Client: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Dates: 2005 - 2006

Country of assignment: Albania, Macedonia

Description of actual services provided:

Encon completed three projects under this USAID program in Macedonia: 

• Encon implemented municipal energy efficiency projects in 6 school buildings in Macedonia, with support from local subcontractors TIMEL Project and the Macedonian Energy Efficiency Centre (MACEF). The project demonstrated that low-cost energy efficiency measures are the most cost-effective way of reducing costs and improving classroom conditions. Encon designed the programmes, obtained grant financing, hired local contractors to implement the measures, and has been monitoring the results since completion. The total investment was about $100,000, and the payback period was less than 2 years. As a result of the project, average classroom temperatures have increased from 15°C to 20°C, and heating costs have decreased significantly.
• Encon performed due diligence of the investment plan for rehabilitation of the largest geothermal power station in Macedonia, the Kocani geothermal power station. EnCon structured a transaction invoicing expansion of the geothermal capacity by increasing heating capacity by 50% through full reinjection of brine and secured additional high load factor customers including local greenhouses and nearby apartment blocks.
• Encon provided technical assistance to USAID in the development and implementation of the Development Credit Authority Program with UniBanka in Macedonia, whereby the U.S. Government would guarantee 50% of the loan principal for approved energy efficiency loans. On July 18, 2008, this DCA facility issued the first commercial energy efficiency loan in Macedonia, a $635,000 loan for a heating system upgrade and lighting retrofit at a municipal building.
• Encon was responsible for the energy audit, identification and implementation of feasible energy efficiency measures in residential buildings with high concentration of low-income households in Albania under the USAID Regional Energy Efficiency Programme, Encon, in cooperation with the EU, Albania Energy Efficiency Center, reviewed energy efficiency opportunities in over 20 multi-story buildings in Korca, Erseka and Elbasan, performed energy audits of selected residential buildings and identified feasible low cost energy efficiency measures for successfully implemented pilot projects.