steps towards 100% renew able energy at local level in … · cler, network for the energy...

FINAL REPORT

STEPS TOwARdS100% RENEwAbLE

ENERgyAT LOcAL LEvEL

IN EuROPE

CLER, network for the energy transition (France) Project Coordinationwww.cler.orgYannick Régnier [email protected]

AF-CITYPLAN s.r.o. (Czech Republic)www.af-cityplan.czPaulina Pidana [email protected]

Climate Alliance / Klima-Bündnis / Alianza del Clima e.V. www.climatealliance.orgAngela [email protected]

Climate Alliance Austria (Austria) www.klimabuendnis.atGeorg C. [email protected]

Community Energy Scotland (Scotland, UK)www.communityenergyscotland.org.ukSimon Mc [email protected]

deENet (Germany)www.deenet.org Pia [email protected]

Energiaklub (Hungary) www.energiaklub.hu/enLilla Csanaky [email protected]

Innergies (Belgium)www.tepos.beFréderic [email protected]

Legambiente (Italy)www.legambiente.itEdoardo [email protected]

Rurenerwww.rurener.euChristelle [email protected]

Slovenski E-Forum (Slovenia)www.se-f.siGorazd Marinček [email protected]

Solagro (France)www.solagro.orgIsabelle Meiffren [email protected]

University Vasile Alecsandri Bacau (Romania)www.ub.ro/fr/Liliana [email protected]

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CLER, network for the energy transition (France) Project Coordinationwww.cler.orgYannick Régnier [email protected]

AF-CITYPLAN s.r.o. (Czech Republic)www.af-cityplan.czPaulina Pidana [email protected]

Climate Alliance / Klima-Bündnis / Alianza del Clima e.V. www.climatealliance.orgAngela [email protected]

Climate Alliance Austria (Austria) www.klimabuendnis.atGeorg C. [email protected]

Community Energy Scotland (Scotland, UK)www.communityenergyscotland.org.ukSimon Mc [email protected]

deENet (Germany)www.deenet.org Pia [email protected]

Energiaklub (Hungary) www.energiaklub.hu/enLilla Csanaky [email protected]

Innergies (Belgium)www.tepos.beFréderic [email protected]

Legambiente (Italy)www.legambiente.itEdoardo [email protected]

Rurenerwww.rurener.euChristelle [email protected]

Slovenski E-Forum (Slovenia)www.se-f.siGorazd Marinček [email protected]

Solagro (France)www.solagro.orgIsabelle Meiffren [email protected]

University Vasile Alecsandri Bacau (Romania)www.ub.ro/fr/Liliana [email protected]

COntents 4 - 100% RES communities are networking all over Europe!

6 - wHy bEcOMINg A 100 % RENEwAbLE ENERgy REgION 6 - buILdINg POLITIcAL wILL

8 - TEAM uP 8 - dO NOT gO ALONE: TEAM uP AT THE RIgHT ScALE 9 - HuMAN RESOuRcES ANd SKILLS

10 - STEP by STEP 10 - INITIAL EvALuATION: ObJEcTIvE ANd METHOdS 11 - SEAP dEvELOPMENT: MObILISINg LOcAL STAKEHOLdERS 12 - ANd … AcTION! 13 - FINANcINg TERRITORIAL INTEREST PROJEcTS

14 - STAy IN THE gAME 14 - REAcH THE EuROPEAN LEvEL, JOIN THE cOvENANT OF MAyORS! 15 - NETwORKS ANd TOOLS 15 - FOR AcTINg

16 - cONcRETE TERRITORIAL IMPLEMENTATION cASES 16 - wALdvIERTLER KERNLANd FOLLOwS cONSEquENTLy ITS PATH TO ENERgy SELF-SuFFIcIENcy IN 2030 18 - AN ESSENTIAL dIScOvERy OF THE ExcHANgE OF ExPERIENcES: MuNIcIPALITIES MISS A POwER-ENgINEERINg SPEcIALIST 19 - ALLER-LEINE-vALLEy: HERE FLOwS ENERgy! 20 - TOwARd A REAL ENERgy ExPERTISE IN PROvINcE OF LuxEMbOuRg 21 - INTERNATIONAL ExcHANgES TO SuPPORT LOcAL dEvELOPMENT 22 - THE POLE ALbIgEOIS ET bASTIdES: THE ASSuRANcE TO NOT gO bAcK IN TIME 23 - bAcAu cOuNTy FOR cOM IN AcTION 24 - ExcHANgES bETwEEN FRANcE ANd ROMANIA: TOgETHER FOR THE bETTER OF OuR cOMMuNITIES 25 - POSITIvE IMPAcTS THROugH ScOTTISH RuRAL cOLLAbORATION 26 - TOgETHER EvERyTHINg IS EASIER: THE FIRST HuNgARIAN JOINT SEAP wITH THE cOOPERATION OF 16 SOuTH-TRANS

dANubIAN MuNIcIPALITIES 27 - dEvELOPINg INTERNATIONAL KNOwLEdgE ExcHANgE: cASE STudy bETwEEN HuNgARy ANd ScOTLANd 28 - vALL d’ILLE bETS ON bIOMASS TO HEAd TOwARdS ENERgy AuTONOMy 29 - MORE THAN ONE yEAR OF wORK FINALLy bROugHT RESuLTS – FIRST STEPS TOwARdS JOINT SEAP

30 - RuRAL ENERgy NETwORKINg 30 - RuRENER: FROM AN ExcHANgE OF ExPERIENcE NETwORK TO AN EuROPEAN INFLuENTIAL NETwORK 31 - RuRAL REgIONS FAcE SPEcIFIc cHALLENgES 32 - A bIg POTENTIAL IN RuRAL TERRITORIES TO dEvELOP JOINT SEAPS 33 - HOw TO MAKE bENEFIT FOR RuRAL TERRITORIES FROM IMPROvEd SyNERgIES wITH THE cOvENANT OF MAyORS?

34 - JOIN THE Eu MOvEMENT OF 100% RENEwAbLE ENERgy REgIONS! 34 - A EuROPEAN dEFINITION FOR 100% RES cOMMuNITIES 35 - REcOgNISINg cOMMuNITIES ON THE wAy TO 100% RES wITH A EuROPEAN LAbEL 36 - cITIES, cOMMuNITIES ANd REgIONS AcROSS THE wORLd cOMMIT TO 100% RENEwAbLE ENERgy 37 - A gLObAL PARTNERSHIP FOR 100% RES

38 - NATIONAL MOvEMENTS TOwARdS 100% RENEwAbLE ENERgy 38 - ENERgy EFFIcIENcy ANd RES AS KEy ISSuES OF AuSTRIA’S ENERgy STRATEgy 39 - TEPOS.bE: NETwORKINg ANd HIgHLIgHTINg AMbITIOuS REgIONS 40 - RES LEAguE ANd RuRENER IN THE czEcH REPubLIc: INFORMALLy buT yET 41 - FRENcH ENERgy POLIcy SuRFINg ON POSITIvE ENERgy TERRITORIES 42 - THE gERMAN 100% RE REgIONS NETwORK ANd ITS INTERLINK wITH EuROPEAN 100% RES cOMMuNITIES 43 - THE HuNgARIAN cOMMuNITy LEAdERS bELIEvE IN RENEwAbLES 44 - SuccESSFuL RENEwAbLE MuNIcIPALITIES cAMPAIgN STRENgTHENEd ANd ENLIvENEd 45 - SuccESS STORIES OF RuRENER cLub ANd RES cHAMPION LEAguE IN ROMANIA 46 - ScOTTISH RuRENER LOcAL ENERgy EcONOMIES PROgRAMME

47 - SLOvENIA HAS ITS MOST ENERgy EFFIcIENT MuNIcIPALITIES ANd ONE RuRENER NETwORK

48 - bE AwARdEd AT Eu LEvEL FOR yOuR RESuLTS 48 - RES cHAMPIONS LEAguE: THE EuROPEAN REFERENcE ON RENEwAbLE ENERgy AT LOcAL LEvEL 49 - wHAT’S NEw IN THE RES cHAMPIONS LEAguE? 49 - THE SELEcTION OF EuROPEAN cHAMPIONS 50 - RES cHAMPIONS LEAguE cEREMONIES HIgHLIgHT EuROPE’S MOST INSPIRINg cOMMuNITIES

52 - PORTRAITS OF FRONT-RuNNERS63 - EuROPEAN NETwORKS

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IntrODUCtIOn

100% res COmmUnItIes are netwOrkIng all Over eUrOPe!

Based on the success of Rurener and RES Champions League actions, the movement associating sustainable energy and rural territories over Europe gathered momentum with 100% RES Communities action.

100% RES Communities action aimed at experimenting and developing the model of joint SEAPs elaboration and implementation in rural territories in 9 European countries. In this model, rural towns sign the Covenant of Mayors together with a territorial authority acting as Territorial Coordinator.

While evaluating their SEAPs and drawing lessons learnt, 5 experienced territories have supported 5 learning territories to develop their joint SEAPs through a mentoring approach based on a twinning principle. The implementation of 2 actions in each territory made the SEAPs concrete from 2014.

In Europe, rural towns and territories have been associated to Rurener network. National Rurener clubs were created to promote the signature of the Covenant by rural towns, upon the model of joint commitment and implementation previously experimented, and to support them fulfilling their commitment. Rurener network is now strengthening the political representation of rural towns at European level.

While joining Rurener network, rural towns and territories commit to head towards being 100% RES communities. First, as no standard definition of a “100% RES community” exists, the project has set this definition at European level, based on existing experiences (Germany, Italy, Austria, France...). From 2013, the operational implementation of this definition in a web platform has allowed identifying front-runner rural towns and territories. With the creation of 4 new national RES leagues, thousands of towns and territories from 12 countries can now evaluate their progress and compare to others based on standard criteria.

Finally, as the concept of “100% RES community” was not well known, a communication campaign based on popular tools and events was developed to promote it. As a result, a large number of rural towns and territorial authorities were stimulated to join Rurener network, develop new SEAPs and implement structuring RES and EE actions.

100% RES Communities was financed by the Energy Intelligent Europe programme from the European Commission. It lasted three years (April 2012 to March 2015). The action was coordinated by the CLER and involved 13 partners from 10 countries.

More information: www.100-res-communities.eu

The sole responsibility of the content of this report lies with the authors. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union. Neither the EACI nor the European Commission are responsible for any use that may be made of the information therein.

Towards 100 % RES rural communities IEE/11/014/SI2.616363 – 100-RES-COMMUNITIES

Co-funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe

Programme of the European Union

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why beCOmIng a 100 % renewable energy regIOn ?

100% RES communities integrate the issue of energy within a political, strategic and systemic com-mitment in favour of local development, and thus tackle jointly economic, social, environmental and democratic challenges. They take on their responsibility on the issue of energy with respect to general interest and public service.

Engaging in the energy transition allows for reducing the energy bills and creating value within territories. The return in renewable energy investments and efficiency measures is often quick and high! In five years, in Waldviertler Kernland region (13 neighbouring villages in Austria - 13 500 inhabitants), thanks to investments, 8 million from the annual amount of 31 million for fossil energy imports have been saved and re-injected into the local economy. Today, 75% of the electricity is supplied from renewable energy sources and 60% of the heat is generated from biomass district heating plants or biogas plants. With the help of national and regional funds more than 30 sustainable energy jobs have been created.

bUIlDIng POlItICal wIll

Be actors of our own life and development

Keep money home instead of throwing it through the window

Le Mené (West France, 6500 habitants) has many challenges to tackle: climate is harsh, soils are barely productive, people are old. However, they proved that in the face of adversity people manage to rally. Interview of Jacky Aignel, President of Le Mené, and former president of Rurener network.With renewable energies, we get wealth under the feet and above the head: we have to tap it. Our will is to head towards autonomy. By developing several additional projects, we could manage it mid-term. Everybody gets involved: towns for the wood heating plants, farmers gathered in cooperatives for the oil mill and the collective biogas unit, craftsmen for the zero energy houses, citizens in the civic wind mills… And people understand the regional approach that we want to set up. We are all consumers, but we also need to be actors, actors of our own life and development.

Jacky Aignel,president of Le Mené (France)

Inauguration of the citizen wind park called Les Landes du Mené

7> wHy bEcOMINg A 100 % RENEwAbLE ENERgy REgION?

What are you expecting from the TEPOS network?We see this network as a clearinghouse that focuses on the “stem” cells of change, that is to say, methods, practices that allow cities and territories to take or regain control of their energy policy. We hope to find accomplices in innovation and in our disobedience to established patterns.Disobedience to established patterns: what do you mean by that?An example: I have since the years 2000, acknowledged my aversion to electric heating, this French calamity. So, the project leaders, donors who wanted to build in the commune presented projects motivated by capital costs, operation, climate footprint, choice of materials. Legally, I could not prohibit the electric heater but I was able to share my concern not to add fuel poverty to economic insecurity, given the high cost of energy in France.

A town in northern France traumatized by the closure of coal mines in 1970, in the context of a loss in the region of 220,000 direct employees in 20 years, Loos-en-Gohelle, 7000 inhabitants, has joined the network of French positive energy territories (TEPOS). With hundreds of direct and indirect jobs created around the eco-activities and renewable energy in 10 years, Loos-en-Gohelle relishes its resilience. Interview with Jean François Caron, its mayor since 2001. The “sustainable” job creation is the focus of your

action. Miners moving to high value added jobs. Has this evolution triggered mistrust on the part of the inhabitants?When there is consistency, there is no mistrust. In Loos-en-Gohelle our research over 20 years has been exemplary. We wanted to be the engine of a sustainable economic “renaissance” while claiming our right to error. For if we have the duty to act, we also have the right not to achieve everything, all at once!These successes, what are they precisely?We have a research and development centre on eco-materials and renewable energy, which is a national reference. We also welcome design offices, businesses, artisans who are at the forefront of environmental excellence. This consistency has united around us many technical and financial partners, state, region, Europe, while enhancing the attractiveness of our territory.

Coal to renewable, changing eraand tackling new job opportunities

Jean-François Caron, mayor of Loos-en-Gohelle (France)

Güssing: a visionary mayor

In the early 1990s, the region of Güssing in the South-East of Austria was facing rather disadvantageous conditions: 50 years of being a border region along the iron curtain near the Hungarian border, lack of infrastructure for transportation, the least developed and thus having the lowest per-capita income in Austria. The fall of the iron curtain and the accession of Austria to the European Union were the two decisive issues for the excellent development of the Güssing district (objective 1 region of the European Regional Development Fund).

In 1992, the technical engineer Mr Koch was appointed as responsible person for the waste water system and the sewage plant by mayor Vadasz. The main ideas always being behind: using local resources for energy production instead of buying fossil fuels, creating sustainable jobs, increasing in the regional added value and reducing CO

2 emissions. In 1996

the European Centre for Renewable Energy was founded in Güssing to professionally coordinate and implement all projects related to renewable energy.

Biomass gasification plant, Güssing (Austria)

During the following two decades, 3 biomass district heating plants, 2 biogas plants and many other decentralised solar energy projects were built. The degree of energy self-sufficiency amounts to 75% in 2014. 1.200 new jobs and 55 new companies have been created in the small town.

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team UP

Implementing actions is open to each rural community, but leading a comprehensive strategy is much more complicated! Option? Think and act at territorial scale. What is the “good” territorial scale? The one where things happen? Where, for cultural, or geographical reasons, the collective development project is built…? Certainly, even if other conditions must be met as the availability of skills and resources, collective tools and services.

DO nOt gO alOne: team UP at the rIght sCale

Cooperation beyond administrative borders

The Province of Luxembourg sets up collective framework and tools

In Aller-Leine Valley (Lower Saxony, Germany) an informal cooperation was activated outside the institutional framework. Interview with Cort-Brün Voige, Mayor of Rethem Municipality, Energy Region “Aller-Leine-Valley”:Originally, the Aller-Leine-Valley, was created to strengthen regional marketing between eight

Supra-local authorities offer advice and collective tools to local communities. Supported by the University of Liège and its agency for economic development IDELUX, the Province of Luxembourg (Belgium) launches the PEPS-Lux dynamic (Province à Energie positive) to coordinate a « 100% renewable » transition. The reach of such a challenge will require the mobilization of public actors through the provision of technical and human resources, the seeking of new financing, the association of the population and local stakeholders in the public decision-making.

communities, unified by the beautiful river landscape of the rivers Aller and Leine. The political leaders soon realized that the natural resource potential for developing renewable energies was massive. More importantly, everyone understood that renewable energies represented a core area to maximize regional added value and the mayors agreed that we all had to act in concert to become self-sufficient in our regional energy production.Based on the activities of our LEADER-project, we have developed a collaborative governance. The Steering Group hosts quarterly the mayors of the eight communities, and the project group “Renewable Energies” is a working platform for a broad range of stakeholders and even private persons.

Four areas of work will be coordinated by PEPS Lux.• Technical and methodological support: to date, 14

municipalities receive support for energy and GHG diagnosis and action plans,

• Support to structuring projects such as campaigns to house renovation or renewable energy produc-tion,

• Implementation of a framework and tools to get stakeholders involved in decision making: commit-ment charter, Web tools, Climate Parliament

• Implementation of “internal” actions, inside the institution, in order to be exemplary.

Cort-Brün Voige, Mayor, Aller-Leine-Valley in front of a 100% RES “Kindergarten” (Germany)

9> TEAM uP

Collective tools and services offered by supra-local authorities are valuable supports, but not sufficient. You must mobilize your own resources and skills. Human resources on energy should be viewed as a productive investment, not as an expense. They allow for reducing costs through energy savings and creating value through new RES projects.

hUman resOUrCes anD skIlls

Prepare your starter and survival kit

Not without my energy team

The optimal „starter kit“ includes 3 positions: an energy technician, an energy advisor, a project manager. These three missions can be shared between the communities committed on the action plan.First: the energy technician performs diagnostics and define actions to reduce the energy consumption in schools, kindergartens, or street lighting... The saving potential is such - at least 2 to 3% a year that it will provide free “recipes”, more precisely a reduction in operating expenses. Return on “investment” is generally less than 4 years even if it depends on the cost of energy saved and additional costs related. Second function: the energy advisor provides neutral advice for inhabitants, independently from private companies and energy suppliers. Third: the project manager sets to music the strategy defined by local authorities, in association with the local stakeholders.

The most recent success story in climate protection and sustainable energy in Austria are the Climate and Energy Model Regions (CEMR). A neighbouring group of communities constitutes a CEMR, which aims at becoming energy self-sufficient until 2030 or 2050, step-by-step. To be labelled CEMR, the establishment of an energy team is necessary. The energy team should comprise 5 to 15 people and involve mayors, counsellors of environment and energy, representatives from the municipal administration, local entrepreneurs and interested citizens and an energy manager. A chairman should be elected from the political level, likely a mayor, technically assisted by the energy manager, the expert and the driving force. Each energy team member is responsible for a certain sector (renewable energy, energy efficiency, mobility, public relations, civic participation, involving schools with energy topics,

Its daily works is to launch studies, identify needs (training, information, technology), create the collective dynamic, develop projects, find funding, build monitoring and up scaling tools.

involving local enterprises, finance, accounting). The energy manager facilitates the cooperation between all energy team members. The initiative of CEMR started in 2009 with 35 regions. In 2014, there are 112 CEMR, comprising 1.186 municipalities and 2.7 million inhabitants.

Training on biomass issues, 100 RES communities project (France)

Mobile thermography : a innovative system well adapted to villages,Pôle Albigeois et Bastides (France)

Why increasing energy saving in the private sector? The households represent more than half of energy consumption and emissions of greenhouse gases at European level.

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steP by steP

When you want to fly to Australia, you don’t need to know the price of the metro ticket in Sydney! For the energy baseline assessment, you have only to get just enough information to guide the actions. Do not spend a lot of time and a lot of money at start up.

InItIal evalUatIOn: ObjeCtIve anD methODs

Do not drown in the numbers and just have real ambition

Less is often more

The development of the action plan goes through a diagnostic phase. Then, examination of all possible actions in order to select a few. This evaluation should be simple, pedagogic, and not be drowned in details as budgets are tight. An evaluation established from ratios (regional, national) is sufficient to allow stake-

holders - elected but also businesses, farmers, citizens ...- to become familiar with the orders of magnitude of consumption and production of energy and visualize the transition trajectory. How many wind power, solar panels, biomass plants do you need in 2020, 2050? How much energy do you have to save year by year?

Interview of Julien Frat, in charge of Energy and Climate in the Pôle de l’Albigeois et des Bastides.

Our elected officials did not want us to lose ourselves in too extensive, lengthy and costly diagnostics. We opted for the carbon analysis (Method Bilan carbone ADEME). Emissions of certain areas where we do not have mandate, such as waste, food, road, … were not evaluated. Diagnosis was complemented by a short analysis of vulnerability (economic, climatic). Studies of production potential for renewable energy have just been engaged, now that the commitment towards 100% RES is decided.

The level of detail was sufficient considering that the uncertainty margins on certain data are close to 30%! In addition, our results are broadly consistent with data found in other territories, or at national level. Moreover, we proceeded to a rough evaluation based on a few key territorial figures and national ratios. Obtained at very low cost, the results were of the same order of magnitude.

Julien Frat, Project manager, “Pôle Albigeois et Bastides” (France)

Simple and quick : ”Go 100% RES” toolAs part of the 100% RES Communities project, Solagro and CLER have developed a simple, rapid and very inexpensive method – “Go 100% RES” tool. Usable in all European countries it produces a vision of the goals and the effort to achieve them, in all sectors and for all uses : electricity, heating and mobility. ”Go 100% RES” tool provides striking graphs to visualize the distance to the target, and to assist setting up immediate and effective actions.

Agricultural, forestry activities and land use changeAt the European level, agriculture is responsible for about 10% of the emissions of greenhouse gas both direct and indirect. However, the growth of the forest, and the soils generate a carbon sink of 7%. In France, because of the weighting of agriculture in GHG balance, some territories use Clim’Agri, a French tool, that gives territorial data and proposes actions in the agricultural sector.

11> STEP by STEP

Reflection on the action plan starts once the initial evaluation is made. The development of an “action list” is a must because it allows you to see where the needs for action are, but remember there will be no projects without key stakeholders. And if the first paths selected are not necessarily the most effective, they must be also appreciated for their learning experience.

seaP DevelOPment: mObIlIsIng lOCal stakehOlDers

Fresh ideas on the useof biomass in Mirna Valley

A people’s jury to enhance the SEAP in Foiano della Chiana

The real work begins once the first actions have been initiated. You have managed to create or strengthen a vibrant dynamic, the first visible results give credibility to your action plan, which fortunately has not produced any counterexample. It is then time to move to a long-term program to become a 100% RES community. At this stage, a detailed diagnosis, backed by a multi-criteria analysis will be valuable to screen the priority actions and their evaluation over time.Before we reach our objective, we must climb the steps, one by one, beginning with the first, that is to say, the mobilization of skills and resources.

In October 2006, the Association of Forest Owners of the Mirna Valley, in collaboration with Slovenski E-forum, organized a public consultation on the promotion of the use of biomass for energy purposes.

The Italian municipality Foiano della Chiana (10 000 inhabitants) chose to compose a popular jury for sharing the energy-environmental strategy 2014-2020. The selection of a jury of 40 people was carried out following random criteria on a sample representing the population. Some local “experts” were included. The jury has been engaged to exchange on the GHG reduction opportunities in the private and public sector and on the action plan.

Working seminar, Mirna Valley (Slovenia)

Energy, the last use for wood, construction is the first

Photovoltaic plant on roof of school (Italy)

All stakeholders were present: forest owners, potential users, decision makers, experts (forest managers, equipment producers) and funders. Ideas were put into municipality development plans and authorities coordinated the implementation of these plans by locating investors and developers. Municipality of Šentrupert, where technical tourism is on the rise now, is a model example for such creative ideas.

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Besides the definition of a territorial strategy on energy, whose operational tool is the joint SEAP, there are two key dimensions of action: first, large-scale territorial interest projects (community wind projects, collective biogas unit, wood district heating networks…), and secondly, territorial animation, consisting in multiplying the installation of small-scale projects and implementation of scattered actions (PV on housing and farms rooftops, thermal renovation of private homes…).

anD… aCtIOn!

The Pôle de l’Albigeois et des Bastides (PAB, South West France) undertook, in 2012, a territorial biogas study in order to organize for the collection of organic substrates.

Major outputs included: promotion of collective learning opportunities for the development of biogas projects as well as identifying constraints in terms of implementation, optimization of the size (350 kWe to 1 MWe), the typology, and the better locations of units.

A biogas scheme in the Albigeois and Bastides

At the level of the territory, the mapping of deposits (type, quantity, energy potential) crossed with the mapping of potential consumers of biogas (heat, biomethane injection into the grid), has produced a well differentiated zoning:• favourable areas for collective and territorial

projects,• favourable areas for methanisation on farms,

individual or small collective,• favourable areas for all types of projects,• less favourable areas for methanisation.

The mobilization efforts of farmers are focused on the most favourable territories, even if projects “out of area” can be supported by public subsidies.

A replicable insulation model for schools

The development of standardized devices facilitates the financing of projects, with the guarantee of a high level of performance. The thermal insulation model schools developed in Austria distinguishes itself from a “normal” thermal insulation through higher final energy savings and CO

2-reductions. Renewable energy installations are

implemented and environmental friendly construction material is used. Social targets like higher comfort or a higher living quality are further taken into consideration. The model thermal insulation should also be replicable for other communities.

biogas digester (France)

11 model thermal insulations for schools were funded by the Climate and Energy Fund in Austria in 2013 amounting to € 4.4 million. Funding is limited to 50% of the total costs and is also limited to an amount of € 600.000 per project.

SEAP monitoring and follow-upFor evaluation, stay pragmatic! The evaluation of the action plan of Val d’Ille region (France), which started in 2008, has slowly evolved to a 10 pages document with a single page summary table. This provides a simple way to share the progress made and still to come between elected representatives and staff. The monitoring of the action plan is investigated yearly during a special meeting of the executive. Soazig Rouillard, SEAP manager, notes: the current synthetic form fits perfectly the needs of the working group. We only use detailed evaluation for the actions we want to examine further, carrying out the evaluation of all actions would take too long and cost too much money compared to the decisions made.

Thermal insulation, School Albrechtsberg (Austria)

13> STEP by STEP

Big lottery supports wind farms

Jindřichovice pod Smrkem village: a financial boost to inhabitants

Increasingly, project financing relies on citizen participation funds or private foundations, including very large projects. Some “100% RES villages” lend or give direct aid to their citizens to build or renovate their homes. The motivation? Accelerate the energy transition, do not mortgage the future with houses that waste energy. Examples in the Western Isles in Scotland and in the Czech Republic.

FInanCIng terrItOrIal Interest PrOjeCts

Point and Sandwick Development Trust (PSDT), whose building has just begun in 2014, will not only be the largest community energy project in the Western Isles but also the United Kingdom. Donald John MacSween (PSDT) stated “The key thing about this development, like all the community owned wind farms, is that all the profit from the wind farm will go back into the community”. The Trust sees the community being greater than Point and Sandwick but intends supporting communities across the whole Western Isles.For community projects the greatest challenge is the financials. The case put together by PSDT was convincing enough for the Big lottery, Growing Community Assets fund to commit £1,000,000 towards the scheme. They further secured £3,000,000 worth of equity required to allow due diligence with the Coop bank to continue, this being made up of funding from Big Lottery, Social Investment Scotland and the Scottish Government CARES Renewable Energy Investment Fund, with remaining project funds via Santander. A total of £15,000,000 has been raised by the community towards the project. The 9 MW project, now in construction, consists of 3 Enercon turbines each 145m tall sited at Beinn

In the Czech Republic, on the polish border, Jindřichovice pod Smrkem (624 inhabitants) was the first village to adopt a self-sufficiency strategy based on RES (in 2000). Now, the village has a wind power plant (2x 600 kW), photovoltaics (131 kW), a biomass heating plant for five public buildings (350 kW), 34 m2 of solar thermal installations. Jindřichovice is trying to attract prospective new-comers who are looking for a good living environ-ment. Since 2008, ten low-energy houses with heat pumps (58 kW) have been built, either with solar thermal installation or green roof. An Environmental Information Centre located near the wind farm offers guided tours for individuals and groups, including programs for schools. Municipal loans and subsidies (3600 EUR/year) have been provided to private RES installations for the last 10 years.

Wind turbine implementation, PSDT project (Scotland)

Information center, just under wind turbines (Czech Republic)

Ghrideag on the Isle of Lewis. It is anticipated that income generated should exceed £1,000,000 per year or twenty five million pounds over the lifetime of the project and the economic impact from reinvesting the income will create or sustain up to 100 permanent, full-time jobs.

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stay In the game

The Covenant of Mayors is the mainstream European movement involving local and regional authorities, voluntarily committing to increasing energy efficiency and using of renewable energy sources on their territories. Covenant signatories aim at meeting and exceeding the European Union 20% CO

2 reduction objective by 2020.

reaCh the eUrOPean level, jOIn the COvenant OF mayOrs!

The Covenant of Mayors becomes accessible to rural communities

There is always a way to join the Covenant of Mayors!

Initiated by large cities, promoted by their mayors, the Covenant of Mayors movement was not very suitable for rural municipalities wishing to meet the challenge of climate change. Consequently, the Covenant of Mayors office introduced in 2012 the option of a joint SEAP for small-sized municipalities. As shown by a ground investigation in rural communities conducted as part of the 100% RES communities project, the joint SEAP “option” is the only-way to address these difficulties collectively.The conditions are: neighbouring local authorities gather in a territory, consistent, i.e. ensuring territorial

Several Romanian commu-nities expressed their wish to sign the Covenant of Mayors, with the support of Bacau County Council, as Territorial Coordinator. Bacau County Council collaborated with “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacau and helped the communities to realize the BEI, offering

the technical support, databases and the required expertise. If defining the actions in the SEAP has been mainly the responsibility of the local communities, depending on their necessities and in accordance with the development plans, the identification of financing sources has been done

Italy: an unexpected success! As of August 2014, from Merano to Lampedusa, more than half of the 5,400 European Municipalities participating to the Covenant were Italian. These numbers have been reached due to the extraordinary involvement of supra-municipal governments and of numerous initiatives and campaigns similar to the Covenant of Mayors.

continuity, with a few thousand inhabitants, organized around a democratic and representative governance, the mayors must focus on one joint SEAP. A joint SEAP refers to a plan that is carried out collectively. The group engages in building a common vision, preparing an emission inventory and defining a set of actions to be implemented and monitored both individually and jointly in the concerned territory. This approach is more effective through sharing and pooling of skills and resources, and the economies of scale it allows.

with the support from Bacau County Council. Other case: the Pôle de l’Albigeois et des Bastides gathers 5 rural associations of communes, around one joint SEAP. The governance of this vast territory which has 57 000 habitants is recognized by the Covenant of Mayor office as a single coherent entity, with ability to achieve a collective commitment on CO

2 reduction. In

line with this membership as “group of signatories”, the region is developing an action plan to be submitted for approval to the European Covenant of Mayors. This program will bring together actions with a territorial scope and more specific actions, relating to each association of communes, and according to its own potential. It will obviously be co-built with and for the associations of communes, each engaging by a resolution in the implementation of this action plan.

Signing of the Covenant of Mayors

15> STAy IN THE gAME

Rural communities can feed on experiences, tools, methods and technical solutions in the field of energy efficiency in buildings and transport adapted to their constraints and specificities.

Within a network they can exchange on the operations, successes, failures and results.

Several tools help municipalities to exchange. Twinning operations help them to have special relationship with one territory they choose and who faced or solved the same questions before . Study tours organized inside the network also help them to understand other territories and what they are implementing.

Continuous training of elected officials and technicians is absolutely necessary. Curiosity is not a bad thing, quite the contrary.

netwOrks anD tOOls

Hungarian visitors to Scotland.

100% RES Communities project team during the meeting in Rome © CAA

Czech delegation on study tour in Austria.

16

COnCrete terrItOrIal ImPlementatIOn Cases

Local energy resources like biomass from the forests have played an important role for the sparsely populated region Waldviertler Kernland comprising 13 municipalities with a population of 13,500 citizens in the North-East of Austria for decades. The region occupies an area of 500 km². Within the framework of the European LEADER-programme the municipalities started to cooperate in regional projects in 2002. The decisive step for regional teamwork in sustainable energy was the adherence to the national initiative of Climate and Energy Model Regions in 2010. Waldviertler Kernland prepared an energy inventory and energy strategy with the ambitious target of becoming energy self-sufficient by 2030.

walDvIertler kernlanD FOllOws COnseqUently Its Path tO energy selF-sUFFICIenCy In 2030

From planning into action

Capacity building activities

Implementation of concrete projects

“For a long time we only had internal discussions and brainstorming activities. But we really wanted to implement concrete (regional) energy projects supported by Climate Alliance Austria (CAA) and the regional energy agency Energieagentur der Regionen. This facts paired with the European added value were the main reasons to join 100% RES Communities”, explains Dieter Holzer, elected chairman of the region.

During the three years project period 4 regional technical workshops for mayors, energy managers and regional entrepreneurs, 5 citizens’ events on renewable energy for households and 1 press conference took place. 4 know-how transfer and exchange of experiences workshops as well as 2 study

10 potential energy projects were discussed in March 2013 and two of them were selected as key projects: a regional wind park and a thermal model renovation of a school and kindergarten in one municipality. CAA considerably supported the planning and information process for the nine wind power plants (3 MW installed capacity each of them) which will supply the region with more than 100% renewable electricity by 2016.CAA supported the municipality of Albrechtsberg in the whole application process for its model renovation. The renovation of the school building including the installation of a 33 KWp PV plant on

Workshop with mayors and energy experts in Waldviertler Kernland © CAA

tours were organised for the Czech partner region of Mezilesí. All 13 municipalities of Waldviertler Kernland adhered to the Covenant of Mayors as the first Austrian region. A Baseline Emission Inventory and a Joint SEAP with a reduction target of 21% of CO

2-emissions until

2020 were elaborated and agreed upon.

the roof was performed during the summer holidays in 2014. The project was funded nationally by 60% and should be replicated with other buildings in the region in the next years.Further implementations of projects related to public lighting in the region – the registration of all light points, common purchase of LED-lights and exchange of old lights -, a PR-campaign for the thermal renovation of private households, a car-sharing project and a regional school project concerning energy saving in 4 schools in the region (pupils acting as “energy sheriffs”).

17> cONcRETE TERRITORIAL IMPLEMENTATION cASES

CITYPlan has healthily infected LAG Mezilesí

Before the start of “100% RES communities” action, Kněžice village was the only one lonely oasis of green energy in Nymburk region. Three years later, a broader territory has been affected including regional catchment centres.

Meetings and discussions both in the region and in Prague, repeated excursions in the Czech Republic (CR) and Austria, articles on the project website as well as on the website of the cooperating Association of Country Recovery of the CR (in the special section for the national Rurener club), occasionally on the Czech RES league website or in periodical “Modern Village” (our media partner) and also distribution of brochures about RES Champions League 2013 and 2014 helped CITYPlan to disseminate information and address potential followers.

Thanks to home and foreign experience, there are now examples of growing interest in RES and energy savings, even in movement towards energy self-sufficiency, in LAG Mezilesí. Let’s present at least three of them:• Five villages of LAG figured out according to the

example from Austria advantage of common steps during the development of Sustainable En-ergy Action Plan (SEAP) and cooperation during the implementation of chosen actions (e.g. one company prepared the baseline emissions inven-tory (BEI) for all of them; one supplier of public lightning modernisation using LED was advan-tage too; villages representatives discuss now cu-mulative offer of a supplier of wood chips boiler and of fuel, …).

• According to inspiration from European examples when municipality builds its own network system or at least a part of it Kněžice thinks of more in-tensely a plan about own electricity network. It used excavation pit for other networks and laid down ca 100 m long cable for the future munici-pal system. It plans it together with the company Nano Energies, which distributes RES electricity in the Czech Republic and redeems power from the local biogas plant with Combined Heat and Power (CHP).

• The village Chroustov (among others) thinks of rendition of a subsidy or a loan for RES to citizens who commit to exchange of non-ecological heat-ing system and reduction of CO

2 emissions in the

municipality eventually in addition to get con-tribution from a government or a regional fund. They have been inspired by Austrian and with Jindřichovice examples of municipal subsidy.

Further on: an overall awareness of alternative energy at mayors, municipal representatives and citizen has increased (some of them have already installed a low-emission boiler on biomass or insulated their house); it seems now that mayors agreed on a need to provide regular advisory days for citizens by a power engineer specialist who would be able to give advice regarding ecological heating or to prepare a subsidy application form… To sum up these examples, CITYPlan has healthily infected the region concerning the reduction of GHG emissions and movement towards energy self-sufficiency!

Signature of the CoM in Chotěšice (Czech Republic) © CITYPlan

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an essentIal DIsCOvery OF the exChange OF exPerIenCes: mUnICIPalItIes mIss a POwer-engIneerIng sPeCIalIst

Six bilateral visits, tens of hours of discussion, around 20 places visited by Czech mayors in Waldviertel Kernland (WK) region, several inspirational places in the Czech Republic (CR) visited by Austrian partners – this is a brief summary of the exchange of experiences organised in the framework of 100% RES communities project.A twinning principle seems to be valuable rather at the level of general organizational principles and practices than in possible use of technological or administrative details. Because every project is “tailored” to local conditions and the legal framework is different too. But general working methods are transferable.A key example: local energy appointees are the basic building block of stable development of green energy in the Austrian countryside. They are usually working for the whole group of municipalities in the region. They advise citizens and mayors, manage data, animate, organize local energy days, prepare grant applications, supervise project tasks fulfilment. They just make (subsidized by the government and the Federal Lands!) everything what municipal representatives do not manage and what they would have submitted to energy agencies. Thomas Waldhans is such a person who solves everything important in the partner WK region. He works as a power-engineering specialist for both his community and 13 villages of small so-called “climate and energy model region”. He also partly works for about 50

villages of large so-called “LEADER region”. His lion’s share was found in most projects. What Czech mayors would not give to have someone like that at home!Unfortunately such a practice does not exist in the Czech Republic and seems to be unrealistic in the near future. There has not been such a grant in the CR so far, no this way oriented future proposal, which would be still just short-term solution but municipalities need this specialist in the long term.A certain possibility has arisen from discussions on how to use (at least for five years of joint SEAP implementation in LAG Mezilesí) an employee of the nearest advisory centre EKIS in Hradec Králové. An engineer came already twice to the Kněžice region to offer advice for citizens during energy days organized in the frame of our project. However, the interest of people was very low despite of previous promotion. There is an advantage the EKIS advisers are paid by the government. So it is necessary to engage them not in common consultations but more in very specific local projects preparation. It would be great to offer regular consultancy once a month at the same place and simultaneously create more agitation among citizens. A municipal subsidy (maybe combined with a loan) for inhabitants could encourage their interest in RES utilization and energy efficiency measures. Mayors saw such a usable model in Jindřichovice.If municipalities of LAG Mezilesí will be able to put this piece of knowledge in practise depends on them now.

A czech delegation together with their Austrian hosts © CAA


In the Lower Saxony’s Aller-Leine-Valley energy is omnipresent. It is present in the green, rural landscape, in the forests, in the rivers Aller and Leine, as PV and wind power installation on roofs and fields, in the earth, and in the hearts and minds of committed mayors and citizens. Since the beginning of the history of renewable energy in the river valley, the use of local renewable energy sources had been intertwined with the overall regional development strategy. It considers renewable energy as cross-sectorial topic to be combined with other areas such as tourism, local employment, infrastructure development and social

aller-leIne-valley: here FlOws energy!

8 X 1 SEAP = 100 and more: together towards the big PLUS

Unique about the region, consisting of eight small (joint) municipalities, is that its mayors collaborate closely on these matters across the boundaries of three districts. What is motivating mayors and citizen to do so is the vision of becoming an “energy-plus-region” in the next decades – a region that produces renewable energy to cover its own energy needs and to export surplus energy to surrounding communities. The joint sustainable energy action plan (SEAP) highlights convincingly that this is feasible, provided the municipalities bundle their natural resources and develop them in a joint endeavor. Workshop in village community center Norddrebber, Aller-Leine-Valley

Mayors and technical experts discussing possible sites for river heat generation project © deENet e.V.

Relying on earth and water to generate green heat

Within the last three years deENet e.V. worked together intensively with the region. The goal was to identify and push forward a set of ambitious renewable energy beacon projects. While other renewable activities needed less support and could be implemented with little expert input (e.g. PV and wind power), two activities rooted in the heat sector were selected to be prepared in joint workshops and citizen forums: (1) geothermal- and (2) river heat-generation in combination with a local district heating network. As both of these projects represent pioneering measures – for instance in Germany no reference project exists that has used a local river source to supply a whole neighborhood with heating or cooling – deENet

organized several stakeholder discussions with expert input to elaborate on different technological system solutions, economic viability, legal (environmental) considerations and to generate citizens’ support.

Money and trust - two sides of a coin

As close relationships and knowledge about local circumstances are valuable assets to the mayors in the river valley, deENet has been asked to continue its energy consultancy in the region. Together with local partners, deENet has prepared an application for funding. Funding is needed now to hire experts that can conduct a feasibility study for the conceptualized

pilot projects. Potential project sites have already been selected within the workshops. The mayors are optimistic that the beacon projects will be implemented in the years to come – also having in mind the 3x20-goal to which the Aller-Leine-Valley committed with its joint adhesion to the Covenant of Mayors in 2014.

20

As a responsible partner for the Belgian animation and engineering support within the 100% RES Communities project, Innergies helped Belgian communities to engage in joint sustainable energy action plans (SEAP).

tOwarD a real energy exPertIse In PrOvInCe OF lUxembOUrg

Promoting the adhesion to the Covenant of Mayors

Convincing rural municipalities to engage towards ambitious reductions of territorial GHG emissions can be a very tough task. Indeed, for many small towns, the challenge of energy transition appears at first sight difficult to meet in terms of human and financial resources. In addition, the implementation of concrete energy efficiency and renewable projects covers very often territories far beyond the municipal boundaries both in terms of critical size to achieve profitability, in terms of geographical location, or in terms of mobilization of funding sources.Innergies therefore convinced the Province of Luxembourg to become a territorial coordinator of the Covenant of Mayors and to set up a support service to local authorities willing to engage.Local authorities meet during technical workshops © Innergies

Capacity building

Elaboration of SEAPs

Implementing territorial integrated actions

Through several workshops and a study tour in the experienced German region Aller-Leine-Tal organized together with deENet, Innergies helped the provincial technical staff to enrol 14 pioneer municipalities and to develop the general framework of an operational support service, including a baseline emissions inventory for each municipality, planning and follow-up tools, common mobilization campaigns, the study

Innergies participated in the elaboration of local SEAPs through a technical support related to specific topics such as housing and public building renovation, several kinds of renewables, and awareness campaigns. A pilot

Through technical workshops, a second study tour in France, and investigations of financing possibilities, Innergies finally helped the Province of Luxembourg to identify and implement 3 first actions lead at a

and implementation of common energy efficiency and renewable projects, and a common SEAP template. In order to help local authorities to appropriate issues related to the development of their SEAP, Innergies led 6 collective technical workshops during which topics like baseline emissions inventory, best practices, stakeholders involvement, planning methods, and financing of measures were discussed.

SEAP was developed with a frontrunner municipality. This approach led to the publication of a template SEAP which was spread to partner local authorities who could then adapt it to their local context.

supra-local level in order to support local SEAPs and give consistency to the regional dynamics. These actions were oriented on housing renovation and citizen involvement.


deENet (Germany) and Innergies (Belgium) worked together in order to lead twinning actions between a learning territory, the Province of Luxembourg (Belgium), which wished to test the implementation of a joint sustainable energy action plan, and an experienced territory, the Aller-Leine-Valley region (Germany), which has already reached the 100% renewable electricity goal by adopting a proactive territorial policy.

InternatIOnal exChanges tO sUPPOrt lOCal DevelOPment

A win-win process

Twinning activities

National valuation of lessons learnt

From the start, the two partners were convinced of the utility of this process for both twin regions. Through several face-to-face meetings and a study tour organized in Germany, they worked to prove it by facilitating exchanges and providing further inputs to allow territorial representatives to get inspired from

Strongly linked with its capacity building activities, the mission of Innergies was firstly to list the needs expressed by the learning territory and to share them with deENet who then identified how the experienced territory could meet them in order to define concrete fields of common actions.

As experienced partner on topics related to regional energy development, deENet helped representatives of Aller-Leine-Valley to identify their best practices on elaboration of joint SEAP to be shared with the Belgian consortium and provided further inputs from its national projects’ experiences and know-how.

In order to reinforce the capacity building process in Province of Luxembourg, both partners focused on topics such as the added value of local energy development, the building and maintenance of a support service for engaged local authorities, the mobilisation of local stakeholders and the financing of measures.

As deENet and Innergies are both involved in the promotion of local energy policies at national level, those twinning activities gave them the opportunity to develop their know-how about how regions in

each other and to compare themselves to a similar foreign region. While Innergies was supporting the set-up of a local dynamic in the province of Luxembourg, deENet accompanied the mentoring process of local policies in Aller-Leine-Valley, both jobs feeding each other.

The climax of this process was certainly the study tour in Germany during which Innergies took 20 Belgian local representatives to meet decision makers and practitioners from Aller-Leine-Valley and visit emblematic local projects.

Belgian delegation visits Aller-Leine-Valley, Germany - the participants in front of the valley’s hydro power plant © deENet e.V.

other countries apprehend the challenge of local energy transition. The methods and good practices shared during this process are already being spread to other regions in Germany and Belgium.

22

the POle albIgeOIs et bastIDes: the assUranCe tO nOt gO baCk In tIme

Winner in February 2015 of the first national call for projects “positive energy territories for the green growth”, the Pole Albigeois et Bastides should now receive important means to do more and faster! It is the opportunity to review critically that time “before” when things didn’t seem so easy. One thing is certain: there will be no turning back.“At the beginning of our approach, in 2010, we didn’t imagine how exciting it would be to bring together actors from all walks of life around a theme foreign to many. Our Energy Climate Plan is the backbone of all our policies: urban planning, agriculture, housing …” explains Sylvian Cals, the elected representative on energy-climate issues.

What is this due to? It is partly due to the Pole not sparing on raising awareness of, initially, its elected officials. Every action is preceded by a seminar, training, and visits to ensure the involvement of stakeholders.

After giving priority to the reduction of energy consumption of the public services and organisations, then the mobilization of households, the Pole, a livestock breeding territory, chose to work with farmers. A decision motivated by the results of a

territorial diagnosis of gas emissions from the effects of agricultural and forestry activities. In 2010, this diagnosis highlighted the issue of better management of livestock manure.

Motivated and technically and methodologically supported by Solagro within the framework of 100% RES Communities, the farming sector launched the realization of a territorial scheme for the development of biogas. Objectives: to assess the potential for energy production (2200 GWh), to prioritize recovery methods (co-generation heat into the grid), and avoid competition between projects.

After more than two years of mobilization seminars and consultation, only one project group (1 MW, 80 farmers within 10 km) is still on track despite the considerable potential. The reasons: the complex regulations and still fragile economic balances, plus a lack of sufficient public support. Reasonably confident, farmers have formed an association to undertake comprehensive studies, including legal aspects and choose the developer of the future biogas plant. Their wish: to invest in the construction and operation of the project. Commissioning: end of 2015, if all goes well.

In addition... 100% RES Communities action has helped to promote the extinction of street lighting at night in the villages, to initiate a program of photovoltaic roofs installation on public buildings, with a financing fund through which the inhabitants can invest in projects.Many projects alongside new core programs will probably allow meeting the 100% renewable energy objective, in the mid-term.

The Pole of Albigeois is a cooperative structure and activity area that comprises 5 communities of municipalities and 57 000 inhabitants.

Landscape of Pôle Albigeois et Bastides © VentDautan-Mediart127


Despite the fact that numerous Romanian cities joined the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) during the last years, this European movement was not very well known in the Eastern part of the country, where Bacau County is located and the project activities have been implemented. For this reason, several meetings were dedicated to the presentation of the CoM and to the significance of being part of it.

As a result, twelve Romanian rural communities joined the CoM. Their association, entitled “Bacau County for CoM”, signed the adhesion as a group of small communities. The event took place on the 26th of February 2013, at Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau (UBC).

The next steps were to perform a baseline emissions inventory and to develop the sustainable energy action plan (SEAP). These tasks were quite difficult. The collection of the information concerning the CO

2 emissions was the first barrier. The team of UBC,

together with specialists from Bacau County Council, visited the communities in order to collect data from the mayors’ offices and directly from the inhabitants. Although the people were very willing to help, the lack of specific knowledge did not allow them to be very useful.

The development of SEAP was the second issue. It was difficult to integrate the various ideas that were proposed, which caused a delay from the initial plan. Finally, the SEAP was sent to the CoM office in the two demanded versions, at the middle of November 2014. It had been approved by all the local councils and also by Bacau County Council, as Territorial Coordinator.While working on the SEAP, several of its actions

have been initiated. Considering the needs of the rural communities, three local authorities decided to develop public lighting systems based on photovoltaic panels, for some streets of the villages. The projects were financed by the National Rural Development Programme, through the European Fund for Agriculture and Rural Development. The construction of the systems is almost finished in all the locations.

A measure stipulated by the SEAP (and warmly embraced by all the communities) is the thermal insulation of the public buildings. The mayors decided to rush this measure, using a share of local funds for its achievement. Therefore, the schools and the city hall of Ungureni and Odobești have already benefited of thermal insulation, while the other communities are almost ready to work upon it. An important share of the needed funds was provided by the Funding Agency for Rural Investment.

The awareness campaign “Simple solutions for energy efficiency and use of renewable energy for domestic users” was conducted in all the schools. The action was developed by UBC, with the support of mayors’ offices and local councils.

To raise the level of energy efficiency, in accordance with the actions of SEAP, a feasibility study was conducted for replacing the traditional lamps with high performance LED systems in public lightning. The study was developed for 11 communities in the project and the documentation will be sent for funding to the call of National Rural Development Programme.

Mayors from the Province of Bacau have just signed the Covenant of Mayors © UBC

baCaU COUnty FOr COm In aCtIOn

24

exChanges between FranCe anD rOmanIa: tOgether FOr the better OF OUr COmmUnItIes

The Romanian territory where the main activities of the project have been implemented is located in the Eastern part of Bacau County. The Covenant of Mayors and Rurener Network were scarcely known in this area. We also have to mention that a part of the population presented some skepticism concerning the renewable resources (possibly, because a share of their electricity invoices covers RES). For these reasons, the mayors of the rural communities initially hesitated to sign the agreement with the CoM, also being worried by the financial implications of the adhesion.

Under these circumstances, an important input for the mayors came during the first study tour organized in the autumn of 2012. In the framework of the twinning established within the project, a delegation including the mayors of the rural communities and representatives of Bacau County Council visited the Pays de l’Albigeois et des Bastides. The practical achievements in the field of renewable sources and energy efficiency, as heating central from Negrepelisse, bioclimatic school of Cordais, the photovoltaic panels, etc. had a major impact. All these objectives were presented with technical details and all the questions asked by mayors received a full and clear answer. The transparency, the hospitality and the courtesy of the French “big brothers” were at the high level. As a consequence, impressed by what they saw and what can be done in this domain for the good of the people, the mayors of Romanian communities decided to join the CoM and, once returned, to initiate RES projects.

During the realization of BEI and design of SEAP, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau has benefited of advices provided by SOLAGRO and by the experts from Pay de l’Albigeois et des Bastides. The counseling was given during face to face meetings, virtual meetings or Skype conversations. Unfortunately, the context and also the legislation in Romania differ from those in France. Therefore, the recommendations were adopted only in part.

The second study tour and the discussions during the face to face meetings consolidated the attitude of the local communities with respect to measures regarding energy efficiency and renewable sources. The ceremony of signing the agreement with CoM was organized by Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, with the support and presence of the twin partners from France. The presence of CLER at the RES Champions League launching event had a significant impact.

To conclude with, the fruitful collaboration between the French and the Romanian partners had the role to boost the efforts of the Romanian communities towards energy efficiency and use of RES.

Also, apart from the professional aspect, all these meetings have contributed to a better understanding of the realities from the two countries and regions. Certainly, the respect and friendship which have been established with these occasions will continue after the end of the project.

A Romanian delegation during a visit of CLER Verts enterprise in Pole Albigeois and Bastides © Solagro


Dumfries and Galloway is a massively rural region of Scotland, 6426 km2 in area and sparsely populated at a density: 23 people / km. Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) is the elected administrative body which manages education, environment/planning, housing, welfare, social care / health and waste services across this region. With 47 ‘volunteer’ local Councillors and 8000 staff the council relies heavily on communities.

Upon partnering with the council it was agreed that a local Community Energy Scotland (CES) Development Officer would work closely the Sustainability Team, headed by Christopher Wood-Gee. After several meetings a binding agreement was concluded between the parties which was then ratified at a full council meeting. A further commitment, to sign the Covenant of Mayors had the full backing of the body politic and a project champion was appointed to undertake the required political elements of the project, Councillor Ian Carruthers.

The partnership developed a game plan based initially upon the project schedule. Regular monthly meetings with follow up calls enabled the work load to be allocated between the DGC team and CES ensuring that both European and DGC targets were met. It was imperative to maintain direct contact with the project champion to maintain the enthusiasm at the political level, especially during the two years leading up to the Scottish referendum, November 2014.

In June 2012 a series of newspaper and advertising promotions were concluded inviting community groups from across the region to participate in a series of evening kick off meetings held in council chambers

to explain the project, sustainable energy action plan (SEAP) development, benefits for the communities participating and an initial discussion on practical funding. The Energy Agency, project champion, senior DGC politicians, exemplary community groups and CES networked with the 60 attendees to establish potential projects and alleviate concerns.

The rational for involving community groups was developed due to the particular administrative structure in Scotland, whereby Scotland is a sub national region of the UK. Governance is then subdivided in 32 regions managed by elected Unitary Authorities (UA) each regionally centralised. In DG UA groups of 4 UA councillors electorally represent each 546km2 sub section. Thus for local initiatives it falls to volunteer unfunded community groups or community councils to develop, fund, install as well as manage projects.

From the fifteen groups ten were selected to develop concepts, a number as per the 100% RES Communities project remit. They were facilitated by CES and DGC and group leaders were identified, through which communications were conducted. Several formal training events were run to empower the communities in technology, energy efficiency, project management and funding. These trainings sessions were followed up with regular meetings to assist communities develop SEAPs and bankable projects.

DGC and CES cooperated throughout to enable groups and coordinate the development of a joint SEAP into the document submitted to the Covenant of Mayors Office.

Dumfries Council, Community Energy Scotland and the local project community groups © CES

POsItIve ImPaCts thrOUgh sCOttIsh rUral COllabOratIOn

26

tOgether everythIng Is easIer: the FIrst hUngarIan jOInt seaP wIth the COOPeratIOn OF 16 sOUth-transDanUbIan mUnICIPalItIes

The establishment of the Mecsek Energy Group

20% CO2 reduction by 2020

The first steps have already been made towards achieving the targets

Hungarian small villages have huge difficulties caused by the inefficient operation of local institutions and lack of knowledge related to sustainable energy. Local governments usually do not have any vision or development goals in the field of energy. The Mecsek Energy Group was founded after several meetings between the representatives of Energiaklub Climate Policy Institute & Applied Communications and the

The project managers of Energiaklub elaborated the sustainable energy action plan (SEAP) in cooperation with the mayors and energy experts of the 16 municipalities and set a common target of 20% CO

2

emissions reduction by 2020 compared to the baseline year 2011. Municipalities with only a few hundred inhabitants do not always have enough financial and human resources to achieve the given targets on their own but together they could share the costs of the energy advisor, the project manager, etc. The joint approach supports each local authority to implement

The mayors and staff of the municipalities took part in several workshops, energy trainings and study tours to Scotland. The discussions revealed that most of the villages have the same problems and can offer each other help or advice. It could be useful for them to step up together to their interest (for example against electricity provider companies).

However, the most important step was to find financial resources for the implementation of the actions.

Mecsek-Völgység-Hegyhát LEADER LAG by 16 small settlements1 whose objective was to start the energy transition by enhancing energy efficiency, the use of RES and knowledge transfer. All municipalities joined the Covenant of Mayors in 2013 to strengthen their intention towards more sustainable energy consumption.

the most important measures locally, while other local authorities with more financial resources can develop bigger investments.The SEAP contains actions such as:• biogas plant next to the meat processing plant in

Alsómocsolád,• two solar parks, each with a capacity of 500 kW by

the cooperation of the municipalities,• identification of the most energy consuming mu-

nicipal buildings by energy audit,• continuous energy consultancy for inhabitants.

Solar panels on the kitchen’s roof, Vásárosdombó, Hungary © Mecseki Energiykör

Energiaklub supported the group by hunting up calls for tenders and setting up a project proposal. In 2014 the group applied successfully for a tender and received a support of nearly 167.000 EUR. Each municipality received an equal share from the support, so minor improvements had been implemented within a few months after the SEAP was elaborated. The measures included PV (18 kW) and solar thermal collector (9 m2) installations and the modernization of municipal buildings: insulation (375 m2) and the replacement of windows (117 windows have been changed), as well as upgrading heating system (35 kW biomass boiler). Thanks to this project, the renewable energy production increased by a total of 113 MWh/year and the heat consumption was reduced by 61 MWh, which means 38 tons of CO

2 emissions reduction per year.

The successful tender showed the mayors the advantages of common projects in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The projects carried out in public buildings provide good examples for the inhabitants and can enhance their energy investments.

1 Alsómocsolád, Bikal, Egyházaskozár, Gödre, Hosszúhetény, Kárász, Magyaregregy, Magyarhertelend, Magyarszék, Mánfa, Máza, Meződ, Mindszentgodisa, Sásd, Szászvár and Vásárosdombó


DevelOPIng InternatIOnal knOwleDge exChange: Case stUDy between hUngary anD sCOtlanD

Energiaklub Climate Policy Institute and Community Energy Scotland organised three face-to-face meetings in the South Transdanubian region. The first meeting took place in September 2012, together with the first technical workshop. The representatives of the experienced territory gave presentations on their observations and provided consultancy for the members of local authorities from the Transdanubian region.In the framework of the second face-to-face meeting, representatives of Community Energy Scotland and Dumfries&Galloway Council had a chance to get an insight into the final stages of the joint sustainable energy action plan (SEAP) elaboration process. At the workshop organised in March 2013 in Hosszúhetény, the colleagues from Energiaklub and the South Transdanubian Regional Development Agency presented the most important targets of the Regional Energy Strategy and the SEAP for the 16 municipalities of the „Mecseki Energiakör”. At this event experts from Scotland and the participating local authorities discussed the possibilities of the implementation of the proposed actions. Further goals were to deepen the cooperation between the stakeholders of the two regions and to exchange experiences about best practice examples in the field of community RES investments. The expert team from Dumfries&Galloway visited Hungary in January 2015 for the third time.The third face-to-face meeting focused mainly on the results achieved with the support of the project and the possibility to involve other local authorities form the region into the 100% RES dynamic. To enhance the knowledge transfer, experts from both Scotland and Hungary gave presentations at a workshop organised in Medina. Visits to renewable energy investments, such as biogas and biomass plants or a geothermal energy district heating system were parts of the programmes of the face-to-face meetings, to give a clear view on renewable energy potentials of the target region for the experts assisting the participating municipalities. Technical workshops with presentations of both Scottish and Hungarian experts were held at all of the face-to-face

meetings to provide platform for the exchange of experience between the representatives of the learning and experienced partners.Community Energy Scotland with Energiaklub organised two study tours for mayors, council officials, and representatives from the Transdanudian region. The first in March 2013 brought 20 visitors to Scotland to undertake site visits and workshops. The second, 6th May 2014. The site visits included visiting a state of the art BRE level school designed to be sustainable and energy efficient. The design included a thermal wall to soak up the external heat and transmit this internally. Solar panels supplement the electrical grid connection and two biomass boilers fire a wet central heating system both producing an annual income for the council from the feed-in tariff and Renewable Heat Incentive government schemes. Whilst in the second trip delegates were escorted by the architect through a passive social housing development and given the opportunity to discuss with the tenants the realities of such properties.The tours included smaller generators: a community owned 250 kW wind turbine that sells the electricity to the adjacent Ice Cream factory; a wind farm developed by a farmer in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; a biogas plant utilizing methane from the ‘organically’ fed cows to supply gas to a restaurant; an example of community forestry management as well as a small scale wood chip manufacturer. In the second trip delegates were invited to a guided tour around a wood pellet manufacturer utilizing robots to undertake processing and packaging. Hydro projects included a tour to a 50 kW peltan turbine farm estate owned scheme whereby the landowner undertook the majority of the ground works and utilises the electricity within the manor house. At Gatehouse of Fleet the local Provost welcomed the VIPs and introduced a series of workshops from market leading renewables manufacturers, installers, as well as funders. Throughout the trips meals were procured from suppliers who followed the ‘let’s eat local’ mandate where food was sourced with the local area.

Knowledge exchange study trip: Hungarian VIP’s visit Dumfries and Galloway © CES

28

vall D’Ille bets On bIOmass tO heaD tOwarDs energy aUtOnOmy

The association of towns of Val d’Ille signed the Covenant of Mayors in 2009. In 2011, the community has voted the objective of being self-sufficient in 2030. In close relation with AILE (acting a member of CLER), they set up targets in terms of energy savings and renewable energy production. The main renewable project of the community, a photovoltaïc plant on the ground, could not be realised. Large-scale wind turbines cannot be implemented on the territory due to air routes. Small-scale wind turbines have a lower yield. That is why the community finally chose to massively develop energy from biomass.

To reach the 2030 target, the renewable production must increase from 2000 to 10000 tonnes of oil equivalent (toe). If biomass represents half of it, 4000 extra toe capacity has to be developed. To reach this target, considering the territory profile, three actions were considered: • Heighten the local resources by planting 150 to 300

short rotation coppice and 150 ha of fermentable crops (corn) or 500 ha of intermediate fermentable crops (cereal mix or other crops)

• Develop the wood fuel use in private houses (wood stoves) from 2000 houses to 4000 houses (2000 toe)

• Create 5 to 10 farm biogas units and 2 to 3 collective plants (2000 toe)

Visit of a biomass boiler by CCVI elected persons ad staff © AILE

To work both on wood and biogas, the 2 following ac-tions were chosen: • Work with waste management authorities to define

the characteristics of a biogas unit for kitchen waste and bio-waste. This resource is not used often in Brittany, and further work is needed to define the right type of plant and logistics needed.

• Study the feasibility of a mixed biomass platform to feed the boilers of the territory. Local wood and bi-omass resources will be used preferentially on that platform. First experiments have been led with the 3 boilers present on the community, but no invest-ment has been made yet.

Concerning wood logs market, Val d’Ille territory has limited potential for new woodchips boilers. This has been verified again with the results of the feasibility study of district heating on a new business park. Nevertheless, some projects are coming to light, like in Guipel, but will not represent a significant part of the targets set up to reach the 100% RES objectives. The issue is to develop wood fuel heating in private housing, and to make good quality biofuels available. In order to not compete directly with the existing wood logs providers on the territory, the idea is to create a partnership with biofuel companies to manage wood storage during wintertime. The main issue of wood logs market is to have dry fuel to sell even at the end of winter. The business model of such a joint-venture does not exist yet, and has to become a pilot project that could be inspirational for other territories.

A green waste recycling pilot process has also been presenting to convert green waste into compressed logs. This process is adapted to the territory situation but is a prototype. Technical and business models have to be proven. It cannot be the only action on biofuels. On the other hand, specific awareness campaigns, counseling services and financial incentives has been initiated to the population in order to enhance wood fuel heating on the model of the operation led in Pays de Saint-Brieuc (VirVolt).

Concerning biogas production from waste the first meetings showed that the adequate scale for the project could be the territory of the two waste management authorities present on the Val d’Ille. It represents 80 000 inhabitants, while Val d’Ille is approximately 20 000. The different administrative territories in France are a barrier to such collaborative projects. The next step for the association of communes is a rapprochement with the territory of Coglais, which has a similar approach in recent years.


Slovenski E-Forum envisioned at the beginning of the project that the surrounding rural area of Novo Mesto would be the area to concentrate efforts to develop a model of joint sustainable energy action plan (SEAP) in rural territories and towns. Afterwards it decided to include 10 municipalities of the area of the Heart of Slovenia as they were the most interested in cooperation. Sub-regional Development Center of the Heart of Slovenia was planned to be the territorial authority to assist towns on its territory in developing and implementing SEAP.

Three meetings were held in 2014 with Development center of the Heart of Slovenia. During meetings it became clear that only municipalities of Litija, Šmartno pri Litiji and Dol pri Ljubljani were the ones that were able to be joined in one geographical entity. In January 2015 Slovenski E-Forum started to work on individual SEAPs. In the middle of the month, Municipality of Dol pri Ljubljani decided to leave the partnership signed in September 2014 due to a new Mayor’s policies. As a result only 2 individual SEAPs were prepared, for Šmartno pri Litiji and Litija. They were then put together into a joint SEAP in which individual and common measures were defined. In March 2015, Climate Alliance Austria organized a two and a half days long study tour in Styria for a Slovenian group where representatives of Municipalities Litija and Šmartno pri Litiji also participated. Then Slovenski E-Forum had a meeting with Municipality of Šmartno pri Litiji. They informed the Mayor and public officers about the process of development of their SEAP. Energy consumption in different sectors was presented. Municipality has already implemented some measures defined in Local energy concept 2012 (energy manager, renovation of primary school Šmartno) and some were implemented (completion of energy audits). Most of actions in public buildings are still waiting for realization and depends on financial resources. SEAP will include revised and new measures that will help the municipality to reduce energy consumption and CO

2 emissions. Households

are a main target for energy savings. Therefore the Municipality of Šmartno pri Litiji will give bigger role to education and workshops in the field of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and calls for projects for subsidies.

One action defined in SEAP was analyzed in details – potential for biomass use in Municipality of Litija and Šmartno pri Litiji. For the implementation of this common action after submitting SEAP to the Covenant of Mayors (CoM), potentials for local

biomass production and use were estimated. Energy production and CO

2 saving potentials were calculated

and financial structure was set up. For Litija a draft SEAP is prepared and is waiting to be further discussed with representatives of Municipality of Litija. They also promised to join the CoM in the near future and officially submit their SEAP.

Second joint SEAP was planned for Mirna Valley – municipalities Šentrupert, Mirna and Mokronog-Trebelno (geographically connected). Municipality of Šentrupert is one of the municipalities at the vanguard of energy transition in Slovenia. Municipal council accepted the SEAP and approved to join the CoM. Their vision is to become energy self-sufficient until 2020. In 2014 when the SEAP was prepared, members of Slovenski E-forum held a meeting with representatives of Šentrupert where they invited them to sign CoM and make their SEAP official. Slovenski E-forum focused its efforts on Šentrupert regarding their admission to the CoM as it could be an example for the remaining two municipalities. Three SEAPs in this Valley would be the base for the second joint SEAP. Due to lack of political will this has not happened, but is still in process.

mOre than One year OF wOrk FInally brOUght resUlts – FIrst stePs tOwarDs jOInt seaP

The Slovenian delegation enjoys all of the study tour in South Styria © Suzana Vurunić

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rUral energy netwOrkIng

rUrener: FrOm an exChange OF exPerIenCe netwOrk tO an eUrOPean InFlUentIal netwOrk

RURENER is the European network of rural areas engaged towards a 100% RES objective. The aim of this network is to empower rural areas to develop ambitious energy strategies. The association reflects this goal in three actions: sharing of experiences between European rural areas, supporting the development of European projects and awareness raising of European authorities on energy issues in rural territories. RURENER organizes every year European exchange days and develops and manages LEADER projects. However the transition from an exchange network to a network of influence required a fundamental evolution of the structure.

To be recognized at European level, RURENER had to become a representative network. RURENER has been structured in national clubs. This allows it to have an ambitious development strategy through national intermediaries who help the network to adapt its offer to different national contexts. The national clubs also help RURENER to build a clear message to the European institutions and allow the exchange of experiences and the development of cooperative projects nationwide. They also facilitate the transmission of information in the language of each of their members. To achieve this result, the RURENER association amended its articles. It signed cooperation agreements, which acknowledged the existence of national clubs. The association recognized also the possibility for rural communities other than the villages to join. Thus the members of

the national clubs are members by default of RURENER umbrella structure and have the opportunity to make their voices heard alongside the historical members.

After creating national clubs, RURENER had to build a clear message to the European institutions and a message to rural communities. The survey conducted toward 200 territories in Europe and opinions published by the national clubs have produced a message to the Covenant of Mayors and the European Commission. The message carried by RURENER to rural communities has been enhanced by the commitment of RURENER as a supporter of the Covenant of Mayors and participation in various training sessions. For these messages to be heard by the right targets, RURENER had to be known by key relay at European level and in rural areas engaged in the process. At European level, RURENER works with associations present at the Covenant of Mayors Office as Energy Cities, Climate Alliance and ICLEI. The national clubs have meanwhile worked with rural areas at local events and during their annual meeting to present RURENER and his role. Finally, for its message to be transmitted, RURENER is present on social networks (Twitter, Facebook) and has a website where all of its network members are present. RURENER is also present at major European events such as the Sustainable Energy Week. His next challenge is to represent the European rural areas at COP 21 in Paris.

Exchanges of experiences between European communities and regions during the RURENER Energy Day in Brussels, 25 June 2014 © deENet e.V.

31> RuRAL ENERgy NETwORKINg

rUral regIOns FaCe sPeCIFIC Challenges

Results: ‘We lack of … everything!’

Conclusion: together or not at all

In general terms, the search returns two main elements: on the one hand, all respondents demonstrate a high commitment and awareness of the role that small rural communities play in the broader process of implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy. On the other hand, it shows a situation of precariousness in the following four key areas: human resources, technical resources, financial resources, communication. “Lack of” is the key word which accompanies the story and the efforts of the rural municipalities to elaborate and implement a sustainable energy action plan (SEAP). The majority of the municipalities can count only on one person (mainly part time) to work on energy issues; this minimum stock of human resources needs to be complemented with external collaborations from private consultants, energy agencies or territorial operators. It registers a limited diffusion and use of methodology to produce a CO

2 analysis, an element

which creates a indirect issue of lack of standardization. A high majority of municipalities allocates less than 5000 Euro for sustainable energy initiatives (this amount does not include the initiative and action of the CoM). In general terms, the survey registers a quite limited budget for the rural communities. Finally, two main dimensions of communication show problems. The first one refers to the relationships between rural

More than 90% of the respondents see the joint SEAP as the right - and only - way to address these difficulties. That point of view can easily be understood as joint SEAPs are coordinated by a supra local organization that comes in with human and financial resources, addressing thus the fundamental entry barriers for small rural communities. The report finally shows that the cooperation among local authorities represents

communities and the CoM. The policy promoted by the CoM is strongly characterized by a technical and bureaucratic language, too much - and unstructured - information which often represents an obstacle for municipal workers; the second one involves wider issues related to the communication within the rural communities between the local authorities and citizens and stakeholders.

Rurener association conducted a ground investigation on the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) in 200 rural communities, on behalf and with the participation of 100% RES Communities project partners. Here are the findings.

the more effective approach to improve the quality of the life of their citizens through the establishment of a 100% RES community. Project partners will continue their bottom-up campaign to give voice to the rural communities and to supply the CoM movement with new inputs, experiences and ideas for a better renewable energy policy.

A French delegation is welcome the traditional way in a Romanian vil-lage, during a face-to-face meeting © UBC

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a bIg POtentIal In rUral terrItOrIes tO DevelOP jOInt seaPs

The joint SEAPs, a model adapted to rural territories

Integrate rural issue in the Covenant of Mayors

Experimenting with the signing of joint SEAP and their implementation, allows project partners of 100% RES Communities action to make a feedback on this subject after 3 years of action. As part of the project, two types of difficulties were faced. The model of joint SEAP was tested under different national contexts. In Scotland, it was difficult to find the administrative authorities to sign the Covenant of Mayors because there is no local authority similar to other European countries. In contrast, in France partners had to think on the most relevant local authority unit or actor to coordinate the signing of the joint SEAP because of the multiple administrative levels. When jumping down to local contexts, additional challenges appeared. For example in Germany, communities

Even if the implementation of joint SEAPs was a success in partner territories, only a few new rural territories engaged into the Covenant of Mayors. After three years of experimentation, project partners suggest that the Covenant of Mayors Office focuses on two major aspects to solve this issue. First, many documents of the agreement are still targeted exclusively to urban issues. Issues such as energy and GHG in agriculture, rural mobility, and refurbishment of rural town centers are still little discussed.

wishing to sign their joint SEAP are not contiguous but separated by another territory. Furthermore, the timing of the Covenant of Mayors office do not always match the territories based on a national schedule for the delivering of SEAP. Finally, the validation of the action plan is long and formal for rural communities that are engaged and interested in implementing actions, while wider territories feel more concerned for the sake of mid and long term strategic planning. The pooling of resources gave them the opportunity to exchange with the Covenant of Mayor Office and work hand into hand to find solution to their own difficulties. The success of the SEAP depends on the support of local authorities as it is in joint SEAP. It is a key of implementation success.

A Czech delegation together with their Austrian guests © CAA

Furthermore, it is important that the agreement adapts its analysis filter to rural areas. Rural local authorities and actors are keen to begin with taking action before defining an action plan.From a wider point of view, the European Commission needs to recognize national programs that contribute to energy objectives for the EU in 2030 to enhance the European Covenant of Mayors, applying the subsidiary principle. As a consequence, national governments would better promote the Covenant of Mayors.

33> RuRAL ENERgy NETwORKINg

The Covenant of Mayors and European rural areas: varying situations in different countries

But rural territories without national strategy, however, still exist...

Towards a wider recognition of the work of European rural territories

Comparing the number of signatories of the Covenant of Mayors and the number of European administrative units locally recorded by Eurostat, there is a large disparity in the rate of territories signing the Covenant of Mayors in the different European countries. Moreover, the number of signatories of the Covenant of Mayors is much lower than the amount of communities having actually developed and/or implemented an energy action plan. It means that many territories participate in the fulfillment of Europe’s commitments in terms of energy strategy without being recognized by the Covenant of Mayors. This is especially true for rural territories.Rural areas, with limited resources, focus their efforts on only one model of energy action plan. They will choose the framework which is legally, technically and financially supported by the State or the region to which they belong. Whereas in Italy, the Covenant of Mayors is a reference and many municipalities have engaged in the dynamic, the Climate and Energy

In some countries, no strong dynamic actually exists on the promotion of strategic energy planning at local level. This is the case of Romania, the Czech Republic and Hungary, for example. Therefore local authorities in these countries face specific challenges, preventing them from meeting the Covenant of Mayors’ expectations. Often, energy consumption

Unfortunately, thus, European institutions miss feedback from numerous innovative communities and regions all over Europe. The contrary is also true. As rural territories do not (want to) fit into the Covenant of Mayors procedures, their European contribution is not visible. They can’t exchange and do not have access to the tools developed by the Covenant of Mayor office as the Benchmark of Excellence. The Covenant of Mayors loses the opportunity to include

hOw tO make beneFIt FOr rUral terrItOrIes FrOm ImPrOveD synergIes wIth the COvenant OF mayOrs?

Action Plan (PCET) in France, as being already a legal requirement for all larger authorities and soon to be for all local authorities in 2019, is naturally the framework invested by national players – letting the Covenant of Mayors aside.

RURENER clubs members together in the front of the European Commis-sion building in Brussels © Innergies

could be low and the challenge then is tackling (fuel) poverty rather than developing RES. The volatility of investment capabilities makes the implementation of action plans brittle. Moreover, the national and regional authorities rarely support financially (if not at all) the development of energy action plans.

their innovations in its set of tools and rating. This is a real loss to the whole community, given that some of these territories were pioneers in the field. The Covenant of Mayors office should therefore support technically, legally and financially territories to build energy strategy, in the countries where the State is not in a capacity to do so now, and make the overall administrative framework of the initiative more flexible and welcoming to all players.

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jOIn the eU mOvement OF 100% renewable energy regIOns!

Within the last decade the idea of a 100% supply of territorial energy demands by renewable energy sources (RES) has driven local initiatives across Europe and even globally to spark action. Local and regional authorities in rural towns and territories play a central role in this process as they do not only offer the space and the potentials, but also the political conditions to stimulate a comprehensive change in the territorial energy supply and consumption. Yet, no common definition existed until the start of the 100% RES Communities project that would be able to grasp, compare and transfer the dynamics taking place locally.

a eUrOPean DeFInItIOn FOr 100% res COmmUnItIes

Unified in diversity

Osnabrück: unfolding synergies to deal with challenges in climate and energy policy

The vision of becoming a 100% RES Community

Territorial cohesion

Fight against fuel poverty

and vulnerability

Urban-rural solidarity

Territorial resilience

Local democracy

Democratic reappropriation of energy issues

Local dynamic for sustainable energy

Sustainable agriculture, forestry and food

100% RES COMMUNITIES

Collective and civic projects

Satisfaction of needs in bio-energy and material

© 100% RES Communities 2013

Economic development

Added value of energy projects and expertise

Energy planning

Environmental protection

Reduction of local impacts

Sustainable land planning

ISSUES

APPROACHES

Within the 100% RES Communities project, experts representing 10 European countries (France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, United Kingdom, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary) sat together

To give an orientation of how an ideal future 100% RES Community should look like a common definition and vision was developed. Accordingly, “A 100% RES (ideal) community covers its energy demand entirely with renewable energy with respect to electricity, heating/cooling, and mobility. It acts energy efficiently and includes the regional potentials in a holistic manner. The energy supply is sustainable and secure and contributes to regional economic value creation”. As this ideal type 100% RES Community does not yet exist within European practice, the definition has to be applied with flexibility to front-running and learning communities facing varying legal, political, financial and topographical challenges and opportunities

Both the City and the District of Osnabrück can look back to many years of commitment to climate protection. Currently, the City and the District of Osnabrück, together with the District of Steinfurt and the City of Rheine, participate in the German project “100% Climate Protection Master Plan”. It aims to show how cities, in cooperation with surrounding areas, can successfully lower their carbon emissions by 95 % and their energy consumption by 50 % by the year 2050, compared to 1990. A cooperation of this kind holds numerous advantages for both sides: although cities usually cannot fully meet their energy needs

Diversity of issues and approaches that move a 100% RES Community © 100% RES Communities

within the different countries. Mainly, the definition should serve as linking element aiming to create partnerships, interactions and knowledge transfer on the matter of 100% RES between European rural towns and territories.

with renewable energy (RE) from their own limited areas, they frequently possess the necessary know-how and capacity to invest in energy efficiency and energy savings, climate-friendly mobility and PV on roof units – to name only a few examples. Meanwhile, surrounding rural areas with their abundant natural resources, but often sparsely populated areas, have the potential to develop RE and benefit from the revenue of exported surplus energy. Learning from these pioneering partnerships, more and more cities in Germany are seeking close cooperation with their rural neighbours.

to craft a shared European definition and set of criteria to identify and examine local 100% RES initiatives – so-called “100% RES Communities”.

35> JOIN THE Eu MOvEMENT OF 100% RENEwAbLE ENERgy REgIONS!

RES

community

Le Mené

Currently Europe witnesses a dynamic movement led by rural towns and territories that want to achieve a 100% renewable energy supply within the next two or three decades. These towns and territories all share the notion that a full energy transition is technologically possible and that it equally creates added value for people, regional economy and environment. In order to provide this local renewable energy movement with a common stage and international visibility, a European 100% RES Community label has been launched following the conceptual guidelines of the associated definition and criteria. Front-running 100% RES Communities can use this label to get recognized for their efforts and to highlight their commitment towards 100% RES in a simple and time effective way.

Without quality, no quantity Who earns the label?

What are the benefits for the community?

How to get the label?

The shared definition and vision of a 100% RES Community is based upon a catalogue composed of 30 quantitative and qualitative criteria. The criteria catalogue is focusing on four levels to get a detailed picture of the energy transition in the town or territory: 1 - Level of objectives: Does political will to move

towards 100% RES exists?2 - Level of strategy: How and by whom is the target

pursued?3 - Level of integration: What other issues are being

addressed within the energy transition?4 - Level of realization: What is the current status of RES

covering the energy demand?

According to the three major pillars of the 100% RES Communities definition, the label identifies and highlights communities that:• aim at reaching a 100% RES supply • are capable to reach 100% RES supply and• apply a regional development approach to the

energy transition.

The 100% RES Community label allows a community to:• learn about its own strengths and identify areas

where it can still improve its efforts,• communicate internally and externally on its

100% RES goal and strategy in an attractive way, enhancing territorial branding and trust among the local stakeholders,

• get to know other rural towns and territories with a 100% RES goal and to find out about their renewable energy strategies,

• appear on a common online map.

The process of applying for the 100% RES Communi-ties label is free of costs, simple and time effective. The community fills an online evaluation form and submits it to the national coordinators of the 100% RES Com-

Village of Šentrupert received the label in 2014 for its goal and strategy on self-sufficiency © A. Schiffmann/WFC

reCOgnIsIng COmmUnItIes On the way tO 100% res wIth a eUrOPean label

munities’ network. The application procedure is based on a mechanism of social control and the educated opinion of the national coordinators, who approve the 100% RES Community’s appearance in the last step.

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What do Šentrupert in Slovenia, Steinfurt district in Germany, the Fukushima Prefecture in Japan and East Hampton in the US have in common? There was a chance to find out in Kassel, Germany, during the first 100% RES ceremony at the world’s biggest annual congress for 100% Renewable Energy Regions on 11th – 12th November 2014.

CItIes, COmmUnItIes anD regIOns aCrOss the wOrlD COmmIt tO 100% renewable energy

Enhancing policy dialogue

European communities heading towards 100% renewable energy

Turning best practice into best policy

Hosted by deENet e.V. and an alliance of other German renewable energy organizations, the congress brought together local governments, community leaders and experts to share knowledge and experiences on 100% renewable energy for the 5th time. “Hereby, seemingly scattered local actions are powerfully bundled and given political weight as a common movement. It is great to see the growing interest in this topic – across Europe and the whole globe.” said Dr. Peter Moser, deENet Competence Network Distributed Energy Technologies.

One key tool for enhancing international visibility of communities and regions is the European 100% RES Communities label and online map. Being part of this 100% RES movement in Europe helps to connect local actions and enables them to tie in with each other’s

The key lesson learnt and a factor that all communities, cities and regions share is the fact that a participatory energy system must be at the heart of every successful 100% RES strategy. Yannick Régnier from CLER, France pointed out: “The success of the energy transition depends on the participation of citizens, communities and cities!”While being an inspiration, the move towards 100% RES is still coming along too slowly around the globe. Policy makers have taken up measures nowhere near proportional to the urgency to act, especially taking

First 100 % RES Community label Ceremony in Kassel, Germany © A. Schiffmann/WFC

The first local and regional representatives proudly receiving the 100% RES Label in Kassel © A. Schiffmann/ WFC

into consideration today’s crises such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, resource scarcity and poverty. We need to translate these best practices into best policies on the national level. At the congress in Kassel, local governments from Europe and across the world demonstrated how this can be achieved.

dynamics. The congress for 100% Renewable Energy Regions in Kassel provided an excellent venue to award the 100% RES Community label for the first time.The first candidates that officially receive the label include 11 regions / communities from Germany (Steinfurt, Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, Osnabrück, Trier, Rietberg, Bad Hersfeld, Wangen im Allgäu, Saerbeck, Alheim, Wildpoldsried, Flecken Steyerberg) as well as Waldviertler Kernland from Austria, Le Mené and Beaujolais Vert from France, Kněžice from Czech Republic, Šentrupert from Slovenia, Wallonie Picarde from Belgium, Dobbiaco/Toblach from Italy and Dumfries and Galloway from Scotland. And they are only the tip of the iceberg: hundreds of communities and regions are also heading towards 100% RES in European countries.

37> JOIN THE Eu MOvEMENT OF 100% RENEwAbLE ENERgy REgIONS!

Considering a number of pioneering local governments, islands and even nation states that have set ambitious political goals for 100% renewable energies (RE), one can observe that the urgently needed transition towards a society based on sustainable energy is already underway.

In order to bundle these seemingly scattered local actions and to give them political weight as common global 100% RES movement, deENet and an alliance of international renewable energy organizations has initiated the political campaign Global 100% RE.

a glObal PartnershIP FOr 100% res

European countries take the lead in 100% RES – worldwide !

The secret of becoming 100% [RES] successful

At the world’s biggest congress for 100% renewable energy regions in Kassel, Germany, taking place on 11th and 12th November 2014, the European initiative 100% RES Communities and Global 100% RE jointly convened renewable energy experts and local governments from more than 10 different countries to officially present their common endeavour: a European and global map on 100% RE best practices. Among the guests were 100% RES communities and regions from Europe (Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Belgium, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Scotland) as well as delegations from Japan, Belarus and the U.S.Local governments that get a spot on these joint 100% renewable energy maps share the fact of committing politically to transitioning their energy system towards a full renewable energy supply. While some candidates presented on the map have already reached or surpassed this goal, others are yet on the way to plan and implement the needed strategies and measures to get there. European towns and regions that earn the 100% RES communities label benefit from the partnership between 100% RES Communities and Global 100% RE, as they automatically become visible

Experience from 100% RES best practice examples shows that transitioning to a more sustainable energy system is not a question of technology or money in the first place. Rather, to make the idea of 100% RES something real, political will and setting a formal political target is key.Global 100% RE and 100% RES Communities help spreading stories and experience from local governments across the world in order to share:• what has motivated them to set a 100% RE goal• where they stand in achieving a 100% RE supply• what challenges they face in this endeavour, and• what role citizens play in it.Within live interviews renewable energy experts from East Hampton in the U.S., Fukushima Prefecture in Japan, Šentrupert in Slovenia, Le Mené in France, and Braslav in Belarus share their renewable energy success stories.

both on a European-wide and world-wide map.Hans-Josef Fell, Ambassador for Global 100% RE concluded: “Seeing the 100% renewable energy movement growing across the world is very encouraging. Connecting these pioneers and providing a platform for personal engagement and policy dialogue therefore becomes more and more important.”

Japanese representative at First Label Ceremony in Kassel © A. Schiffmann/ WFC

Hans-Josef Fell, Go 100% RES ambassador at the high level panel discussion in Kassel.

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natIOnal mOvements tOwarDs 100% renewable energy

Being the only nationwide supporting structure for the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative, Climate Alliance Austria (CAA) organised and participated in many conferences, workshops, networking events and training programmes within the 100% RES Communities project. In 20 events more than 1,400 participants were reached to inform about and raise awareness in Austrian municipalities and regions about CoM and RURENER during the last three years. Many municipal and energy stakeholders have been informed about the success of the new climate protection possibilities at European level. Some communities were interested in these relatively new European developments, but only two towns and the region Waldviertler Kernland comprising 13 municipalities adhered to the CoM.

energy eFFICIenCy anD res as key IssUes OF aUstrIa’s energy strategy

National climate protection initiatives

RURENER and Climate Alliance Austria

The main reason for the hesitant participation can be found in three powerful and relatively long existing national climate protection initiatives that are nationally or regionally funded:• Since the foundation of the European Climate

Alliance 25 years ago, 960 municipalities joined the Climate Alliance Austria network representing two third of the Austrian population. Most of the

As the key targets of the two initiatives are very similar to each other, namely switching the local or regional energy system towards a full renewable energy supply in the near future and especially aiming at rural territories, CAA signed a cooperation agreement with RURENER. As CAA has been the national coordinator of the CEMRs initiative for 5 years and is further involved in its future development, RURENER issues

CEMR managers at their annual conference in Baden © CAA

members have elaborated an energy strategy including binding targets as reducing at least 10% CO

2-emissions every 5 years.

• As one Austrian regional energy agency represented one of the co-founders of the European Energy Award, the e5-programme was founded in 1998. Today the quality management network for sustainable energy consists of 160 e5-municipalities in 7 Federal States of Austria.

• The Austrian government’s ambitious plan to achieve nationwide renewable energy self-sufficiency by 2050 formed the basis for the Climate and Energy Model Regions’ (CEMRs) programme. This initiative financially supported by Climate and Energy Fund started in 2009, including 35 regions. Currently the 104 CEMRs comprise 1,100 municipalities and 2.6 million inhabitants. On the one hand, the regions use local resources, enhance energy efficiency and promote energy saving measures. On the other hand, their work builds on tailored management systems, professional trainings, controlling, reporting an energy consumption monitoring.

will be put on the agenda of CEMR networking and training events to come. “European exchange on the implementation of energy projects and sharing of lessons learned are very important issues regarding our daily work with our municipalities and regions”, explains CAA’s managing director Peter Molnar, “we are happy to cooperate with RURENER also in the future.”

39> NATIONAL MOvEMENTS TOwARdS 100% RENEwAbLE ENERgy

Fostering commitment

Providing visibility and recognition

Ensuring opinions are considered

From 2012 to 2014, Innergies has spent a lot of energy to encourage rural towns and territories to join RURENER and engage in the Covenant of Mayors. Through a general ground investigation, many conferences, face-to-face meetings and continuous contacts with local authorities, a pool of committed regions was slowly formed and became TEPOS.be, the Belgian network of 100% RES Communities. Members of the network can now benefit from visibility and recognition at national and European levels. But they can also count on TEPOS.be to ensure their views and opinions are considered and to support cooperation processes between them.

The first necessary step to encourage rural communities to engage in the Covenant of Mayors was to design adaptations to make that European initiative more accessible to them. Innergies therefore participated in the design of a European questionnaire and disseminated it to Belgian communities during national events and through the Belgian RES

Innergies contributed to the definition of the 100% RES territory by comparing the criteria list proposed by partners with the data collected through the national RES League. Innergies also discussed with project partners on adapting the criteria and agreeing with a point-system for the evaluation of 100% RES Communities.The Walloon RES League was adapted to integrate qualitative 100% RES criteria in an energy and climate roadmap that all participants have to fill. The data

Innergies worked with national and local clubs members on common opinions about topics such as the possible involvement of Belgian associations of municipalities as Territorial Coordinators of the Covenant of Mayors, the need for a territorial

tePOs.be: netwOrkIng anD hIghlIghtIng ambItIOUs regIOns

First informal meeting of the network in 2013 © Innergies

Championship’s newsletter. This finally allowed feeding the project with views of several Belgian engaged municipalities.Once those views well integrated, it was easier for Innergies to convince new local authorities and territorial coordinators to join the movement.

collected through that approach within the 2013 edition of the Walloon RES League allowed Innergies to identify a list of towns and territories that were likely to become 100% RES Communities.After engaging, two territorial coordinators joined the TEPOS network and got help from Innergies to give visibility to their dynamics mainly through the TEPOS website, national newsletters, press releases and media partnerships.

approach in national policies, and the new European energy targets. Once a shared view was reached on each topic, Innergies wrote articles, which were disseminated to national government or the Covenant of Mayors’ Office.

40

res leagUe anD rUrener In the CzeCh rePUblIC: InFOrmally bUt yet

An informal national RURENER club establishment was agreed in February 2013 on the occasion of Mayors Forum “Energy and Village” in Prague. It works under the Association for Country Recovery of the CR and offers meetings for mayors and municipalities technical staff who are interested in energy transition. They participate in different workshops, discussions or exhibitions where the project team in co-operation with organizers prepares usually a compact block of lectures on RURENER issues. So mayors (especially these from small villages who have their regular job and currently lead the municipality) can get more information and experience at less events on less places. A special section on the Association website is instrumental towards experience exchange and promotion of European actions too since from June 2014 the Czech club is an official member of the European RURENER network. An occasional interest of some villages in best practices of a way towards energy self-sufficiency outlasts and the Association is prepared to continue its work in this field after the project end.

The previous Czech Solar and Biomass leagues were extended and since 2014 all RES sources (sun, biomass, biogas, water, wind, geothermal energy) are registered. The website of the national RES league is fully operational and brings regularly news about both the Czech and the European leagues. The database includes all Czech municipalities so people can check

easily, if their town or village is already registered as well as they can register it or update information about it. Some people may draw suggestions and information about the new project “100% RES communities” through it. However, the league does not arouse media publicity and municipality interest as used to be during the first five years of its existence. Nowadays the public would take a comparison of municipalities “RES score” like a formal ventilation of mostly not comparable numbers. Also the public glorification of success in the field of RES utilization is not popular due to massive government campaign against them three years ago. Since the management sphere did not watch over proper phasing of photovoltaic support and left it to invade the fields in the Czech countryside PV installations attracted “solar barons” of joint stock companies with unknown owners from all around the world.

Although the national support of RES declined and sometimes was totally frozen it does not mean that municipalities and citizens lost interest in their development at all. Simply there is not a climate and liking for national celebrations. Municipalities do not register for the league on their own initiative but once they are asked for info about RES installations they usually meet league coordinator wishes. Therefore there has not been a problem to nominate national champion in every division for the RES Champions League so far.

Passive house of VERONICA centre in Hostětín (Czech Republic) © CITYPlan


FrenCh energy POlICy sUrFIng On POsItIve energy terrItOrIes

The concept of positive energy territory (TEPOS) appeared in the French law for the energy transition from its first draft in June 2014. In parallel, the Ministry opened the national call for projects for “200 positive energy territories for green growth” on September 4, 2014. Eventually, the 212 laureate communities have been selected and presented on February 9, 2015 and are to receive each from € 500,000 to € 2 M direct financial assistance. From a wider perspective, this program is before all a clear and symbolic acknowledgement, at the highest level of State, of the role of territorial approaches on the way to the energy transition.

How could a grassroots activist initiative launched only 4 years ago lead to a key element of pre-COP21 French national energy policy?

Let’s step back in time

A conceptual breakthrough in France: energy as a lever for local economic development

CLER introduces the concept of TEPOS for the first time during its annual assembly in May 2010. Le Mené, Biovallée and Thouarsais regions (all three future TEPOS network founding members) gave flesh and blood to it while promoting their own commitment and concrete actions. In June 2011, the Mené organized the first “energy and rural regions, towards positive energy territories” national conference (which has become a recognized yearly event coordinated by CLER since). The TEPOS network, fruit of a joint initiative from Le Mené and CLER, was founded at this time and CLER has managed it since. Of course then, the first key step was to finance the development of TEPOS network activities. CLER developed the 100% RES Communities project on purpose: from April 2012 to October 2014, the European financing was the only

As a result of a communication snowball effect on the Mené’s approach and projects (more than 200 media quotes) and the many interventions of CLER all over the national territory (40 speeches in 3 years in national congresses and exhibitions, local conferences, think-tanks’ meetings), many local authorities were won over by TEPOS concept and took action. The key conceptual innovation introduced by CLER (based on the observation and adaptation of Germanic approaches) was to present the energy issue rather as a socio-economic than an environmental one. Regional councils also adhere to this vision and have set calls for projects aimed at rural communities

resource of the network, with membership fees being added progressively from late 2013 (however whose total amount still stays below 10% of activities’ budget today).

from 2012 (respectively Aquitaine, Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne, Franche-Comté, Poitou-Charentes), in coordination with CLER. Several national institutional partners backed-up the movement in 2015: the General Commissariat for Territorial Cohesion (CGET) –attached to the Prime Minister–, the energy saving agency ADEME, the public financial institution Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations. All three support financially the activities of TEPOS network, now included as a specific internal section within CLER association. Everything is now in place to guarantee the sustainability of the French movement towards 100% renewable energy at local level!

Exchanges in small groups during a participative workshop of 2013 national TEPOS conference © Yannick Régnier / CLER

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German territories committing to switch their local energy system towards a full renewable energy supply may join the national 100% renewable energy (RE) regions network. Its members are both front-running candidates that are close to reaching this goal and learning ones working on getting there. At the last annual national networking event (10th-12th November 2014), the network of 140 committed 100% RE Regions gained six new members that received the German 100% label. At the same time the event hosted the first European 100% RES labeling ceremony, providing a stage to front-running towns, territories and cities all across Europe. 11 candidates from the German 100% RE Regions network proudly received the European label. German towns and territories that have already earned the 100% RE Regions certification are automatically eligible to apply for the European 100% RES label, as the two evaluation systems have been conceptually aligned.

the german 100% re regIOns netwOrk anD Its InterlInk wIth eUrOPean 100% res COmmUnItIes

German national 100% RE Regions network goes Rurener!

A win-win situation for Rurener Europe and German 100% RE-Regions?

Giving German 100% RE Regions a voice: best practice example for catalyzing dynamics

On 28 June 2014, during the annual RURENER events, deENet e.V. and RURENER signed a cooperation agreement, turning the successful network “100%

Dr. Peter Moser: “To start with, this cooperation of the German network 100% RE Regions means a direct link to the European level and, through it, the chance to exchange experiences, which is much more limited within a national context. The connection to RURENER offers German municipalities the opportunity to flesh out their profile on the European, international stage and to increase their visibility. Through the dialogue with

Regions and towns are assuming great responsibility in implementing the energy revolution in Germany. They also want to continue campaigning with great commitment. An excellent example showing how such local dynamics may be catalyzed is the “Political communiqué for a decentralised energy revolution”. The communiqué is based on a series of local conferences that were conducted in the first half of 2014 with municipal members of the German 100% RE Regions network and the 100% RES Communities project. It communicates in a concise manner their political demands on renewable energy in German territories.The candidates involved demand more courage and commitment from federal and state politicians towards a decentralised change in energy policy.

Renewable Energy Regions” into the German offshoot of RURENER. “We are proud to have finally taken this step”, says Dr. Peter Moser (deENet. e.V.).

European partners and stakeholders, new questions will arise for us and our 100% RE Regions – which will offer inspiration as well as critical queries that are only possible through inter-cultural exchange. On the other hand, the European network RURENER gains a strong, heterogenic network partner in us, consisting of a variety of small, rural municipalities, but also larger districts, regional associations and occasionally even major cities.”

Together they call for:• Regional and decentralised development of the

energy revolution• Strengthening and improved integration of

communes• Regional value creation embedded as a guiding

principle• Integration of electricity, heating and transport

sectors• Germany’s continuance as a technology site for the

energy revolution• Development of regional energy markets• Development of a positive energy-revolution

culture


Quarter of the Hungarian local authorities participated in the RES Champions League in 2014. The most successful candidates took over the national prizes from Energiaklub, the organizer of the national competition.

The award ceremony was held in the framework of the “Strategic planning and project development in the field of energy” conference organized by Energiaklub in Budapest. More than 100 mayors and municipality staff members represented their town at the event. The audience got insight into the methodology and practical application of the Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs). The first round of renders of the operative programmes of 2014-2020 are expected to be announced early June 2015 while the first calls of the Central Europe programme were opened on the day of the conference, February 12th – as the experts pointed out in their presentations in the financing and tender opportunities section.

Winners were selected in three size categories out of a total of 773 municipalities based on the methodology applied in all countries participating in the European League. The representatives of the awarded local authorities received their certificates from Ada Amon, the director of Energiaklub and had a chance to present their achievements. The small village, Patca from Somogy County won the category of municipalities with less than 5000 inhabitants. János Handó, the mayor of the village believes that it is important to grab any opportunity to inform inhabitants about the advantages of the utilization of renewable energy sources and he was glad that the tiny village could serve as a good example for other municipalities. Patca was followed by Mátraszentimre and Monoszló in the category of the smallest municipalities.

Mórahalom won the race in the category between local authorities with 5000 to 50,000 inhabitants. The heat demand of all public buildings in the municipality are supplied by a geothermal district heating system with a capacity of 4,600 kW. In addition, a total of 317 kW biomass boilers are operating in the town, many public institutions have been fitted out with PV and/or solar thermal collectors. According to the first man of the town, László Csanyi, the most important challenge for local communities is to produce the energy they consume for themselves since the energy costs make a significant part of the local authority budget. The second and third prizes wandered in the southern part of the country: Orosháza and Komló.

In the category of cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants Tatabánya triumphed ahead of Miskolc and Kaposvár. Tatabánya’s new biogas plant was put into operation in 2013. The plant produces biogas from municipal sewage, corn silage, agricultural waste and food processing by-product transported from the area. Solar thermal and PV installations can be found on several public and residential buildings in the city. An environmental and climate protection officer works in the city who prepares an urban environment report annually which ensures the continuous monitoring of the environmental state of the area. Csaba Schmidt, the mayor of Tatabánya emphasized that they learnt a lot from the examples of others and the experiences gained were worth taking part in the RES Champions League. He also mentioned that he hoped that their success will encourage other municipalities to use renewable energy sources according to their needs and potentials.

the hUngarIan COmmUnIty leaDers belIeve In renewables

Hungarian RES League champions in 2014 © Energiaklub

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Legambiente promoted and developed the European project 100% RES Communities in Italy, with the aim to strengthen and improve the existing campaign on Renewable Municipalities. Targeted actions enabled to enhance the valorisation of local territories and their energy sector and therefore pave the way to shared skills and actions. The Italian Renewable Municipalities Network, associated to the European Network Rurener, and 10 local conferences forming the Renewable Municipalities Tour, were the instruments to spread the best existing practices. They represented an opportunity for territories to meet so that local administrations could discuss all suggestions and proposals to develop new projects as well as new solutions.

For instance, the Municipality of Pedaso (Fermo), after taking part to two local conferences, decided to invest in developing an efficient school. 10 local conferences were held in the municipalities of Bergamo, Campo Tures (Bolzano), Dobbiaco (Bolzano), Equi Terme (Massa Carrara), Maiolati Spontini (Ancona), Milan, Pietralunga (Perugia), Prato allo Stelvio (Bolzano), Tresigallo (Ferrara) and Vernazza (Spezia). They represented very important venues to visit the plants powered by renewable sources as well as to discuss some critical aspects, needs and possible solutions to problems.

The Renewable Municipalities Network was created in May 2014. It aims at networking and sharing possible solutions for territories and citizens. On the website www.comunirinnovabili.it, it is possible to access and get familiar with territories, obtain information on

their energy systems, discover amenities and virtually visit plants of renewable sources as well, through the interactive map of the Renewable Municipalities Network and the best practices.

In addition, the municipalities that are members of the network will have access to the database of skills in order to find all necessary solutions for their problems. The most advanced municipalities of the network that have already started their “energy revolution” will make their skills available online.

The RES Champions League plays a key role to foster knowledge and motivation as well as the label 100% Renewable Municipality, given to the towns of Prato allo Stelvio and Dobbiaco, the latter being recognized at the European level by the 100% RES Community label.

They were able to encourage a fair competition among the different realities as well as their willingness to discover new solutions and opportunities. Twenty municipalities have already participated into the local conferences, in addition to the important cooperation with the Union of Municipalities Primiero and Vanoi (Trento) that in the coming months will hold the new local conference. The little municipality of Campo Tures (Bolzano) was chosen to host the latest local conference, and it took part into the competition between Renewable Municipalities 2015. The award ceremony was held in Rome on the 13 May 2015.Moreover, 18 municipalities are present on the map of RES Champions League and 4 belong to the European map of 100% RES Communities.

sUCCessFUl renewable mUnICIPalItIes CamPaIgn strengtheneD anD enlIveneD In Italy

Renewable energy is used for over a century in Prato-allo-stelvio! © Legambiente


Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau (UBC) led the movement of rural Romanian communities towards sustainable energy within the project. The first step to be performed was a survey conducted by UBC. Its aim was to determine how well informed the rural communities are about the Covenant of Mayors and what is their opinion about the RURENER club. The conclusions of the survey revealed that important efforts have to be made in order to promote the two associations. Therefore a number of conferences and a road campaign were organized in different locations in Romania.

A small RURENER club already existed in Romania. During the lifetime of the project, following the organization of promotional activities and events, the number of its members grew to 95. The fact that they belong to the same group allowed the communities to exchange ideas, best practices, and to discuss various funding opportunities.

Two annual meetings of the Romanian RURENER club took place. As well, its representatives have participated to the European event organized in 2014. The impact of this event was important and stimulated new communities to join to the club. The possibility to participate in projects financed through the LEADER programme also raised the interest of local administrations. Several Romanian communities are already developing a project in this framework.

Because of the presidential elections in November 2013 and due to the hard winter, the annual meeting for 2014 was delayed, being held in March 2015. The date of the meeting generated many discussions; it was a difficult task to comply with all the demands of the rural communities.RES Champions League has also been an action with a significant impact. The launch of the RES League in Romania was held in February 2013. The coordinator of the project, Mr. Yannick Régnier from CLER, and

representatives of Bacau County Council have joined the event. As well, other the stakeholders such as the Regional Environmental Agency, teachers, students and NGOs showed interest in the friendly competition. The League is new in Romania and the rules were adopted in accordance with the standard European ones.

Two national championships were organized in Romania, in 2013 and 2014. The first competition did not involve many communities, while the second edition registered an important participation: about 36 communities registered for the four categories of the competition. The representatives of Alba Iulia municipality have also participated in the European celebration that took place in June 2014 in Brussels and was awarded with a special prize.

During the last months of the project, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau has received new applications for the competition in 2015, which proves that the RES Champion League was successful and its principles were implemented in Romania.

sUCCess stOrIes OF rUrener ClUb anD res ChamPIOns leagUe In rOmanIa

One of the many conferences organised by UBC © UBC

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sCOttIsh rUrener lOCal energy eCOnOmIes PrOgramme

Rurener from a Scottish context required reworking of the methodologies although the goals remained the same. The unique political make of the region of Scotland means that no smaller municipalities exist and thus the grass root level, at which Rurener is focused is not present. The nature of local government is such that the Scottish government is the main ‘local authority’ and is entirely removed from the populous. Below this are 32 large unitary authorities (UA) each providing a local focus (averaging 6,000 sq km2) on particular services. The unitary authorities have limited freedoms to develop policies outside of those set by the Scottish Government and the UK Parliament.Community Energy Scotland decided that to establish an entirely new network would prove counter productive in the region. This was partly because at a Unitary Authority level an established network, entitled Scottish Sustainable Network (SSN), already provided a focused approach for the larger bodies. CES therefore collaborated with SSN to promote the message for UA’s to sign up to the Covenant of Mayors, and used every available option to promote this message. At a grass roots level, without appropriate local government, it was identified that capacity and network building could address local communities. Such communities were taking control of their own renewable policies and establishing community groups to make the local communities more sustainable. After negotiations with Rurener Europe it was agreed that, for the Rurener concept to be adopted as part of the project, these working directly with such

communities were the only way to productively undertake Rurener. Hence Community Energy Scotland amended its remit and opened its existing members network to the Rurener concept. The message to existing and new communities being that local RES is important to ensure the ongoing viability and sustainability of their areas. Through a series of workshops run over two years and further events hosted at annual conferences this message was disseminated, backed up by case studies from notable leaders, such a Eigg. Groups were further encouraged to promote the CoM message to their UA representatives. At the AGM’s, the network members were able to discuss the way forward for this stream of the project and were able to network with elected representatives and speakers at dinner. To conclude, the Rurener message has made an impact. Both within the established networks, as well as at Scottish Government level. A shift in the policy towards community RES has been adopted, targets have been established for community renewables [500 MW] and a spotlight on Local Energy Economies has produced regional financing schemes such as the Local Area Challenge Fund. Regarding Covenant of Mayors, significant interest has been generated, such that local UA Councillors are now proactively researching how it can benefit them. Project centric discussions with the likes of Dumfries and Galloway Council and North Ayrshire Council have resulted in two new CoM signatories during the project which in turn will lead to additional signatories shortly.

Fergus Ewing for Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism and Member of the Scottish Parliament at the Rurener / CES annual conference 2014 © CES


In Slovenia, RES Champions League and 100% RES Communities have been kept as two separate activities. Initially there was no paradigm on and for 100% RES communities, therefore Slovenski E-Forum started with identifying 100% RES communities directly, via face to face meetings and local conferences. Slovenski E-Forum created a new national RES league, which became present in our own sub-section on the official RES Champions League website. In Slovenia there is already a traditional contest for most energy efficient municipality organized by web portal Energetika.net. Slovenski E-Forum managed to upgrade the rules and coordinate them with rules of the RES Champions league and so the “first” national champions in 2013 were awarded according to standard rules of the European RES league. The national award ceremony took place on 12 September 2013. For the 2013 European competition, Slovenski E-Forum suggested the best municipalities in adequate categories from past three years after they had fulfilled additional questionnaires to get comparable data with European criteria. Champions of 2013 directly participated in corresponding categories of European championship for 2014. Slovenski E-Forum participated in the award ceremony of the RES Champions League 2014 in Brussels in June 2014 where the municipality Krško got a special award of the jury for the quality of their energy approach.In March 2014, Slovenski E-Forum opened the 2014 championship and winners were revealed during the national award ceremony in September 2014 in Ptuj. The absolute winner was municipality Šentrupert. Therefore and considering their long-term vision, the

municipality even got the 100% RES communities label during the international 100% RE congress in Kassel in November 2014 as the very first Slovenian one.

Slovenski E-Forum disseminated questionnaires to mayors to conduct a ground investigation on the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) awareness in rural municipalities in Slovenia. Moreover, local authorities (municipality offices, mayors) engaged in the Covenant of Mayors were specifically targeted to get more qualitative feedback. 10 out of 22 replied. In Slovenia there are 30 municipalities that have signed the CoM (15% of Slovenian municipalities) to have better chances to obtain financial and legislative support from the EU institutions. The main barrier to join the CoM is to design an effective sustainable energy action plan (SEAP) and obligation to use specific tools and to prepare a reliable CO

2 baseline emissions inventory (BEI).

At the start of the project, Slovenski E-Forum found out that RURENER was completely unknown in Slovenia. It planned to establish clubs, formally as a part of Slovenski E-forum in regions Goriška (27 municipalities), Savinjsko-Šaleška (15 municipalities) and Srce Slovenije (11 municipalities). They should play role as a “general public side” of local energy agencies, which are expert and professional institutions while RURENER clubs are civil society (a way to participative democracy).

Slovenski E-Forum started with RURENER club in municipality Šmartno pri Litiji inviting experts and officials from all municipalities that are part of the Heart of Slovenia – regional development agency.

National award ceremony Ptuj 2014 © Energetika.net

slOvenIa has Its mOst energy eFFICIent mUnICIPalItIes anD One rUrener netwOrk

48

be awarDeD at eU level FOr yOUr resUlts

res ChamPIOns leagUe: the eUrOPean reFerenCe On renewable energy at lOCal level

The RES Champions League is a network of national RES leagues, which aims at creating a positive renewable energy competition between European local authorities and communities. The action displays RES status at local authorities, provides rankings based on simple indicators and identifies top front running local authorities and communities across Europe. It is a very effective way of getting quantitative data on RES penetration at local level and giving visibility to active local authorities and communities. Eventually, the RES Champions League aims at motivating local authorities and communities to develop renewable energies.

There is no RES Champions League without national RES leagues. The RES Champions League consists in the collection and gathering of several national databases. All national RES leagues deliver a common basic service, consisting in the collection of RES data at local level in order to allow the estimation of the rate of energy autonomy (estimated RES production / estimated energy consumption). All renewable energy sources (solar, biomass, wind, hydro, geothermal energy) are considered. Most technologies for the production of energy from these RES are eligible to the competition.

During the fourth season of the RES Champions League, 5 new countries (Austria, Belgium, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia) got associated to the action and a total of 12 countries are now involved (with Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland). All in all, the national RES leagues now involve more than 10.000 municipalities representing 100 millions inhabitants over Europe. The RES Champions League is for sure the European reference for the evaluation of renewable energy development at local level.

Still northern and southern countries should join the movement so that the participation of municipalities from the 28 countries is possible tomorrow: we are waiting for them! Nothing more than a strong motivation and the will to compare local achievements from communities not only at national level, but also at European level, is required to join our European movement. No barrier to join, far from it: the European team could deliver all tools, tips and support necessary to implement new national RES leagues very easily! What a better opportunity to show that the energy transition is happening widely from the ground, and everywhere in Europe?

The winners of RES Champions League 2014 waiting to receive their prizes in Brussels © Innergies

49> bE AwARdEd AT Eu LEvEL FOR yOuR RESuLTS

From 2013, new rules were introduced in the RES Champions League. First, regional authorities have been declared eligible to European awards, whereas only cities and towns were in the past. Urban areas as well as rural territories, grouping several municipalities into a consistent catchment area, are pretty often the level at which a joint energy strategy is defined effectively and conducted efficiently.

European prizes are awarded in four different divisions (less than 4,999 inhabitants; between 5,000 and 19,999 inhabitants; between 20,000 and 99,999 inhabitants; more than 100,000 inhabitants. Associations of cities and towns compete in the division corresponding to the size of their largest city or town. For example, an association of cities and towns with 120,000 inhabitants and a largest city with 50,000 inhabitants competes in the division 20,000-99,999.The selection process is well established. The champions are identified through a step-by-step approach first at national, and then at European level:• Identification of several national challengers: every

national organization running a league selects a few challengers for the semifinal phase in every division. These challengers are identified among best-ranked local authorities in the national RES league.

• National semifinal: every national organization selects (only) one national challenger for the European final in every division, based on RES data and the filled questionnaires.

• European final: the European jury eventually proceeds to a distant voting (in two rounds) to select three champions among all finalists, also based on RES data and the filled questionnaires.

The European jury is composed of energy experts, networks of local authorities, NGOs, journalists from all participating countries. Eventually, 12 champions are awarded prizes int he four different divisions.Despite the subjective assessment or evaluation that jury members can make based on the qualitative information available, the dramatic difference between the national contexts in the different European countries only leaves little chance to many communities

what’s new In the res ChamPIOns leagUe?

the seleCtIOn OF eUrOPean ChamPIOns

Moreover, the selection process of European champions was strengthened thanks to the design and use of a complete questionnaire based on 20 criteria. The quantitative data on installed capacity of renewable energy units (compared to the population and area) is still the main indicator to define the champions, however, the qualitative information submitted by the local authorities plays also a key role in the final process.

of some member states to reach a European title. This is the reason why the European jury also gives yearly special awards to 4 municipalities and regions that have achieved remarkable results for the development of renewable energies.

More information: www.res-league.eu

RES Champions Leagues 2014 prizes © Innergies

Yannick Régnier, coordinator of the RES Champions League action, talks with Perpignan Méditerranée representatives in Kassel, 2013 © deENet e.V.

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Since 2010, the RES Champions League ceremony is the time to reveal the names of Europe’s most inspiring communities in the field of renewable energies. The 12 champions in the 4 different divisions, plus representatives of communities awarded with special prizes, have here the opportunity to describe the key points of their energy strategy and achievements, providing tangible proofs that their awards are well deserved. The diversity of the natural and cultural contexts in winner municipalities and regions is always a good surprise. All champions have renewable energy sources, but not all have the same: to every municipality or region its own energy terroir!Not only a few speeches are planned in the programme of events, but also many networking opportunities between champions and partners of RES Champions League. The friendly atmosphere of the events liven the exchanges and have given birth to further European cooperation projects.

res ChamPIOns leagUe CeremOnIes hIghlIght eUrOPe’s mOst InsPIrIng COmmUnItIes

RES Champions League winners 2012 © Legambiente

The emperors of renewable energies were crowned in Rome (Italy) in 2012 during a ceremony held in a building of the Italian Senate on the 5th of July.

2012 ChampionsLess than 5,000 inhabitants1st: Tramayes (France)2nd: Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog (Germany)3rd: Boly (Hungary)

From 5,000 to 20,000 inhabitants1st: Tacherting (Germany)2nd: CC du Mené (France)3rd: Szarvas (Hungary)

From 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants1st: Leutkirch (Germany)2nd: Grosseto (Italy)3rd: Zlin (Czech Republic)

More than 100,000 inhabitants1st: Padova (Italy)2nd: Erlangen (Germany)3rd: Besançon (France)

51> bE AwARdEd AT Eu LEvEL FOR yOuR RESuLTS

RES Champions League winners 2013 © deENet e.V.

RES Champions League winners 2014 © Innergies

How could a best place be found to host the 4th European award ceremony? The RES Champions League event has taken place during the international “100% RES regions” annual congress in Kassel (Germany) on the 24th of September 2013.

Brussels (Belgium) had the privilege to host the 5th ceremony of the European competition on 25th of June 2014, during the European Sustainable Energy Week

2013 ChampionsLess than 5,000 inhabitants1st: Wildpoldsried (Germany)2nd: Mureck (Austria)3rd: Saint-Julien Montdenis (France)

From 5,000 to 20,000 inhabitants1st ex-aequo: Saerbeck (Germany)1st ex-aequo: Bruck Leitha (Austria)3rd: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Scotland)

2014 ChampionsLess than 5,000 inhabitants1st: Kötschach-Mauthen (Austria)2nd: Furth bei Landshut (Germany)3rd: Attert (Belgium)

From 5,000 to 20,000 inhabitants1st: St Johann im Pongau (Austria)2nd: Alheim (Germany)3rd: Thouarsais (France)

From 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants1st: Amstetten (Austria)2nd: Wangen im Allgäu (Germany)3rd: Mouscron (Belgium)

More than 100,000 inhabitants1st: Trier region (Germany)2nd: Perpignan Méditerranée (France)3rd: Bergamo (Italy)

From 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants1st: Villach (Austria)2nd: Rhein Hunsrück (Germany)3rd: Dumfries and Galloway (Scotland)

More than 100,000 inhabitants1st: Osnabrück (Germany)2nd: Pilsen (Czech Republic)3rd: Highland (Scotland)

52

The commune of Tramayes (1,000 inhabitants) is situated in the South of the Burgondy region. It is a rural farming commune. However, its position as the administrative seat of a canton and its relative distance from towns such as Cluny and Mâcon have made it into a centre for very intense trade, artisanal and associative activity. The service offer is very complete, particularly in the medical sector (the local hospital is the main employer).Tramayes is a founder member of the French network of “Positive energy territories” and a real driving force for neighbourhood towns and the whole Burgondy. His mayor Michel Maya is very active in promoting sustainable energy achievements of his town: energy

As early as 1989, Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog installed the first wind turbines. Over the years they developed into an important economic factor for the small municipality located in the north of Germany. From the very beginning, most families in the community were part of this new investment. Today 47,5 MW of the total installation of 57,5 MW in wind power plants is owned by families of Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog. In 2009, citizens of the town used the photovoltaic technology for their own advantage,

Country: FranceInhabitants: 1.000Area: 19 km2

Photovoltaic: 15 kWSolar thermal: 4 m2

Solid biomass: 1.200 kWData collection: 2012

Country: GermanyInhabitants: 163Area: 13 km2

Photovoltaic: 2.134 kWSolar thermal: 104 m2

Wind: 57.500 kWData collection: 2014

efficiency and rationale use of public lightning, thermal renovation of public buildings, actions towards fuel poverty, solar thermal and photovoltaic...A 1.2 MW publicly owned boiler fuelled by wood-chip heats all municipal buildings, private houses and the local hospital. There are plans for the further connection of around forty low-energy consumption homes to be built on a future estate.Following the energy audit of all the buildings run by the town, each place of energy consumption has been identified and quantified. The first of a long list is the community centre, which has benefited from a complete thermal renovation. With the simple and cheap installation of astronomy clocks, the complete shutdown of public lighting from midnight to 5:00 is made. The town plans further improvement of energy efficiency by changing light bulbs and lamps.

too. Within a time span of only a few months 1,2 MW photovoltaic power were installed on the roofs – mainly on farms rooms. Within the next 2-3 years about 800 kW were added. The best practice of Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog shows two things: firstly, how strong ownership of renewable energy plants can strengthen citizens’ acceptance of a local energy transition. Secondly, the municipality has set a good example on how the local energy transition creates positive dynamics for the regional economy. Rather than providing a fruitful ground for external investors, renewable energy technologies can be employed in a way that maintains a flow of money and value creation for businesses and craftsmen within the region.

Tramayes: a municipal management focused on sustainability

Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke-Koog: ownership with passion

Biomass boiler in Tramayes © Tramayes

PV panels in Szarvas © www.szarvas.hu

POrtraIts OF FrOnt-rUnners

53> PORTRAITS OF FRONT-RuNNERS

The mayor of Bóly, József Hárs, has a degree in building engineering and is thus acquainted with the potentials and advantages of renewable energy technologies. He organised a team of four energy experts to rationalize the energy consumption and energy investments of the town. Nothing represents his merits better than the fact that he has been elected mayor six times and has been honored for his consequent work at developing the economy and infrastructure of the region. The leaders of the town started to plan and implement renewable energy systems in the year 2000. Today all of the public buildings in Bóly are heated by renewable energies. Most of them are supplied by

The municipality of Tacherting is located in District Traunstein, about 85 km east of Munich. The Eastern part of the municipal area is flown through by river Alz – the only outlet of the Chiemsee. Today Tacherting is covering more than 400% of its own electricity consumption by renewable energies. In 2010 and 2011 Tacherting ranked first in the German Solarbundesliga in the category of small cities.

Country: HungaryInhabitants: 3.970Area: 25 km2


Geothermal energy: 19 TJData collection: 2012

Country: GermanyInhabitants: 5.655Area: 50 km2

Photovoltaic: 9.825 kWSolar thermal: 4. 333 m2

Biogas: 2.156 kWHydro: 582 kWData collection: 2012

the geothermal heating system, which supplies the industrial park as well. Annually 800.000 m3 natural gas are saved. Several rooftop PV systems are installed on public buildings with a total capacity of 84 kW. The municipality does not only invest in renewable energy systems but also carried out a comprehensive retrofitting programme in public buildings. The investments of the town are based on a well-defined strategy and economic aspects. For new companies, the municipality lends offices in the industrial park for a symbolic fee to facilitate the start of new businesses, including in RES sector. In the past few years, 35 communities visited Bóly to get to know their experience in RES. The community organizes info days for the inhabitants regularly and lays special emphasis on the awareness raising in schools. The mayor of the town is frequently invited to events to present the success story of the city.

Next to photovoltaic energy, hydro power plays an important role in Tacherting. The first hydro plant was built already in the beginning of the 20th century, producing 8 MW of electricity for the municipality. The citizens of Tacherting are therefore used to renewable energy and understand its benefits. For Tacherting’s farmers solar energy and biogas represent a particularly good opportunity to earn an additional income. The same goes for the local authority of Tacherting itself: in six of 12 public buildings, photovoltaic systems have been installed. Thereby, the municipal authority is setting a positive example and is acting as a role model for potential other PV-users in Tacherting.

Bóly: a Hungarian frontrunner led by a mayor committed to renewables and innovation

Tacherting: electricity from renewables since early 20th century

Bóly source STS group © EKKE

Hydro power plant in Tacherting.

54

“All of Gaul (France) is under Roman (big energy utilities) control, except for one small village of indomitable Gauls (Le Mené) that still holds out against the Romans (aims at reaching full energy autonomy by 2030)”! Here Astérix the Gaul (hero of the famous French comic strip series) would be Jacky Aignel, president of Le Mené. The strategy of the region lays on 4 main areas: understand and accept his weaknesses and transform them into advantages; use the force of a strong culture of local development; create synergies with the civil and cooperative society, companies and citizens; mobilize local financing capacities to support profitable projects. After two years of studies (2004-2005), an action plan

The leadership of Szarvas committed to reduce the energy dependence of the city as much as possible. The capacity of the PV systems installed on public buildings reaches 88 kW. The heat supply of the public buildings is served by a geothermal district heating system since 1994. The energy strategy of the city contains the extension of the geothermal district heating system for public and residential buildings, installation of PV systems and the modernisation of public lighting. Information about the investments and plans of the city in the field of RES are regularly published on the website of the city. The community provided assistance for residents at the tender for solar thermal collectors within the framework of the Green Investment Scheme. The Szarvas Campus of the Szent István University plays an important role in the dissemination of information



Solid biomass: 540 kWBiogas: 1.600 kWBiofuel: 276.000 LWind: 5950 kWData collection: 2013

Country: HungaryInhabitants: 17.557Area: 161 km2


Biogas: 4.170 kWeGeothermal energy: 22 TJData collection: 2012

in 10 points was set up, including actions already started in the early 2000s. Local farmers and citizens developed: Géotexia, the first collective biogas unit in France, started in 2011; Menérgol, a cooperative producing rapeseed oil; Citéol, a wind park composed of 5 turbines with community participation; many solar photovoltaic installations already exist and are developed by private actors. The municipalities have developed wood heating plants and networks, as well as solar houses (“zero energy bills”). These concrete actions frame an economic development strategy, whose first visible achievement is a business incubator (low energy consumption building) dedicated to SMEs in the field of energy.

on RES. The largest and most modern biogas plant in Hungary with 4,17 MW of electrical power generation capacity has been put into operation in Szarvas. The plant processes more than 40,000 tonnes of waste from the local meat production and a further 53,000 tonnes of waste from the surrounding animal breeding and finishing operations (such as slurry and manure) a year. The region offers ideal conditions for the cultivation of renewable raw materials such as sweet sorghum as an additional energy source. Szarvas is not only a very attractive place for tourists but also for RES investors, a pellet producer company has just settled in the city. The city has its own energy plant species called „Szarvas-1”. The Agricultural Research and Development Institute P.U.C., Szarvas was among the first institutes in Europe, who began the breeding of grasses suitable for industrial utilization.

Le Mené: filled up with energy!

Szarvas: diverse use of renewables to fight energy dependence

Low energy business incubator in Le Mené © CLER, Yannick Régnier

PV panels in Szarvas © www.szarvas.hu


In its Climate Protection Mission Statement titled “It’s our responsibility” the village Wildpoldsried has decided unanimously in the city council to generate more renewable energy than is currently consumed and to reduce more CO

2 than is being emitted, by the

year 2020.In 2009, more than 300% of the entire electricity demand has been produced by a mix of wind, PV, biogas, and hydro power plants. In addition, one biomass heating plant already covered the entire heat demand of public buildings, and approximately 40% of private buildings. Therewith, the village has demonstrated convincingly that it is possible to switch its energy supply to a large extent to renewable energies within an impressive time

Taking actions against climate change and creating new jobs through renewable and decentralised energy projects is the motto of Mureck. In order to supply the municipality with energy produced from renewable sources, several local companies are involved. The Energy and Proteine Production Cooperative SEEG makes biodiesel from rapeseed produced by about 500 regional farmers (“from the field into the tank”), as well as from cooking oil that has been used by private households and restaurants (“from the pan into the tank”). Through a district heating system managed by Nahwärme Mureck GmbH, about 95% of Mureck’s total heat demand is covered with a 2 MW biomass

Country: GermanyInhabitants: 2.563Photovoltaic: 4.700 kWSolar thermal: 2.100 m2

Solid biomass: 4.800 kWtBiogas: 1.500 kWe + 1.300 kWtLarge Wind: 12.100 kWSmall hydro: 58 kWDeep geothermal energy: 40 kW Geothermal heat pump: 320 kWData collection: 2013

Country: AustriaInhabitants: 1.957Photovoltaic: 2.573 kWSolid biomass: 144 kWe + 5.000 kWtBiogas: 999 kWe + 1.165 kWtBiofuel: 7.000.000 LData collection: 2013

span of 10 years. For its commitments and achievements in the realm of climate protection the village has been given several prizes, among others the German Solar prize and the title “Climate Protection Community”. The successful implementation of projects like a local heating network, solar collective buying, pump replacement actions, free energy consultations and energy cooperatives has been driven by a strong participation of local actors and citizens. The ecological and participatory concept of Wildpoldsried has not only attracted many national and international visitor groups, but also various innovative businesses that support the energy visions of the village as well as the regional economic circulation.

heat boiler, waste heat from electricity generation and a 2 MW biogas peak load boiler (“from the forest into the living room”). The biogas plant generating per year 8.000 MWh of electricity as well as of heat, uses manure, renewable resources and by-products from biodiesel production. A 2.500 kW citizen photovoltaic plant consisting of an open area, roofing and a climate-friendly energy-generating glasshouse, where organic vegetables are grown, ensures the future electricity supply for the municipality‘s transport services. Globally, Mureck achieved a reduction of about 60.000 t of CO

2 and 20.000 t of crude oil per year.

Mureck‘s energy cycle system received many awards. Since 1998, Mureck has been a member of the Climate Alliance Austria and in 2007 it was named the most innovative Austrian municipality.

Wildpoldsried: “It’s our responsibility”

The energy cycle system of Mureck

The municipality of Wildpoldsried © Wildpoldsried

Biogas plant in Mureck © CAA

56

The mayor of Saint-Julien-Montdenis, Marc Tournabien, was thinking about energy autonomy for a while (back in the 90’s). When he was elected in 2008, he turned his will into reality, with several renewable energies and energy efficiency projects. In the last years, a 2 MW hydro plant and several medium photovoltaic plants were installed. Thanks to these latest installations, the whole region Cœur de Maurienne is supplied with electricity from renewable energy sources only. Now a new challenge is tackled: dealing with local electricity dispatching. Two projects are on-going: smart metering combined with load management and decentralised storage on batteries associated to PV units.How things happen so fast, in this small mountain village, based an initial political commitment? Just because all

In 2008, the municipality of Saerbeck decided by council act to switch its entire energy supply to renewable energies. This represented a major landmark for approaching Saerbeck’s ambitious goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030. Already at this time, one quarter of the community’s total CO

2 emissions could

be reduced, resulting in Saerbeck earning a top rank position in the NRW-Solarbundesliga as well as being given the European Energy Award and the German Solarprize in 2009. Saerbeck functions as a role model with the development of an “Integrated Climate Protection and Adaptation Concept” (IKKK). Three central flagship projects are included in the IKKK and have already



Medium hydro: 2.860 kWSmall wind: 10 kWData collection: 2013

Country: GermanyInhabitants: 7.155Photovoltaic: 22.360 kWSolar thermal: 980 m2

Small hydro: 60 kWSmall wind: 140 kWLarge wind: 36.200 kWGeothermal heat pump: 440 kWData collection: 2013

necessary competences were made available within the public-private territorial utility SOREA. SOREA was created in 2007 from the gathering of small existing municipal utilities, among others to develop hydro and solar projects. The mayor of Saint-Julien-Montdenis is a member of its board. Its headquarters, a smart building at passive house standard, is located in the village.Generally, inhabitants are friends of RES: many of them have installed solar thermal panels and wood heating systems. Saint-Julien-Montdenis is leading the way on energy for its region Cœur de Maurienne. May its example be a driving force for the whole territory on the way to full energy autonomy in the future!

been widely implemented. While “Saerbeck’s sunny sites” project focuses on investigating the potentials of energy efficiency improvements and renewables application in private and industrial buildings, “Saerbeckian insights – Renewables made transparent” project developed a glass-heating system supplying a local heating network that conveys the concept of renewables in an educative manner. Key element of the third project “Steinfurtian material flows – The circle is closing” represents the conversion of a former ammunition depot to a bioenergy park based on PV, wind and biogas plants. All these achievements and success stories could not have been realized without an important ingredient: the strong support of Saerbeck’s clubs and organisations, local churches, schools and educational facilities, and last not least its citizens.

Saint-Julien-Montdenis joins forces with local utility to take action

Saerbeck on its path to climate neutrality

Saint-Julien Montdenis PV plant © SOREA

Bio-energy park of Saerbeck © Saerbeck


Since the foundation of the Energy Park and the membership of Climate Alliance Austria in 1995, Bruck/Leitha has been continuously implementing projects on renewable energy self-sufficiency. One of the key factors for this positive trend is the strong partnership between the town and the Energy Park Bruck, the latter being the leading promoter of renewable energy sources in the entire surrounding region.So far, much has been achieved: the construction of a biomass district heating system and a wind farm consisting of five turbines (the first one in Austria), as well as of a biogas plant featuring an innovative biogas purification plant and the launch of ecoduna, an internationally known algae production system. This summer, photovoltaic panels will be installed

Comhairle-nan-Eilean-Siar (Western Isles) is a unitary authority with the major population centre in the Stornoway. It has a history of involvement in both RES given that many of the islands were off grid. Political buy-in has grown at both Council and Scottish Executive level since 1980’s, with a strong emphasis on realizing community benefit. Support is evidenced thus: Western Isles Alternative/Renewable Energy Partnership (WIAREP); Lead authority for ISLENET project; Energy Innovation Zone – facilitated by the Scottish Executive. Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has a sustainable energy action plan (SEAP) for the Outer Hebrides area through the ISLEPACT project from 2012. It developed a joint Carbon Management Plan with NHS Western Isles containing targets for carbon emissions reduction in operations – realizing a 25% reduction two years ahead of schedule. The SEAP is targeted to meet Scotland’s 2020 renewable roadmap (42% reduction in GHG emissions, 20% less energy demand and 80% of electricity, 11% of heat, 10% of transport energy via renewable energy sources. The Council operates

Country: AustriaInhabitants: 7.660Photovoltaic: 166 kWSolar thermal: 143 m2

Large wind: 9.000 kWSolid biomass: 10.000 kWthBiogas: 1.672 kWe + 1.672 kWthBiofuel: 100.000.000 LData collection: 2013

Country: ScotlandInhabitants: 26.000Photovoltaic: 70 kWGeothermal heat pump: 1.660 kWtSmall hydro: 154 kWWind: 21.500 kWSolid biomass: 220 kWe + 2.500 kWtData collection: 2013

on several town buildings. Even the refuse collection is solar-powered, including several solar-powered bins that increase the refuse capacity through compaction. In addition, a number of e-mobility-projects and awareness raising measures targeted at the citizens of Bruck/Leitha and the surrounding region Römerland Carnuntum - which is a Climate and Energy Model Region run by the Energy Park Bruck - are being implemented. Since 2005, the postgraduate MSc “Renewable Energy in CEE” has been taking place annually in Bruck/Leitha, promoting long-term scientific research in the field of renewable energy sources. The ingredients of success? A strong political commitment to tread new paths, mutual trust and cooperation across the political spectrum and a visionary, as well as a realistic approach.

both in partnership with the renewables industry, community and SSN whilst the communities and SME’s are engaged with organisations such as Community Energy Scotland and IEE.Across the islands there is substantial established renewables capacity however these are small in comparison to those in planning such as 129 MW (60,000 homes) joint venture at Lewis. However, not only is established technology installed; cutting edge systems include anaerobic digester (heat from organic waste), electric vehicles, 250 kW wind turbine facilitating the generation of hydrogen by hydrolysis, whilst the development of smart grid systems will enable effective utilization of the generating capacity.

A strong and successful partnership: Bruck An Der Leitha and Energy Park Bruck

Western Isles: proof that strong leadership and a vision can push the renewable agenda in remote communities

Biogas plant in Bruck an der Leitha © CAA

58

Renewable energy sources (RES) have been used for more than hundred years in Kötschach-Mauthen, an alpine municipality in southern Carinthia. At the end of the 19th century, the first small hydro power plant was built here and supplied the local citizens with electricity. In the following 115 years, 21 small and medium hydro power plants, three ecologically dammed mountain lakes and a wind power plant were added. A biogas plant, various solar thermal systems, PV-installations and three biomass district heating systems followed. The local energy supplier Alpine Adria Energy (AAE) started to sell electricity generated by small hydro power plants to more than 17,000 private clients. By joining Climate Alliance Austria and the e5-network in 2008/2009, the municipality complemented its commitment to RES.

In Furth, solar energy is used for over 40 years. The solar radiation is slightly over average but there is no exploitable hydropower and no suitable site for wind power. In 1996, renewable energies were officially incorporated into the community development strategy and civic participation was promoted. Every decision made was in favour of renewable instead of fossil energies.Also in 1996, one of Bavaria’s first local heating supply systems was established in Furth. This system was supplemented by combined heat and power with wood gas. Later, other smaller wood chip and pellet plants were added to supply individual houses, groups of

Country: AustriaInhabitants: 3.409Area: 155 km2

Photovoltaic: 140 kWSolar thermal: 1.372 m2

Solid biomass: 4.282 kWBiogas: 750 kWe + 500 kWtSmall wind: 500 kWSmall hydro: 4.200 kWMedium hydro: 4.800 kWGeothermal heat pump: 225 kWData collection: 2014

Country: GermanyInhabitants: 3.500Area: 20,97 km2

Photovoltaic: 5.000 kWSolar thermal: 3.000 m2

Wood gas: 2 x 45 kWe + 2 x 100 kWthBiogas: 270 kWe + 270 kWthSolid biomass: 800 kWData collection: 2014

The local association “RES self-sufficient Kötschach- Mauthen” comprises local politicians, energy experts, companies, citizens and one manager. Its aim is to improve and implement important RES projects and raise awareness for climate protection issues in the local authority and the region. A few examples: RES learning garden, hydro and solar model power plants for visitors (guided tours), change of heating systems, energy actions days (for further details, visit www.energieautark.at).More than 90% of the total energy demand is met by RES, all sectors included: electricity (almost 400%), heat and mobility - the latter being the biggest challenge for the future.

houses or companies with heat. The use of heat pumps in private houses without connection to the district’s heating system has been increased. The municipal share of renewable heat supply is at about 80%. In addition, a municipal agency advises citizens on how to save energy, how to refurbish their homes and heating systems and how to integrate more efficient electronic products. Municipal buildings are energetically refurbished and new buildings almost reach or achieve passive house standard. Almost all municipal buildings are heated with renewables and where possible, roofs were equipped with PV systems. Due to its early transition to renewable energies as well as other important activities, 30,000 people have visited Furth in the past years.

Kötschach-Mauthen: a pioneer of renewable energies

Furth bei Landshut sets an example for strong civic support of renewables

PV guided tour in Kötschach-Mauthen © CAA

Municipality of Furth bei Landshut © Furth bei Landshut


The sound intuition of Attert, a small village near the Luxembourg border, was to initiate a territorial collaboration with its foreign neighbour - the county of Redange - on energy issues. This dynamic led both regions to win a first European project. Four years later, there are four. “Au pays de l’Attert” is the energy locomotive of the village. Initiated by the municipality, the NGO employs 4 people dedicated to energy. It informs citizens, realizes analyses and feasibility studies, runs EU projects and facilitates the realization of RES projects such as the heat district network for Attert’s administrative buildings. Since 2008, the municipality and its NGO organize conferences, dedicated trainings, courses in schools and on-site

For more than 20 years, the town of St. Johann im Pongau in the state of Salzburg has been strongly engaged in sustainable politics. The local authority has always involved local stakeholders (politicians, citizens, schools and kindergartens, enterprises). In 1998, St. Johann joined Climate Alliance Austria and a few years later the e5-network.In 2011, the local authority agreed on a RES roadmap. Its target is to reach RES self-sufficiency by 2020 in the sectors electricity, heat, sustainable transport and mobility by enhancing energy efficiency in all sectors, increasing energy production from local RES, developing sustainable transport and mobility systems and involving local enterprises and the strong tourism sector.

Country: BelgiumInhabitants: 5.000Area: 70 km2


Solid biomass: 972 kWBiogas: 774 kWe + 1.984 kWtGeothermal heat pump: 137 kWData collection: 2014

Country: AustriaInhabitants: 10.745Area: 78 km2

Photovoltaic: 420 kWSsolar thermal: 7.130 m2

Solid biomass: 12.300 kWSmall hydro: 1.080 kWMedium hydro: 32.200 kWGeothermal heat pump: 450 kWData collection: 2014

visits in order to help households invest in their RES and energy efficiency, while educating tomorrow’s adults. To act on the financial constraints, Attert is setting a citizen investment fund based on a local currency. Less wealthy households are also considered as personalized advice is given for free by the NGO. To reach their 100% RES target, Attert sought to structure its actions and join the Covenant of Mayors. Its SEAP includes several projects, some of them - like the creation of transborder wood supply chain- are already under finalization. “Here, the major challenge is to help households retrofit their houses and reduce their energy needs. It’s the only way to reach our 34 % CO2 reduction goal by 2020” says Kevin Mathu, coordinator of the SEAP team.

Many projects have already been implemented. A representative sample includes:• Public buildings: eco-electricity for schools,

kindergartens and sports facilities, citizen participation for PV installations and small hydro power plants, energy accounting, LED public lighting, biomass district heating for all public buildings;

• Urban planning: town centre revitalisation measures, integrated shopping centre, subsidies for private solar panels, PV installations and biomass heating;

• Mobility: city bus, free e-bike rental system for citizens;• Communication: Energy Days (RES Day, Mobility

Week...), regular coverage of RES topics in the local magazine.

Attert shows the way

St. Johann im Pongau aims at becoming energy self-sufficient by 2020

The village of Attert © Commune de Boevange-Attert

Energy efficient school © CAA

60

Alheim is a rural municipality located in the centre of Germany’s “Pro Region for the Central Fulda Valley” and belongs to the District Hersfeld-Rotenburg.In 1997, Alheim began a new forward-looking and citizen-orientated era under the motto “Daring to be more democratic” to enable the community to meet its responsibilities towards future generations by using sustainable thinking, planning and action. Today, the pillars that support the structure of the community are: the revolution in social energy policy, economic development, sustainable education for young and old, networking between generations, and the creation of the ZuBRA Region for Energy, Health and Education -

Wishing to show commitment in the struggle against global warming, the Thouarsais territory has developed a real dynamism concerning energy and greenhouse gas emissions in an attempt to turn this challenge into a vector of economic and social development in the north of Deux-Sèvres department. Since 2007, 70% of the 125 projects included in the sustainable energy action plan have already been carried out. It concerns all sectors: communities, companies, craftsmen, farmers... The result (35.000 teq of CO

2 saved in 5 years) is the

fruit of everybody’s involvement, with communities first and foremost in setting the example. The region takes the lead in a real development policy favoring local production based on various energy sources.

Country: GermanyInhabitants: 5.100Area: 64 km2


Small hydro: 8 kWBiogas: 765 kWe + 765 kWthData collection: 2014



Solid biomass: 4.090 kWBiogas: 3.820 kWe + 3.500 kWtWind: 36.000 kWSmall wind: 2 kWHydro: 110 kWData collection: 2014

a cooperative effort between the communes of Bebra, Rotenburg a.d. Fulda and Alheim.Alheim’s goal to launch measures that will make its territory energy self-sufficient by the year 2030 has created great dynamics in practice – particularly in the realm of education and renewable energy installations. In this way, processes have been set in motion, which are both sustainable and quite exemplary. For instance, at the Kirchner Solar Group company, more than 150 new jobs have been created, plus additional ones through the operation of the biogas plant, Alheim Biopower Civil Law Association. Notably, the biogas plant does not only produce electricity but also supplies thermal energy at low cost via a local heating plant to the businesses nearby. This has led to a huge location advantage.

Projects are multiplying, from the individual pellet wood boiler to the collective wood heating networks, from “CAPTER” methanization (500 kW) to the centralized methanization unit “TIPER” (3 MW) grouping around 50 farmers, small wind turbines in enterprises to the 36 MW wind park, from photovoltaic installations for individuals to the photovoltaic roof of a supermarket and also a plan for a free field PV plant with a capacity of 10 MW. The combination of all these infrastructures has made it possible today to cover 35% of the building sector’s needs (heating, specific electricity, hot water). Today, all the projects associated to the dynamic of consumption reduction have opened the path to turn the Thouarsais territory into a positive energy territory.

Alheim: daring to be more democratic and renewable

Thouarsais territory: a local development policy for energy autonomy

Educating children in a playful way about energy that comes from the sun. © Alheim

Wind park in Thouarsais countryside © CC du Thouarsais


The informal Union of Primiero and Vanoi consists of 8 communities with around 10,000 inhabitants in the province of Trent. It is one of the “Comuni 100% Rinnovabili” thanks to a mix of 5 renewable technologies – being connected to a public and local electricity grid as well as to a district heating network, they are able to meet 100% of the total consumption of the two valleys. The electricity grid is 374 km in length, of which 120 km is medium voltage and 254 km is low voltage. This grid is connected to 9 hydroelectric stations for a combined 145 MW, 4 MW photovoltaic

Kněžice (80 km from Prague) is the only village in the Czech Republic, which is de facto energy self-sufficient thanks to a bioenergy centre, which consists of a biogas plant with CHP (330 kWe and 405 kWth) and a biomass heating plant (two boilers 800+400 kW on wood chips and straw). This technology supplies with heat over 90% of the population and produces significantly more electricity than the village consumes, allowing its sale. For a village without sewer, a bet on biogas solves also the problem of organic waste processing. The centre operated by municipality produces pellets for heating of houses in the area.

Country: ItalyInhabitants: 10.000Photovoltaic: 4.000 kWSolar thermal: 966 m2

Solid biomass: 10.700 kWe + 30.000 kWthLarge hydro: 145.000 kWSmall hydro: 170 kWData collection: 2014

Country: Czech RepublicInhabitants: 508Area: 22 km2

Solar thermal: 6 m2

Solid biomass: 1.200 kWBiogas: 330 kWe + 405 kWthData collection: 2012

systems, a cogeneration biomass plant, and three micro hydroelectric systems with an output of 80, 55 and 35 kW that are connected to the public power network. The 45 km long district heating network is hooked up to two electrical cogeneration biomass plants - with an output of 22 MW and 1 MW – which is able to guarantee the people of the Union a 20% savings on their bill as compared to the rates set by the authorities. Moreover, through the “Green Way Primiero” project, the Union of Municipalities aims at innovating on both the production and the consumption system. For example, this may take place through the installation of 16 recharging points distributed over the territory and able to power 17 electrical utility vehicles.

The total investment amounted 5 million €. The village has managed to get 3 million € from the European Regional Development Fund 400 000€ from State Environmental Fund. Return of remaining amount, which it had to pay from its sources, is around 15 years. The village has also won the Czech solar award from EUROSOLAR and begins to promote its journey in a new information centre in the former mill. It also leads micro-region of five municipalities, which have signed the Covenant of Mayors and developed a joint sustainable energy action plan (with the common commitment to save 45 % of CO

2 emissions compared to 2005). The SEAP

was approved recently. Motor of events - mayor Milan Kazda - heads a forming national club RURENER.Kněžice shared its vision and experience at the European Parliament hearing on 21st March 2014 and got the largest spontaneous applause.

Primiero and Vanoi valley: already 100% RE for electricity and heat!

Energy self-sufficient village Kněžice

Municipalities of Primiero i Vanoi have a fleet of electric vehicles © Legambiente

Excursion at biogas plant in Kněžice © CITYPlan

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Since its establishment in 2007, the municipality Šentrupert has been actively investing in local energy supply. After adopting a local energy concept, they started to increase general awareness and energy literacy of consumers, named energy manager and started on implementation of different measures based on energy efficiency and introduction of new energy solutions. One great achievement was the first fully wooden energy efficient kindergarten in Slovenia. In 2014 the boiler room in the prison complex Dob was launched. “Residents” are now heated by local renewable energy source - wood chips. In summer also a cogeneration unit driven by wood chips was put into

Alba Iulia became a signatory of the Covenant of Mayors in 2010 and year after year, important steps have been made towards the target of reducing the CO

2 emissions by at least 24% by 2020. To decrease the

energy consumption by 21% and to increase the use of renewable energy sources were also set as targets for Alba Iulia. In 2013, the city has installed 250 kW of photovoltaic panels on 4 public buildings. Meanwhile, more than 4,000 photovoltaic panels were added and the total capacity now in place is around 1,250 kW. New biomass heating systems with a total capacity of 820 kW were installed. The area of the solar thermal panels also increased to 50 m2. The Consultancy Council was created

Country: SloveniaInhabitants: 2.806Area: 42 km2


Solid biomass: 250 kWe + 3.730 kWtData collection: 2014

Country: RomaniaInhabitants: 58.000Area: 103 km² Photovoltaic: 1.250 kWSolar thermal: 50 m²Solid biomass: 820 kWData collection: 2014

service. This will save up to 200,000 € per year. The third phase of the system is related to the construction of greenhouses to produce 3.000 tons of tomatoes yearly on an area of 5 hectares and will provide 50 new jobs for prisoners. In September 2014, the sustainable energy action plan was confirmed by the members of Šentrupert municipal council. The objective is to reduce CO2 emissions by 20 % by 2020. The municipality was rewarded with the award En.Občina012 for the most energy efficient municipality in 2012 and the award En.Občina014 for the most energy efficient small municipality and became the absolute winner.

to support the projects and actions related to RES and energy efficiency. An important project, financed by IEE, was CONURBANT which was implemented in Alba Iulia and in four neighboring communities and common actions have been launched for all local entities: efficient public lightening, sustainable public transport, energy efficiency in the schools of the communities. Other projects also having Alba Iulia as beneficiaries is BUMP (Boosting Urban Mobility Plan) with the goal to support the local authorities in developing sustainable urban mobility plans. Alba Iulia hosts, every year, important annual events such as Intelligent Energy Days, ECOol Campaign, Green Fashion Show and contests on energy topics in schools.

The vision of Šentrupert on energy self-sufficiency put it at forefront

Alba Iulia municipality: steps to energy efficiency and RES

Biomass cogeneration plant in Šentrupert © SE-F

Aerial view of Alba Iula

eUrOPean netwOrks

• The Covenant of Mayors is the mainstream European movement involving local and regional authorities, voluntarily committing to increasing energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources on their territories.http://www.covenantofmayors.eu

• 100% RES Communities movement aims at promoting regional approaches towards 100% renewable energy as the new normal.http://www.100-res-communities.eu

• The RES Champions League is a positive renewable energy competition between European local authoritieshttp://www.res-league.eu/

• Rurener is the network of small rural communities for energy neutralityhttp://fr.rurener.eu/

• To our sunny colleague Jade Charouk

steps towards 100% renew able energy at local level in … · cler, network for the energy...

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