Green Choice (Interregional IVC project)
Green Choice project focuses on regional policies and practices for rational energy consumption and public transportation in order to achieve sustainable development.
Green Choice addresses issues and challenges of project partners and highlights barriers, where it turns out not to be single or a better way to achieve a good result in all Union territories and it is necessary to involve all local stakeholders - public authorities, entrepreneurship energy- and development organizations, research and educational institutions working in a logical territorial marketing.
The project's specific objectives are:
• exchange of knowledge and good practice according to identified 4 axes:
a. Trends towards a low carbon economy
b. Increasing education, knowledge and awareness
c. rd Identifying and clarifying the mechanisms for simulation of public / private investment
d. Implementation of sustainable solutions for local public transport
• Designing common strategic guidelines and develop a common method to improve local policies, views on "green" issues. Results thereof is to adapted and transferred to each region
• involving all key stakeholders in project activities and raise awareness
• establish 13 regional implementation plans, including Denmark, focusing on how to integrate experiences and implement at their own local policies
• test the method in 2 of the partners areas, which comes early in the project.
• set the foundation for future cooperation involving other ongoing EU network as
Green Choice covers a broad EU's geographical area involving 14 partners from 13 different nations: 3 Regional Authorities (Ireland, Greece, Spain) and 3 local authorities (Italy, Denmark, Estonia), are directly responsible to the regional / local policies for Energy and Transport, 3 associations of local authorities (Latvia, Portugal, France) representing a large number of local authorities, 4 in relation to development and innovation agencies (Italy, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania) and 1 University Technology Park (United Kingdom ) in close connection with its own policy makers.
The project is planned for three years and begins in early January 2012.
The project is forwarded to the EU on 1 April and awaiting a reply from EU.
BENEFIT (Interregional IVC project)
This project deals with experiences of good practices, methods, systems and resources to improve the energy performance of buildings in Europe and promotion of energy efficient buildings in Europe in 2020 and beyond. (Directive 2002/91/EC). The project also aims Promoting sustainable investment and job creation, often in small and medium sized enterprises throughout Europe. More energy efficient buildings provide better living conditions and saves money for all citizens.
The overall objective of the proposed project is to contribute to exchange experiences and good practices and build knowledge for effective adoption / facilitation of the establishment / modification of policies regarding the energy performance of buildings as a public strategy to contribute to a sustainable development in Europe.
The project aims to:
• Explore (identify, analyze, exchange) current ongoing energy efficiency policies.
• Analyze, identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the policies and measures concerning the implementation of the prepared on energy buildings in the EU.
• Establish methods, tools and networks for sharing and exchanging knowledge and information.
• Disseminate project results and experiences and good practices among project partners, other regions and EU members.
• Explore, identify, build consensus on policies and framework conditions that can contribute to effective execution / implementation of the prepared directive on energy efficiency in buildings.
• Establish a European, multilingual, freely available knowledge and experience base.
• Provide guidance and training opportunities to support implementation of policy changes and increase consensus to adopt relevant measures.
The project is planned for three years and begins in early January 2012.
The project is forwarded to the EU on 1 April and awaiting a reply.
Sun (phase 2)
The sun is our largest and also most untapped energy source. This fact in relation to a global reflection of climate change and steadily rising energy makes demand on tomorrow’s big solar bet.
The Partnership's motive for the investment project SOLEN (Scandinavia Solar Energy Network) is to provide solar energy the "kick-start". This is achieved through innovative cooperation, which will increase visibility and opportunities for investing in solar power installations in Scandinavia. The project "SOLEN" is drawn from the recommendations indicated in the report on the European as well as national and regional / municipal bodies, and an identified need for Scandinavian cooperation.
Do we have enough sunshine?
The answer to this question is a crucial prerequisite for the project investment. First of all counts partnership with stakeholders who are geographically located with the most sunshine hours in Scandinavia such as Halland (SE) or Skagen, Morsø (DK). But the strongest motive is that Germany and Austria, two front-EU countries in solar energy, has the same number of sunshine hours as the EAC region (Öresund - Skagerrak region). This indicates that the basic conditions for increasing use and growth in solar power is present also in Scandinavia.
What does the EU on solar power and growth potential?
Under the EU's new growth strategy, Europe 2020 is an important initiative of a resource efficient Europe, with the goal of a greener growth. The European Commission talks about the next great industrial revolution, a solar revolution.
Solar assists with electricity and heat supply and create more growth and many new jobs. According to The VINNOVA Report "Hottest on the market" solar power has markets, the potential to develop into one of the world's strongest growth areas, and the European solar industry expected to grow by 40% annually.
How it looks at solar energy in Scandinavia?
In Denmark there is a clear statement and a specific desire for generating a "kick-start" in solar energy.
Sweden's energy policies propose additional 85 million DKK in support for solar / cell during the period 2011 to 2012 and in Norway shows Enova's report "New potential for solar energy report" to the need for improved knowledge and good role model project. It is also ambitious environmental targets at national / regional and municipal level in accordance with the 2020 strategy throughout the border region.
A limitation regional scene
The answers to these questions have emerged from the partnership's needs - and business intelligent design of the project idea and shows the need for common and major operations in favor of solar energy. SOLEN provides a concrete contribution to all three countries' intentions at national level and project collaboration delivers more power if it is performed in concert and would thus be beneficial for the entire border region's sustainable economic development.
The innovation project "SOLEN" is the Scandinavian collaboration and project industry focus. Through collaboration with multiple stakeholders, networks and communication channels, a wider knowledge and above all, opportunities for development, the power of the project will increase, and the project will make a big difference.
The Partnership has designed “SOLEN” to avoid barriers to industry development and demonstrate that solar energy is a renewable energy source with great potential to increase sustainable economic growth in line with the EAC program goals.
On 20th September the project partners, consisting of Danish, Swedish and Norwegian partners, forwarded an application to the EU for the project “SOLEN” and a reply is expected at the end of 2011. With a positive commitment from the EU the projects various phases will be launched in January 2012 and ends at the end of December 2014.