As part of the Energy Transition Program (PTE), BATIVERT was selected following a public tender as Assistant to the Project Owner Plus (AMO +). BATIVERT is now supporting the teams at the Cantonal Buildings Office in accelerating the energy renovation of its real estate portfolio. Our mission focuses more specifically on managing the renovation of boiler rooms in order to help the government achieve its energy consumption reduction and decarbonization objectives. Our two experienced project managers, Stéphane Franck and Yannick Moulin, discuss the scope and challenges of this multi-year mission.
Can you briefly remind us of the context in which you are working?
Yannick Moulin. The State of Geneva has launched a major energy improvement program targeting around 1,800 buildings, of which nearly 300 have been identified as priorities. These include schools, administrative buildings, prisons, courthouses, and other public infrastructure.
In the AMO+ call for tenders, several thematic areas were defined: lighting, ventilation, boiler rooms, photovoltaics & roofing, optimizations, CECB+ and thermal envelope. BATIVERT is involved in the heating systems theme, with clear objectives: to reduce consumption, move away from fossil fuels, and contribute to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2050.
How is your role as AMO+ organized?
YM. We act as an interface and coordinator between the OCBA project manager, the agents, the technical offices, and the companies.
The mission includes managing calls for tenders, financial monitoring, planning, risk management, and steering quality-cost-deadline-risk (QCDR) indicators. It is part of the various phases defined by SIA standards, with particular attention paid to compliance with the energy objectives set by the project owner.
What are the main requirements associated with the mandate?
YM. For the boiler room component, the objective is to phase out fossil fuels. The solutions being considered include heat pumps, wood-fired boilers, or connections to district heating networks (DHN). The targeted performance requires a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions.
The objectives to be achieved are as follows:
– For thermal installations: 60% reduction in consumption
– For renewable thermal installations: Move away from fossil fuels to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050 and a 60% reduction in consumption
– A reduction in CO2 emissions targeted at 6kg/m2/year
How many buildings are you working on? What is the volume of the project?
YM. Of the 300 buildings concerned, we already manage 25 autonomous boiler rooms and 25 boiler rooms to be connected to remote networks.
These range from small 14 kW boilers to large 1500 kW installations.
All the buildings will remain in operation, with a more or less sensitive public, which is an important point that we are taking into account in our planning, in order to organize the work with minimal interaction and disruption for users.
How is the BATIVERT team structured for this mission?
Stéphane Franck. We work in pairs, supported by an experienced colleague for administration and monitoring. The mission requires a structured organization in order to meet the contractual and operational requirements of the OCBA.
What are the main challenges to anticipate?
SF. There are several challenges:
– The schedule: the program is ambitious and requires rigorous planning, particularly in school buildings where work must be carried out outside of opening hours.
– Usage constraints: working on occupied sites requires appropriate measures and enhanced coordination.
– Stakeholder management: the formation and coordination of design and execution teams must comply with the strict legal framework of public procurement.
– Technical and financial challenges: each building has its own characteristics requiring specific energy solutions to guarantee the expected performance.
How does the contracting process work for agents and companies?
YM. At the end of the study phases, we will have validated the energy compliance policy for each site individually.
We can then begin the tendering process, first to select the design team and then, at the end of the studies, to select the companies that will carry out the work.
As AMO+, our mission is to draft the specifications for the call for tenders for agents and then, for the call for tenders for companies, to check the specifications issued by the agents.
Once the tender documents have been drafted, we have the competitive bidding process validated by the relevant government departments. Upon receipt of the bids, we analyze them and draw up comparative tables and award proposals for the OCBA departments so that they can validate the successful bidders.
Our current task is to prepare the contracts for each successful bidder for signature between the OCBA and the representative or company, depending on the type of contract.
The entire process is carried out in accordance with public procurement rules and principles of transparency.
How do you verify that energy and environmental objectives are achieved after the work is completed?
YM. A monitoring phase lasting 1 to 2 years is planned (SIA 61 phase). This allows us to track actual performance, verify that the installations are functioning properly, and identify any potential optimizations.
The results are sent to the OCBA in the form of reports, thus ensuring the traceability and control of energy objectives.
Why do you think the government chose this cross-functional AMO+ model for all of its projects?
SF. The 2020–2030 Energy Master Plan sets ambitious goals. To achieve them, the government wanted to strengthen its internal capabilities by drawing on specialized external expertise.
The use of AMO+ allows for a temporary expansion of resources, while maintaining complete control over strategic directions and processes.
Our role is to provide complementary expertise in project management and energy renovation.
How do you feel today, a few months after the launch of your mission?
YM. The mission is demanding and structuring. Energy objectives are important for the canton and require a rigorous approach. Our responsibility is to support the State in implementing reliable, appropriate, and sustainable solutions.
For BATIVERT, this is an opportunity to mobilize our expertise in an institutional context and contribute to projects of general interest.
Stéphane Franck. The scale of the program requires significant mobilization of contractors and companies in the canton, and sometimes beyond. This collective dynamic is essential to achieving the PTE's objectives.
What opportunities does this project open up for BATIVERT?
SF. This project allows us to fully leverage our expertise in energy renovation, deepen our knowledge of public processes, and strengthen our ability to support projects of public interest. It also represents a unique opportunity to contribute, alongside the State of Geneva, to an ambitious, efficient, and sustainable energy transition.
By participating in a program of this magnitude, BATIVERT confirms its ability to invest in complex projects, bring together the necessary skills, and offer rigorous support in the service of energy performance and the canton's built heritage.