Austrian Energy Agency

Austrian Energy Agency | 21. April 2023 | Seite 1

Objectives of the SF - Energy Invest Project

Johannes Schmidl

In this presentation

Structural- and Cohesion Funds Previous projects and lessons learned SF (Structural Funds)-Energy Invest Project Major Actions of SF-Energy Invest Example: Bioenergy

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Structural & Cohesion Funds in a Nutshell (1)

• STRUCTURAL FUNDS

The Structural Funds are made up of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). They aim to reduce regional disparities in terms of income, wealth and opportunities.

• COHESION FUNDS

The Cohesion Fund contributes to interventions in the field of the environment, transport, infrastructure and renewable energy. It applies to member states with a Gross National Income (GNI) of less than 90% of the EU average.

As such, it covers all 12 new member states as well as Greece, Portugal and Spain (phasing-out)

www.sf-energyinvest.eu 4

Structural & Cohesion Funds in a Nutshell (2)

Objectives 2007-2013

Convergence

Regional Competitiveness and Employment

European territorial Cooperation

Structural Funds and instruments

ERDF

ERDF

ERDF

ESF Cohesion Fund

All Member States & regions

MemberStates with aGNI/head below 90% EU average

ESF

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Total SCF budget In 2007 – 2013:360 billion euro

Structural Funds

The EU Structural & Cohesion Funds represent a vast amount of money to enhance the social and economic cohesion within the European Union. Sustainable energy investments are of strategic importance for regional development, and can be a very good means to achieve the objectives of Structural & Cohesion Funds.

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Many barriers exist that limit the use of Structural Funds (SF) for sustainable energy projects (RES and EE), as has been identified in previous IEE projects (PromoSCene, Ruse, Energy4cohesion )

Lessons learned: • Lack of awareness and expertise • Lack of targeted promotion• Lack of transparency in procedures,• Changing framework • Lack of project development skills and

capacity• Getting financing (pre-financing/ co-financing)

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A general conclusion of PromoSCene

“ ...the ‘networks’ of Structural Funds on the one hand and sustainable energy on the other do not seem to connect very well.”

Therefore:The aim of SF - Energy Invest:

• increase the share of SF for sustainable energy projects and EE projects

• provide practical recommendations for the period of 2014-2020.

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The SF Energy Invest project: Collaborative Actions for Triggering Investments in Sustainable Energy Actions using Structural and Cohesion Funds

Contract No: IEE/09/09/681/S12.558271

Project duration: 30 monthStart date: 1 July 2010

Aim: to trigger investments in sustainable energy by using Structural and Cohesion funds, through:

Mobilisation campaigns (Energy Investment Days) Enabling project developers Promoting success stories Developing policy recommendations

www.sf-energyinvest.eu

Target groups of SF Energy Invest Project

1) Potential beneficiaries (project developers, banks, municipalities, etc.)

increasing awareness on SF for sustainable energy improving project development skills by supporting 5 pilot

projects

2) Managing authorities: increasing awareness of sustainable energy investments by

organising 9 Energy Investment Days increasing capacities to simplify SF procedures improving understanding of RES & EE based on best practice

projects

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For example: SCF Budgets allocated to Bioenergy project

SCF represent huge potential for financing bioenergy projects in Europe`s regions!

On-going programming period: 2007-2013

Total SF budget: 360 billion euro (100%)

Budget for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: 9 billion euro (2.6%)

Budget for bioenergy: 1.8 billion euro (0.5%)

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SCF Budgets allocated to Bioenergy

• Financial Engineering:

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Period of project development: 2008-2010

For example: Reconstruction of Liiva boilerplant and district heating system

Partners and Contactwww.sf-energyinvest.eu

>> Focus on Energy and climate change8

Our team

Coordinator:

NL Agency, The NetherlandsCarmen Heinze

NL Agency Division of Energy and Climate Change

Partners: ADENE, Portugal

Austrian Energy Agency (AEA), Austria

Archimedes, Estonia

Berlin Energy Agency (BEA), Germany

Black Sea Energy Research Centre, Bulgaria

CECOHDAS, Europe

Energie-Cities, EU

ENVIROS, Czech Republic

European Renewable Energy Council, Europe

WIP – Renewable Energies, Germany

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