Regional and urban energy planning in the European Union
The European Commission has published an invitation to submit proposals in support of its regional and urban energy policy. The main objective of the Community's activities in regional and urban energy planning is to improve energy management by making the most of local energy resources, particularly of renewable sources, and by improving energy efficiency. The policy is seeking optimum energy supply conditions for regions and urban areas, thereby contributing to their development and to the protection of their environment, particularly for towns. This objective is in keeping with the priorities which the European Union has set itself for the years ahead. It will contribute to better integration of the Community energy market, greater economic and social cohesion, reduced regional disparity and an improvement in the environment and the quality of life. This action is intended to complement other Community energy programmes and provide a model for other regions or towns and cities outside the EU. The activities which are eligible for support include: - Feasibility studies on specific investment projects: . These studies must cover all the technical, environmental, economic, financial, legal and institutional matters to be dealt with prior to a specific energy investment planned by public or semi-public authorities, or regional or local public bodies exercising responsibility for energy policy at that level; . All the projects to be studied must have been clearly identified in a previous energy plan for each of the regions, towns or cities concerned (whether or not funded by the EU) or in a development plan officially approved at national, regional or local level; . Only the following subjects will be covered: Harnessing of new and renewable energy sources (including energy production from waste); Energy management (including the rational use of energy, energy efficiency, energy saving and combined heat and power generation); - Assistance in setting up local and regional agencies concerned in part or in whole with energy management. Each proposal of this type must include the following: .A work programme covering a minimum of three years for implementation of specific projects on harnessing renewable energy sources (including waste) and energy management (including combined heat and power generation). The first stage of this programme will be to produce energy balances and energy plans for regions, cities or towns still without them; . A forward financial plan for a period of three years; . A declaration from the proposers that: they undertake to pursue specific objectives and that a clear cost-benefit analysis will be submitted; that they do not already have specialist energy departments or agencies; and that they undertake to set up such agencies and to provide them with sufficiently experienced staff. The priority areas for the studies are as follows: - Geographical priorities: . Frontier regions, cities or towns close enough to generate joint energy projects with a view to more rational use of local energy resources and systems; . Outlying, rural or isolated regions and towns or cities in such regions, particularly where they display considerable potential in terms of renewable energy sources and energy saving (including combined heat and power generation) or a sharp increase in energy consumption (heating, air conditioning, etc.); . Regions, cities or towns facing serious environmental conservation problems; . Regions, cities or towns facing serious economic conversion problems. - Other priorities: . Proposals bringing together more than three regions, cities or towns from different Member States, provided the activities are shared evenly between them, particularly projects involving regions, cities or towns which have already conducted the exercise in the fields covered, with a view to transferring expertise and technologies and to achieving economies of scale; . Proposals including a study of the impact on socio-economic development and on the environment of energy management, particularly in terms of improving living conditions and combating factors leading to exclusion in underprivileged sectors; . Proposals where energy planning will figure in, or will be connected with, plans, in particular for towns, aiming at sustainable development. The Commission is able to grant up to a maximum of 40% of total cost in support of the proposals selected, up to a maximum of ECU 300,000 per proposal. Further information and documentation is available from: European Commission DG XVII Regional and Urban Energy Planning 226-236 avenue de Tervuren B-1150 Brussels Fax 32-2-2955843