Tool description for the Collective Business Case tool

These four Excel tools can be used to calculate the business case for different collective actions for the businesses in a business park: 1) setting up an ESCo (Energy Service Company) for either shared savings or shared supply, 2) setting up a “GebiedsESCo” – an ESCo combined with a fund of different investors, 3) collective purchase of LED, 4) collective purchase of PV panels. The tools provide insight in the most important financial information for the park manager, for each of the participating companies, and for the ESCo or the energy service supplier respectively.

The tool was developed by TNO, IVAM and ECWF (2016) and adopted for the GEAR@SME project (2022).

The target group for this tool is park managers that want to calculate the business case for collective actions and use those business cases in the communication with the energy service supplier and the different SMEs involved.

What’s included?

For LED and PV:

  • Calculation of payback period and environmental impact for individual companies
  • Costs and profit for the energy service supplier and the park manager
  • Overview of all participating companies to keep track of agreements with individual companies and calculate total costs, profit and environmental impact

For the “ESCo” and “GebiedsESCo” tools:

  • Calculation of payback period for the ESCo and overview of the profit and loss account of the GebiedsESCo
  • Total costs, profit and environmental impact for participating companies
  • Calculation of total costs and profit for the park manager

Based on the output, the park manager can provide the different participants with a global overview of costs and profit (and use this as a conversation starter on the actual implementation of measures).

Required input:

  • Estimated energy usage and corresponding energy prices.
  • Details on the contract (in case of ESCos)
  • Costs made by the park manager
  • Investment and operating costs
  • Other costs (such as insurance, etc.)

The tool can be used by the park manager, who can fill out the tool with input from the energy service supplier and the SMEs.  The park manager can then share the business cases with the interested SMEs and the energy service suppliers.