Building Technical Capacity for Energy Efficiency Standards and Verifying Energy Savings in Cuba

Equipping institutions with the tools, knowledge, and frameworks needed to advance energy efficiency.

  • Client

    UNIDO

  • Year

    2024-2026

  • Region
    • Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
  • Services
    • Capacity Building
    • Policy, Regulatory and Institutional Frameworks
    • Energy Audits, Energy Efficiency Project Identification, and Energy Savings Measurement and Verification
  • Countries

    Cuba

  • Sectors
    • Governments and Public Services
    • Commercial and Residential
Econoler

Project Experts

Stéphanie Nour Team Leader

Krystian Feucht Project Coordinator and Technical Expert

Many countries recognize the value of energy efficiency, but turning ambition into measurable results requires strong technical capacity, effective regulations, and reliable methods to verify impacts.

As Cuba continues to update its energy sector, strengthening the institutions responsible for energy efficiency has become an essential step toward achieving lasting results. Building this capacity requires more than technical tools — it requires knowledge transfer, practical experience, and trusted frameworks that local stakeholders can continue using long after a project ends.

Strengthening the technical foundations behind effective energy efficiency policies and programs

The project aimed to strengthen Cuba’s institutional and technical capabilities in energy efficiency regulation and project evaluation. At its core, the initiative sought to empower national institutions with the expertise needed to make informed decisions, establish stronger regulatory frameworks, and confidently assess the real-world impacts of energy efficiency investments.

This included reviewing and providing technical inputs to the development of Energy Efficiency Labelling (EEL) and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) frameworks, while enhancing local expertise in Measurement and Verification (M&V) methodologies and energy performance analysis. Through technical advisory services, specialized training, and project evaluations, Econoler helped equip stakeholders with the tools and knowledge needed to support future energy efficiency initiatives.

Mandate

Econoler was mandated by UNIDO to provide technical advisory services, capacity building, and Measurement and Verification expertise to support the development of energy efficiency regulations and the evaluation of energy-saving projects in Cuba.

Supporting national stakeholders as they modernize energy efficiency regulations and practices

Implemented under UNIDO’s Support Programme for the Energy Sector in Cuba – Energy Efficiency and financed by the European Union, the project supported the Oficina Nacional para el Uso Racional de la Energía (ONURE) and the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM). Working closely with national counterparts, Econoler helped bridge international best practices with local priorities and realities, ensuring that recommendations and training activities were adapted to the Cuban context.

The assignment aimed to support the review and strengthening of existing and draft regulatory frameworks related to priority technologies, including lighting systems, industrial refrigeration, steam systems, and pumping systems, through technical recommendations and international best practices.

In addition, Econoler conducted M&V assessments of five demonstration projects implemented under another component of the broader programme. We covered interventions at:

  • Hotel Nacional
  • Oleohidráulica
  • Textilera de Villa Clara
  • The Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM)
  • Conformat

This M&V work aimed to generate reliable evidence of energy savings, cost savings, demand reductions, and greenhouse gas emission reductions, supporting future decision-making and energy efficiency initiatives in Cuba.

Project Benefits: Building local expertise to drive informed energy efficiency decisions for years to come

The project enabled Cuban institutions and technical professionals to strengthen their ability to develop, implement, and assess energy efficiency initiatives.

Participants gained practical knowledge of international best practices for MEPS and EEL programs, energy performance analysis, and M&V methodologies. Through hands-on training and the use of RETScreen Expert software, local specialists enhanced their capacity to:

  • Evaluate energy efficiency projects
  • Develop baselines
  • Quantify savings
  • Assess greenhouse gas emissions reductions

Beyond acquiring technical skills, participants gained greater confidence in their ability to independently evaluate projects and contribute to the design and implementation of future energy efficiency initiatives.

For ONURE and MINEM, the project provided technical recommendations and regulatory insights that can support future improvements to energy efficiency standards and labelling programs. The knowledge and tools transferred through the project create a foundation that can continue supporting policy development and program implementation long after the assignment’s completion.

Project Results: Turning technical assistance into measurable outcomes and strengthened institutional capacity

Econoler delivered specialized training sessions for more than 40 professionals from across Cuba, strengthening national expertise in energy efficiency regulation, energy performance assessment, and Measurement and Verification.

By bringing together professionals from different sectors and organizations, the training activities helped create a shared understanding of energy efficiency principles and evaluation methodologies across the country.

The project also supported the technical review of draft MEPS and EEL frameworks for priority technologies, providing recommendations informed by international best practices and market experience.

Through rigorous Measurement and Verification assessments based on the IPMVP, Econoler verified annual energy savings of 648,588 kWh across the five pilot projects, using internationally recognized methodologies and the RETScreen Expert software. The analysis also quantified associated cost savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions, providing a clear picture of the projects’ impacts. To support long-term capacity development, two-year RETScreen Expert licenses were provided to Cuban stakeholders, enabling continued use of advanced energy modelling and project evaluation tools after the project’s completion.

These verified results not only demonstrated the effectiveness of the projects themselves but also reinforced the importance of robust measurement practices in supporting evidence-based decision-making.

Creating the conditions for continued progress through knowledge transfer and evidence-based action

The project leaves behind more than verified energy savings. It leaves behind stronger institutions, enhanced technical expertise, and a growing community of professionals equipped to advance energy efficiency across multiple sectors of the Cuban economy. It has strengthened the technical and institutional capabilities required to support future energy efficiency policies, programs, and investments in Cuba.

By combining regulatory advisory services, practical training, and rigorous Measurement and Verification expertise, Econoler helped establish a stronger foundation for evidence-based energy efficiency decision-making that can continue generating value well beyond the life of the project. This project demonstrates how targeted capacity building can create lasting impact — enabling organizations not only to implement energy efficiency measures, but also to measure, validate, and continuously improve their results over time.

Learn more about capacity building