinants of opting for energy service contracts in the specific context of LED retrofits. Results point to an advantage of outsourcing in a financially and capacity-constrained environment, which corresponds with the main reasons for engaging in contracting: minimising investments and financial risks. However, municipalities often do not fully grasp the risks associated with retrofitting especially using a novel technology such as LED. In relation to that they underestimate the risk reduction potential of energy performance contracts (EPC). Previous experience with outsourcing increases the probability to engage in servitization although certain existing partnerships, particularly with utilities, prevent municipalities from considering energy performance contracts. Interestingly, engaging an energy consultant has a negative propensity to use energy service contracts, while pre-negotiated standardised contracts for energy performance contracts have a positive influence.

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  • Polzin, Friedemann & von Flotow, Paschen & Nolden, Colin, 2016. "What encourages local authorities to engage with energy performance contracting for retrofitting? Evidence from German municipalities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 317-330.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:94:y:2016:i:c:p:317-330
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2016.03.049
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    6. Bertoldi, Paolo & Boza-Kiss, Benigna, 2017. "Analysis of barriers and drivers for the development of the ESCO markets in Europe," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 345-355.
    7. Wenjie Zhang & Hongping Yuan, 2019. "Promoting Energy Performance Contracting for Achieving Urban Sustainability: What is the Research Trend?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-18, April.
    8. Alali, Layla & Niesten, Eva & Gagliardi, Dimitri, 2022. "The impact of UK financial incentives on the adoption of electric fleets: The moderation effect of GDP change," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 200-220.
    9. João Paulo Santos Aragão & Marcele Elisa Fontana, 2022. "Outsourcing Strategies in Public Services under Budgetary Constraints: Analysing Perceptions of Public Managers," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 61-77, March.
    10. Polzin, Friedemann & Nolden, Colin & von Flotow, Paschen, 2018. "Drivers and barriers for municipal retrofitting activities – Evidence from a large-scale survey of German local authorities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 99-108.
    11. Nolden, C. & Barnes, J. & Nicholls, J., 2020. "Community energy business model evolution: A review of solar photovoltaic developments in England," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
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    13. Wenjie Zhang & Hongping Yuan, 2019. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Energy Performance Contracting Research from 2008 to 2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-23, June.
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    15. Weber, Ines & Wolff, Anna, 2018. "Energy efficiency retrofits in the residential sector – analysing tenants’ cost burden in a German field study," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 680-688.
    16. Qin, Quande & Liang, Fuqi & Li, Li & Wei, Yi-Ming, 2017. "Selection of energy performance contracting business models: A behavioral decision-making approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 422-433.

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