Who We Are
With a ten-year track record of successful project development in the region, E3 International (E3I) is a mission-driven global company focused on innovatively scaling up low-carbon resilient investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and nature-based solutions to support economic, environmental, and energy goals. In 2019, with the cooperation of the (then) Assistant Secretary-General UNEP and key Republic of Serbia stakeholders, E3I launched the Sustainable Land, Livelihoods, and Energy Initiative--Serbia (SLLEI).
The goal of the SLLEI is to improve rural land and livelihoods and to protect native forests, biodiversity, and human health through the restoration of abandoned and degraded land, by sustainable cultivation of fast-growing bioenergy crops on short rotation plantations (SRPs). These SRPs are established to produce biomass for local, carbon-neutral heat and power, while helping to achieve significantly greater employment, especially among underemployed farmers and other vulnerable or displaced groups. Major additional benefits include the protection of native forests from depletion, creation of new innovative bioeconomy value chains and employment, improving air quality, restoring biodiversity, and providing greater climate resilience from flooding and heat.
It is our intent to highlight, with our key partner and global forestry and agroforestry organization CIFOR-ICRAF, the SLLEI—as Serbia’s innovative approach to advancing its green agenda-- at the United Nations’ Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 in November 2021, where Serbia will serve as COP Vice President.
In SLLEI Phase 1, with other phases described below, the emphasis is on (a) piloting of the sustainable bioenergy production system (short-rotation plantations or SRPs) (b) development of a SRP business model prototype and a Forest Landscape Restoration strategy for up to 4,000 of permanent trees and (c) the development of enabling environment elements for scaling (to 1,000, 10,000, and 45,000 ha), including stakeholder engagement, farmer and coal worker training, logistics, and financing options. The project’s success will depend on development of a bankable business model to be designed in final form and implemented, with financing, during later phases of this project. The SLLEI anticipates receiving (mostly private) investment of up to EUR 153M targeted for SRPs and up to EUR 1B+ for co-located renewable energy technologies, climate adaptation, capacity building and training, and other priorities.
SLLEI Phases 2-4 will be anchored by long-term SRP biomass off take agreements with industry, district heating companies, and the national electric company for their heat and power generation, and yield over EUR 1B in profits for a diverse group of participants over the 20-year project life.
While our stated goal is to present our project’s progress and benefits for Serbia at COP26, E3I has already demonstrated thought leadership on this topic, earning the support of the Prime Minister’s office, presenting as the featured speaker on the Atlantic Council’s Energy Innovation Stream Webinar Series in March, 2020 and as a panel speaker at the European Union Biomass Conference and Expo 2020 (virtual this year, July 6-9) as well as at the Global Landscape Forum in September 2020, in Serbian publications, and in other media.
E3 International, LLC (E3I), with an affiliate office in Belgrade (and previously with offices in Paris and Zagreb), has a 10-year track record of successfully scaling up low-carbon resilient energy and infrastructure investment (including nature based or natural capital solutions) through project development, implementation, finance, capacity building, stakeholder outreach and communication, and related advisory services.
This includes a large and growing portfolio of sustainable energy projects in Serbia and the Western Balkans. Specifically, E3I has served as the implementing partner for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)’s Western Balkans Sustainable Energy Finance Facility (2010- present) with a focus on developing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for investment in the commercial, industrial, agricultural, and municipal sectors throughout the region, especially for small to medium enterprises, with over EUR200M deployed to date. In addition, E3I has served as the implementing partner for USAID’s Serbia Energy Efficiency Activity (2018- present) to bring energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions to district heating companies and hospitals in Serbia.
E3I has also brought its project development, training and finance skills to projects in cooperation with the Millennium Challenge Corporation, the World Bank, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and others. E3I has facilitated over 500 projects worth nearly $1B in investment globally, including in recent EU member (Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania) and transition countries in Southeast and Central Europe, as well as in the Caribbean, MENA, Sub- Saharan Africa, and Central Asia.