Why Hungary? Lessons Learned from the Success of the Hungarian ESCO Industry

Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, Central European University, Center for Policy Studies
Pierre Langlois, Econoler International
Silvia Rezessy, Central European University, Environmental Sciences and Policy Department

Keywords

Abstract

Hungary has been celebrated as one of the most successful cradles of the ESCO industry in Europe. Utilities have also championed performance-contracting type services in Hungary. Furthermore, most key electric suppliers claim that energy efficiency services will play a more significant role in their product offerings, post-liberalization, than they do in their portfolios in Western Europe.

Why Hungary? Why have ESCOs flourished in Hungary, while they are facing stronger battles to get off the ground in several other European countries? Why are energy efficiency services projected to play a more significant role in the liberalized Hungarian electricity market than in many other European countries? What can the world learn from this case? – Which are the success factors that are transferable?

The paper provides an analysis of these questions. The results of the paper are based on the insight and experiences of an international group in the ESCO business, as well as interviews conducted with most of the key participants in the Hungarian ESCO industry and representatives of electricity suppliers. The paper discusses the factors determining the success or failure of ESCO industries in a general context, this context being the Hungarian electricity market, the liberalization process, the development of the banking sector and the financial environment, government policies, and international aid programs, all of which have influenced the present landscape of the performance-contracting industry. The paper concludes by identifying internationally transferable success components.