EasyPro and Ireland’s Fuel Challenge
10th April 2026
In recent years, energy has become a central concern for how public body sectors operate and plan for the future. The recent fuel shortage has brought this concern to the fore, demonstrating how dependent public body sectors are on reliable energy supply. The below blogpost by Dr Sean Travers examines EasyPro’s EPC facilitation service for Irish universities in light of these events.
Recent events
Ireland’s current fuel crisis has brought energy security back into public view. Rising global oil prices alongside supply chain pressures and domestic taxation debates have resulted in nationwide protests from farmers and other transport-dependent sectors. Such demonstrations have disrupted major roads, fuel infrastructure and public transport links, including blockades at key locations such as O’Connell Street in Dublin city centre, the Whitegate refinery in Cork, and other fuel depots in Limerick and Galway, as well as transport links such as the Luas and Dublin Bus. These events foreground how quickly energy costs can become an economic and political issue. However, while the recent debate centres on affordability, it also highlights another issue: Ireland remains highly exposed to energy volatility in global energy markets and the effects that follow when supply and price stability are threatened.
Universities
Universities are especially vulnerable to sudden changes in the energy market because of the scale and complexity of their campuses, with rising prices and supply disruptions straining both budgets and operations. However, while such institutions cannot control global fuel markets, they can reduce their exposure to energy volatility by improving the efficiency and performance of their estates. Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) provides a structured way to do this, enabling universities to deliver building upgrades and energy-saving measures through contracts tied to guaranteed performance outcomes.
Traditional model vs EPC delivery
In the traditional model, the building owner carries the risk of rising energy costs, underperforming efficiency upgrades and unexpected maintenance expenses. The building owner must also coordinate multiple service providers, rely on short-term energy measures that may not deliver lasting savings, and draw upon in-house expertise to manage complex projects. For example, complex projects like university campuses may involve retrofitting multiple buildings of different ages and designs; upgrading building energy systems; integrating new technology; coordinating multiple contractors, engineers and suppliers; and ensuring compliance with safety, building codes and sustainability standards. This approach places a heavy operational and financial burden on universities.
By contrast, EPC delivery significantly reduces the risks of energy efficient building renovations. EPC (Energy Performance Contracting) is where an Energy Service Company (ESCO) partners with a client organisation to install energy-saving measures in their buildings and guarantees a certain level of energy savings, while getting paid based on the amount of energy saved over time. This provides guaranteed energy savings, the necessary expertise and long-term energy reduction for the building owner. In addition, the building owner only needs to engage with a single contract and supplier, which accelerates delivery and streamlines decision-making, while the ESCO carries the risk if the energy savings fall short. Indeed, the ESCO will make up the difference or extend the project until the savings are guaranteed. The ESCO also carries the technical and operational risks, as they are responsible for designing, installing and commissioning upgrades that will perform as promised, as well as continually manage and maintain the systems.
EasyPro Project
While EPCs are complicated and expensive to procure, the EasyPro Project responds to these challenges with its tailored EPC facilitation service and procurement framework to reduce the costs and complexities of energy efficient building renovations. EPC is especially suitable for Irish universities’ needs, as its flexibility and scalability mean its adaptable to sites with to multiple buildings and evolving campus needs, while existing equipment is retained where possible.
Starting with Irish universities, EasyPro will support sustainability assessments and guide institutions through a proven EPC market process. The project will support universities throughout their EPC journey, covering EPC suitability and readiness assessment, market engagement validation, and the procurement and contract award.
In light of the current fuel crisis, EasyPro’s EPC facilitation service provides a practical strategy for strengthening institutional resilience, helping campuses lower operational costs, modernise ageing infrastructure, and become less vulnerable to future energy disruptions.
