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Our independent advisory services help you to save energy and to manage the transition towards climate-neutralityOur independent advisory services help to save money and resources, sustainablyIndependent advisory services |
Examples of organizations that have hired our services as independent consultants include the European Commission's Research Executive Agency and several operational units of the UNCCD.
We support Local Governments and communities in developing and implementing locally-owned tailor-made strategies, solutions and transition processes towards clean energy, climate-neutrality and enhanced sustainability and circular-economy.
We support developers and asset managers to increase revenues while minimizing risks and reducing the environmental footprint of their operations, assets and projects. From the single building to the district scale, we can help you to:
We help companies achieve higher energy and resource efficiency, while maintaining or improving their productivity and reducing their environmental footprint, by:
We support public and non-profit organizations in project and programme development, management and evaluation. We are often engaged to support extraordinary activities and initiatives towards sustainable development, sustainable energy, climate-neutrality and a circular economy. The support we provide includes:
We will be glad to support you in finding the best strategy and solutions to achieve your objectives.
The way in which society generates and uses energy and materials is undergoing major transformations due to socio-economic reasons and to the necessity to develop more sustainable production and consumption patterns. The ongoing transitions present numerous challenges and opportunities for organizations in both the public and private sectors. Our advisory services are available to help you address these pressing challenges and opportunities, namely:
In the European Union Member States from 31 December 2020 onwards all new buildings shall be nearly zero-energy, meaning that they will be required to have very low energy needs, which should be covered to a large extent by renewable energy produced on-site or nearby (by force of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive published in 2010). How will this affect your business operations and assets’ value? How is your City Council considering this in planning regulations and infrastructure investment?
In Europe, the energy wasted as heat by conventional electricity power plants exceeds the heat consumed by all buildings (Heat Roadmap Europe, 2019). District heating and cooling systems have the potential to significantly increase the efficiency of primary energy use by seizing locally available surplus heat or free natural cooling, by enabling energy cascading between different consumers and enhancing the integration of renewable energy. Smart district energy systems also offer the opportunity for sector coupling between heating / cooling and the electricity system. Engaging stakeholders in the early planning of new urban development (or redevelopments) enables synergies and cost-savings in infrastructure investments. Integrated urban and energy planning may also avoid locking-in inefficient and carbon-intensive solutions. Interested in developing a district energy concept or business model?
Businesses often miss the opportunity to implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures, even measures that have no costs or that are very affordable. These “low-hanging fruits” can deliver immediate efficiency improvements or “quick wins” and reduce costs by up to 10%. Longer-term targeted investments can deliver even higher cost savings of up to 20-25% (Carbon Trust, 2018). Internationally tested and proven methodologies offer a systematic approach to help you identify and seize the energy savings potential while decreasing business risks and increasing productivity and client satisfaction. Has your organization identified the cost-effective energy savings at hand? Do you have a management system in place to deliver continuous energy performance improvement? Are there financial support programmes available?
In parallel, renewable energy is becoming increasingly cost competitive, offering citizens, businesses and communities the opportunity to use local/regional energy resources to improve access and security of supply, while keeping money circulating in the regional economy. Do you need support to assess the viability of renewable energy projects or innovative business concepts? Is your City Council or new development interested in assessing and developing decentralized energy systems? Is your City or community seizing the local renewable energy potential to grow the economy?
Renewable energy is also becoming increasingly competitive in the wholesale electricity market. Some coal fired power plants cannot compete and no longer operate the number of hours needed to ensure their profitability. They are at risk of becoming stranded assets. Not surprisingly in 2018 the net renewable power capacity additions were nearly twice as much as the added capacity of all other sources. This was the 4th consecutive year in which net renewable power capacity additions were larger than the net additions of fossil and nuclear power generation combined (REN21, 2019). In this global context, it is very likely that additional mining regions will exit from coal. While the coal phase-out will deliver significant climate and air quality benefits at local and global-scales, coal-mining regions will face hardships. How to restructure and to regenerate the regional economic fabric of such regions towards a more prosperous and healthy future?
The promotion of non-motorized mobility and mass-transit oriented development has an important role to play in making cities and new urban developments more livable and breathable. Electric mobility, transport intermodality, urban logistics are other areas of emerging innovation which can deliver significant societal benefits. In 2018, the Renewable Energy Directive recast defined sustainability criteria and minimum greenhouse gas emissions saving thresholds for biofuels. Are you considering integrated energy and transport planning for your new development or project? Which energy carriers will reduce the environmental impacts and business risks of your future operations? Which energy value-chains are more efficient and cost-effective?
In 2016, the Paris Agreement entered into force, ratified by 176 countries, giving a global response to the threat of climate change to health, food production and other human and natural systems (UNFCCC, 2018). All but 4 Member States of the EU-28 consider that climate neutrality must be achieved by 2050 to ensure a transition to a climate-neutral European Union in line with the Paris Agreement (European Council conclusions, 20 June 2019). Following Agenda 21’s moto of “Thinking globally, acting locally”, the engagement of local governments, communities and businesses is essential to reach climate-neutrality. Interested in measuring, reducing and eventually offsetting the residual greenhouse gas emissions of your organization’s or community’s?
Climate-neutrality requires a very significant transformation of the economy, including the decarbonization of energy generation and more circular productive systems, reducing waste and energy leakage by through enhanced energy and material loops and the rethinking of products and value-chains. Circular economy principles can be considered throughout products’ life, from the design phase, production process, resource use and sourcing, through to product use and waste generation (EU action plan for the Circular Economy, 2015). Knowing the life cycle impacts of your products will help you identify where innovation is needed to mitigate business risks, comply with legal requirements and remain competitive. Are your products and supply chains future-proofed?
Our independent and highly qualified professionals deliver a wide range of services with competence and independence, and work towards your success and high impact results.
Specific services for: Local governments and communities
Specific services for: Local governments and communities
Specific services for: Local governments and communities
Specific services for: Local governments and communities
We are highly skilled and experienced independent consultants with expertise in Mechanical and Environmental Engineering, Clean Energy, Energy Management Systems, Climate Finance and Climate Change Mitigation strategies and action plans.
Our independent advisory services support organizations and communities
to acheive energy savings, enhanced sustainability, circular-economy and climate-neutrality.
MSc in Mechanical Engineering
Specialized in:
Coordinates our work on Energy and Systems modelling.
Environmental Engineer
Coordinates our work on Environment, Climate, Economy and Finance.
We work towards our clients’ success, through close cooperation and dialogue in every step of the way. Our first task in every assignment is to comprehensively identify the expectations and requirements of the client and, where applicable, relevant stakeholders. We proactively carry-out a risk assessment and propose alternative measures to address any significant risks that might compromise the achievement of the objectives, both at the beginning of the assignment and throughout implementation. For the purpose of coordination and monitoring of the progress, we usually hold weekly meetings with our client, and relevant partners where applicable, making adjustments as adequate to stay on track.
Hiring an independent consultant can bring multiple advantages to your company, in particular:
As described in the previous section, hiring an independent consultant can bring multiple benefits to your company.
On the other hand, depending on assignment and agreed conditions, it may be your responsibility to mobilize and instruct your staff - for example, Production, Maintenance, Communications, IT and/or other teams as relavant - to cooperate with the independent consultant in order to enable the successful completion of the assignment.
We are typically hired by organizations that do not have in-house expertise or staff availability to carry-out specific short- to medium-term assignments such as independent audits, coordination of complex stakeholder engagement processes, development of software-tools, programme development and project management of initiatives that go beyond their core business or mission, particularly in the fields of Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Management systems, Climate change mitigation, Carbon neutrality, Sustainability and Environmental Management.
Our working languages are English and Portuguese.
We are currently based in Bonn, Germany. We are registered as independent consultants by the Tax Office of the City of Bonn and operate worldwide. We work remotly, thanks to the use of multiple digital tools for remote collaboration and video-conference.
We work remotely. Smart, essential, simple.
We work remotely, with great efficiency and effectiveness, thanks to the use of multiple digital tools for remote collaboration and video-conference.
Our experience with remote collaboration and work processes dates back to 2012. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, we have been providing our consultancy and advisory services exclusively in this format. For this purpose, we have been using several platforms and tools for remote work and collaboration, depending on the clients’ needs and preferences. Examples include the Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet and Google Drive.
While working remotely, we have successfully completed a wide range of assignments, including evaluation of project proposals, programme development and implementation, coordination of international multi-stakeholder initiatives, project management, development of software tools and co-organization and delivery of online conference series and web meetings.
We are available to travel to travel on assignments, when necessary and safe.
When in the absence of public-health related restrictions or impediments, we are available to travel.
Our fees and contracts are simple, transparent and accountable.
The payment is agreed jointly with the client to cover the expenses necessary for the successful completion of the assignment, including honorarium, mandatory health insurance, and office expenses (in the case of remote work) or other costs specifically required to carry-out the work.
The honorarium depends on the nature and duration of the assignment. The longer the assignment, the lower the value charged per day. The higher the complexity of the foreseen tasks, the higher the daily value. After understanding the assignment, we will present you our financial proposal for your consideration and approval, unless you begin by specifying a lump sum for the assignment – more below, under initiating contact and collaboration.
The payment schedule is jointly agreed with the client in connection with the assignment’s kick-off, scoping and delivery milestones.
An independent consultant is hired as an external service provider. An individual contract is signed, specifying the agreed timeline, payment and payment schedule, and nay other relevant information.
If you are considering engaging an independent consultant, feel free contact us at any time. There are typically two alternative processes to explore possible cooperation:
We look forward to hearing from you.
Is your organization fit for the Clean Energy Transition and the Low Carbon Economy?Seize the Potential of energy savings and decarbonization to save money and resources, to future-proof investments and grow your business, while safeguarding human health and the environment.We are experts on solutions towards Clean Energy and Sustainability.Get in touch, we will be glad to support you in identifying and implementing the best sustainability strategy and solutions for your organization. |