An Energy Services Company (ESCO) is a specialized firm that provides a broad range of EE services, mostly under an Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) approach, a guaranteed savings scheme that repays the energy efficiency projects investments through the achieved cost saving. The ESCO value chain can range from energy audits, project design, project financing, installation, operations and maintenance, monitoring & verification (M&V) of energy savings to performance guarantee over the payback period. The global market for ESCOs is growing steadily. The global ESCO value in terms of EPC revenue expanded to nearly USD 30 billion in 2017, with China (60%), USA (20%) and Europe (10%) being three major ESCO markets. Over 1 million people are now employed by ESCOs around the world.

The typical business model of an ESCO is to enter an agreement with energy consumers either through shared savings or guaranteed savings contract. Under a shared savings contract, the costs savings are split with a predefined percentage, while the investment is often shared between the ESCO and the Customer. Under a guaranteed savings contract, the Customer retain all the savings where often the investment is solely provided by the Customer. The most important feature of the two models is that the project performance and savings to be attained are guaranteed, if the expected level of energy saved is not realized, the ESCO will pay the Customer the non-achieved savings.

The Super ESCO is a relatively new concept that has stared capturing international interest only in the 2000s. Usually established by the governments, the Super ESCOs act as facilitators and project developers for public facilities, such as government buildings, hospitals, schools and street lighting to implement EE projects through the private ESCOs. The Super ESCO will play the role of EE market catalyser by providing capacity building and technical assistance to firms wishing to join the ESCO field and provide EPC services. The government initially capitalizes the Super ESCO with sufficient funds to secure EPC financing in the public sector, as well as to leverage on commercial financing.

To date, many Super ESCOs have been implemented across the world. Africa still lacks awareness and experience in financing energy efficiency projects through Super ESCOs. Some countries, such as Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt, are considering the Super ESCO market opportunities. Most of long-established Super ESCOs have been successful in implementing energy saving projects and achieving huge reduction in total energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The governments of African countries could emulate international successful experience, such as the Federal Energy Management Programs in the United States, the Federal Buildings Initiative in Canada, Etihad ESCO in United Arab Emirates, FEDESCO in Belgium, EESL in India, HEP ESCO in Croatia, R2E2 Fund in Armenia, Tarshid in Saudi Arabia, as well as other similar concepts in China and Philippines.