Assessment of the Feasibility and Potential of a Super ESCO Model in Cuba

Econoler worked with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), under the European Union-funded Support Programme for the Energy Sector in Cuba – Energy Efficiency, to assess the feasibility and potential of establishing a Super energy service company (Super ESCO) in Cuba. More than 300 energy audits carried out in the industrial and tourism sectors served to identify significant energy efficiency potential; however, implementation had been limited by financial constraints, institutional barriers, and a lack of a mechanism to finance and aggregate investments.

In this context, UNIDO mandated Econoler to evaluate whether a Super ESCO could address these barriers by enabling the financing and implementation of energy efficiency projects at scale. The assignment was based on existing audit results and national energy efficiency priorities to assess technical, financial, and institutional conditions and determine how a Super ESCO model could be adapted to the Cuban context.

Under the mandate, Econoler carried out the following tasks:

• Reviewed and analyzed the results of more than 300 energy audits in the industrial and tourism sectors;

• Assessed the legal, regulatory, institutional, and financial frameworks relevant to energy efficiency investments and energy performance contracts;

• Developed representative case studies to simulate the technical and financial operation of a Super ESCO under Cuban conditions;

• Estimated the potential market size, energy savings, investment needs, and emission reductions achievable through a Super ESCO;

• Developed a concise operational roadmap outlining the steps required to establish a Super ESCO.

Through these services, UNIDO and Cuban institutions now benefit from a clear feasibility assessment and practical guidance to support informed decisions on scaling up energy efficiency investments in Cuba.