The PROSPECT webinar on “Financing the energy transition: discover how regions are leveraging third-party investments” took place on 8th of October 2026. The online session, organised by FEDARENE, brought together insights from SEFA and a practical example from AREC Occitanie to explore how local and regional actors can facilitate private investment in energy efficiency and decarbonisation.

The webinar featured contributions from Lina Konstantinopoulou, Executive Director of SEFA, who discussed the challenges of turning available capital into viable investment projects, and Charles-Xavier Sockeel from AREC Occitanie, who presented FITEO, a practical example of a third-party investment scheme supporting industrial decarbonisation.

Lina Konstantinopoulou highlighted the barriers that often prevent projects, particularly those developed by SMEs, from attracting investment, including high upfront costs, limited technical expertise and complex project preparation processes. She emphasised the importance of project aggregation, standardised procedures and coordinated technical assistance in reducing transaction costs and creating more attractive investment opportunities. Regional authorities and energy agencies can play a key role in this process by bringing stakeholders together and connecting projects with appropriate financing mechanisms.

The webinar also showcased FITEO, an initiative developed by AREC Occitanie that enables companies to implement decarbonisation measures without bearing the full upfront investment cost. Through a dedicated financing arrangement, companies can spread payments over time, while practical examples from the ceramics and wine sectors demonstrated how third-party investment can support industrial modernisation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The discussion highlighted that mobilising private investment requires more than access to finance. It also depends on well-prepared projects, effective coordination and regional structures that can bridge the gap between available capital and implementation.

Through its peer-learning and capacity-building activities, PROSPECT supports local and regional authorities in exploring innovative financing approaches and exchanging practical experiences to accelerate the energy transition.

Missed the webinar? You can watch the recording to explore the presentations and learn more about how regions can leverage third-party investment to accelerate the energy transition.

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