Renewable energies and self-consumption

The RENOWABE project, with the participation of AGENEX providing technical assistance to the Government of Extremadura, has been recognised at European level as a best practice in the energy transition by FEDARENE. Below is the full article published in the 2026 edition of Sustainable Regions in Action, highlighting how technical assistance has helped unlock significant investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy in public buildings across Extremadura.

The RENOWABE project is driving energy renovation in Extremadura’s public buildings at an unprecedented pace. Through specialised technical assistance from the Extremadura Energy Agency (AGENEX), the regional government has unlocked €21.1 million in energy efficiency and renewable energy investments, with an additional €10.6 million expected next year. This marks a major step in strengthening public infrastructure and advancing the region’s energy transition.

The urgency for action was highlighted in the regional energy renovation strategy (E4PAREX) published in 2018: energy use in public buildings could be cut by 32%, with up to 29% covered by renewables. Yet without external support, these investments would have remained unrealised due to limited resources and expertise.

RENOWABE was created to overcome this challenge. Cofinanced by the EU’s ELENA facility under Horizon 2020 and coordinated by the Government of Extremadura, the €1.4 million project began in April 2022. AGENEX was tasked with providing technical assistance to move projects from planning to implementation.

Technical assistance delivering concrete results

The first step was identifying 324 priority buildings, including schools, health centres and administrative offices. AGENEX carried out audits, calculated energy baselines and assessed renewable feasibility. These analyses informed investment proposals for government decision-makers. 

Once measures were validated, AGENEX also supported the full tendering process: drafting procurement documents, defining technical specifications and reviewing technical offers. This hands-on assistance was essential to overcoming administrative bottlenecks, particularly in a context where political transitions, regulatory rigidity and complex procurement processes could have slowed down or halted progress.

Results are already visible: 94 buildings have undergone renovations, including LED upgrades, improved energy systems and photovoltaic installations. These actions benefit thousands of citizens, improving comfort and service quality, especially for vulnerable groups. Economic impacts include lower energy bills, freeing resources for other essential services. Environmental benefits are significant: renovated buildings achieve average energy savings of 30%, and those with photovoltaics meet nearly 70% of electricity demand through renewables, cutting emissions and supporting climate goals.

A scalable model for public buildings

RENOWABE demonstrates how strategic technical assistance can unlock major investments. With €1.4 million enabling over €30 million in works, the project proves the value of this approach. As Jorge Rebollo, Director General for Accessibility and Centres, notes: “The collaboration with AGENEX within RENOWABE has been key to overcoming administrative and technical barriers, enabling the tendering of numerous renovation actions that have significantly improved energy savings, system efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing decisively to Extremadura’s energy transition.”

The project concludes in March 2026, but Extremadura plans to continue renovating its public building stock. With established methodologies and tools, the region is ready to scale up and replicate this model widely.

Access the full publication here: Sustainable Regions in Action 2026