Project Experts
Kawther Lihidheb Team Leader
Mouez ben Chaabane Project Manager
Designing a Bankable Energy Transition Program That Turns Public Buildings into Drivers of Sustainable Change
From Policy Ambition to Concrete Action: Energy Transition in Public Institutions in Tunisia (TEEP)
- Client
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Year
2018-2023
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Region
- Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
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Services
- Market, Prefeasibility, and Feasibility Studies
- Energy Audits, Energy Efficiency Project Identification, and Energy Savings Measurement and Verification
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Countries
Tunisia
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Sectors
- Governments and Public Services
- Financial institutions
Turning national energy ambitions into tangible investments is one of the most critical—and complex—steps of the energy transition. In Tunisia, Econoler supported public authorities in bridging this gap by designing a flagship program that transforms the energy efficiency and solar PV potential of public buildings into a bankable, scalable, and operational energy transition program. The Energy Transition Program in Public Institutions in Tunisia (TEEP) stands as a concrete example of how policy ambition can be translated into real-world action—at scale.
Why public buildings matter
Energy efficiency and solar photovoltaic technologies in buildings are central pillars of Tunisia’s energy transition strategy, offering both substantial energy savings and significant greenhouse gas emission reductions. As large energy consumers, public buildings also represent a unique opportunity to lead by example.
Recognizing both the untapped potential and the exemplary role public institutions can play, the Tunisian State sought to develop a dedicated national program targeting public buildings — one capable of moving toward systematic implementation.
A strategic partnership to unlock implementation
With the support of KfW, a technical and economic feasibility study was launched to assess how energy efficiency and solar PV could be systematically promoted in public-sector buildings. This initiative laid the foundations for what would become the Energy Transition Program in Public Institutions in Tunisia (TEEP), supported through a bilateral agreement between Tunisia and Germany.
The program was designed with a national perspective, initially focusing on public buildings located in the Greater Tunis region, before expanding to institutions across the rest of the country. This phased approach allowed solutions to be tested, refined, and scaled.
Targeted buildings included schools, hospitals, universities, and administrative facilities, reflecting the diversity and scale of Tunisia’s public building stock and its energy consumption patterns.
Mandate
Econoler was commissioned by KfW to carry out a technical, economic, and institutional feasibility study to support Tunisian public authorities in designing and implementing a large-scale energy efficiency and solar PV program for public buildings.
Designing the backbone of a national program
Acting as lead consultant, Econoler’s mandate covered two main phases, with the overarching objective of enabling public institutions to improve their energy performance while establishing a robust framework for long-term program implementation and ownership.
From diagnosis to long-term ownership
The program was developed in two complementary phases, moving from an in-depth diagnostic and program design to national scale-up and investment planning.
Phase 1 – Designing a bankable national program
Understanding the system before acting
During the first phase, Econoler conducted an in-depth analysis of the regulatory, institutional, and financial frameworks governing energy efficiency in public buildings.
Mobilizing market actors and data
The team assessed market conditions and the capacities of private-sector actors, including ESCOs, energy auditors, equipment suppliers, and installers, to support program delivery. A comprehensive energy consumption database for public buildings in the Greater Tunis region was also developed.
Turning potential into a structured investment plan
Econoler carried out a detailed evaluation of energy savings potential and investment needs across key subsectors. Based on these analyses, the team proposed institutional and financial arrangements covering governance, contractual procedures, operational modalities, and financing requirements, while assessing social and environmental impacts and identifying capacity-building needs.
From study to signed financing
This work resulted in a fully structured energy efficiency program design, delivered to ANME, KfW, and national stakeholders. It directly supported the negotiation and signing, in 2020, of a EUR 15 million loan agreement between KfW and the Government of Tunisia for the first phase of the EE program, complementing a EUR 30 million solar PV program. Both were ultimately integrated into the TEEP.
Phase 2 – Preparing for national scale-up
Extending impact beyond Greater Tunis
To prepare a second phase of the program, Econoler was commissioned to extend the analysis to public buildings outside the Greater Tunis region, focusing on public health, higher education, and national education.
From representative samples to replicable solutions
Activities included sectoral diagnostics, pre-audits of 53 representative institutions, identification of flagship energy efficiency measures replicable across sectors, and evaluation of solar PV integration potential based on technical, spatial, and contractual parameters.
Delivering a national investment roadmap
The results formed the basis for a national EE and PV investment program for public buildings outside Greater Tunis, delivered to ANME, KfW, and national partners.
Beyond projects: Enabling structural change
The project played a structuring role in Tunisia’s public-sector energy transition, moving from isolated initiatives to a programmatic, scalable approach.
By aligning technical solutions with institutional and financial mechanisms, the project transformed energy transition objectives into implementable public policy instruments.
Delivering measurable value for institutions and partners
The first phase of the TEEP program generated significant and quantifiable impacts for public institutions and national stakeholders.
Concrete results at scale:
- 20 GWh/year of energy savings from a EUR 15 million EE investment
- 11,500 tCO₂eq/year avoided through energy efficiency measures
- 42.75 GWh/year of clean electricity produced from a EUR 34 million PV investment, avoiding 23,500 tCO₂eq/year
Strengthening energy governance
The program also enabled the deployment of a data collection and benchmarking platform, strengthening energy performance monitoring and continuous improvement across public buildings.
Key figures at a glance
Laying the foundations for long-term transformation
Beyond energy savings and emissions reductions, the TEEP initiative laid the foundations for lasting structural change within Tunisia’s public sector.
By translating national decarbonization objectives into concrete investments and improved energy management practices, the program positions public buildings as visible and exemplary models of sustainability. In doing so, TEEP not only accelerates Tunisia’s public-sector energy transition but also creates a replicable blueprint capable of catalyzing decarbonization across other economic sectors.