The Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) model has succeeded in attracting investments in the field of energy efficiency, but mainly for individual, large projects.

Energy efficiency programs, on the other hand, represent an alternative way to expansion, especially for the number of buildings that implement energy efficiency measures, but the practice of discounts and incentives that pay off economically.

The pre-payment mechanism creates the need to rely on supposed energy savings and on complex and costly regulations that hinder innovation on an ad hoc basis.

SENSEI will propose a solution to this blockade. Building on earlier successful experiments outside the EU, we will focus on developing concepts and business models that help: (a) develop new sources of benefits that increase the value of a company, energy retrofit project by allowing compensation for energy efficiency as an energy resource and (b) shorten the project duration, and motivate sums to be invested in an investable asset to attract private finance. The main concept underlying the SENSEI business models is Pay-for
Performance (P4P), which offers an effective way to involve both energy suppliers and third-party investors in the energy supply.

SENSEI will first develop P4P plans for financing energy efficiency that can be implemented throughout the EU and then integrate these P4P schemes with the preparation and implementation phase of the EPC model, with the intention of increasing and/or financing the increase in value of a building achieved through energy efficiency improvements.

The concepts developed use the actual building data and the consortium's expertise to conduct a series of negotiations between all SENSEI parties - representing all links in the EPC and P4P chain. The project has planned a series of demos. The aim is to carry out the first P4P pilot projects in the EU.