PROCURE: PIONEERING 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS

Portugal’s National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP 2030) sets ambitious targets: cutting greenhouse‑gas emissions by up to 55% and reaching 47% renewable energy share by 2030. Public buildings are a priority for action, with schools alone accounting for over € 0.5 million in annual electricity costs. This focus aligns local efforts with national carbon‑neutrality goals.

Funded under Horizon 2020, procuRE is accelerating the transition toward fully renewable energy systems in public buildings. Through an innovative Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) process, the initiative helps cities source forward-looking technologies capable of supplying buildings with 100% renewable energy, while also stimulating market competitiveness and technological development.

In Vila Nova de Gaia, the project is led by the South of Porto Metropolitan Area Energy Management Agency (Energaia), in close collaboration with the Municipality, with the Manuel António Pina Primary School serving as the demonstration site.

Driving innovation through public procurement

Energaia has coordinated the full implementation of the project at local level, from identifying the funding opportunity and preparing the proposal to managing the PCP procedure, supervising refurbishment works and equipment installation and developing technical deliverables and reporting. With a total EU investment of € 7.68 million across all participating regions, procuRE showcases how public authorities can strategically use procurement to unlock innovative clean-energy solutions. As Luís Castanheira, Managing Director of Energaia, explains: “procuRE shows that achieving 100% renewable energy in public buildings is not only possible, it’s already happening. At Energaia, we are proud to lead this transition and turn innovation into real impact for our communities.”

Transforming a school into a renewable energy model

The Manuel António Pina Primary School has undergone a comprehensive energy transformation, featuring a 119 kWp photovoltaic system, a 176 kWh battery storage unit, and a modernised Building Technical Management System. Fossil-fuel water heating was replaced with a high-efficiency heat pump, and a cooling function was added to improve classroom comfort.

These interventions significantly improve energy performance while ensuring comfort and air quality for students and teachers. With a local investment of approximately € 341 000 the project is expected to generate annual savings of nearly € 24 000, achieving a financial payback of around 14 years. Beyond economic benefits, the building now operates with a substantially reduced carbon footprint, demonstrating the feasibility of transitioning public facilities to renewable energy.

A European example of forward-looking energy procurement

procuRE demonstrates how municipalities can leverage Pre-Commercial Procurement to push the market toward innovative clean-energy solutions, enabling buildings to meet future climate targets. Vila Nova de Gaia’s implementation stands as a replicable example for other European cities aiming for fully renewable, intelligent, and resilient public buildings. The initiative is fully aligned with Portugal’s NECP 2030 and Carbon Neutrality 2050 Roadmap, ensuring strong policy backing for innovation in public procurement.

Lessons learned and replicability

The PCP approach proved effective in driving innovation and engaging suppliers beyond traditional procurement. Success factors included strong municipal leadership and alignment with national climate policies. Challenges such as coordinating technical requirements and ensuring supplier readiness were overcome through clear communication and phased implementation.

Other cities can replicate this model by leveraging PCP frameworks, securing policy support, and starting with pilot sites to validate solutions. The initiative is ongoing, with plans to monitor performance and share results across the procuRE consortium. Vila Nova de Gaia also aims to scale up similar interventions to other schools and municipal buildings, reinforcing its commitment to carbon neutrality and inspiring replication across Europe.

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!