Associated measures supported under the THERMIE programme (1990-1994)
Associated measures supported under the European Community's programme for the promotion of energy technology in Europe (1990-1994), otherwise known as the THERMIE programme, were designed to help technologies penetrate new markets and achieve more widespread application. To this end, the Commission set up a network of Organizations for the Promotion of Energy Technologies (OPET) which came into operation in January 1991. The OPET network, which included some 50 organizations from both the public and private sectors, offered access to over 2,500 experts from a variety of disciplines including energy, engineering, economics and marketing. The OPET were responsible for the implementation of approximately 85% of the associated measures. Over the four years of the THERMIE programme, about 4,000 promotional actions, with an average annual budget of ECU 25 million, were launched to promote new and efficient energy technologies. These actions included: - Market studies of specific technologies and industrial sectors; - The organization of international seminars to inform senior decision makers about innovative energy technologies; - Hosting workshops with carefully targeted participants; - Participation in the most important European, national and regional energy-related exhibitions and fairs; - The production of a wide range of publications including market studies, proceedings, newsletters, videos and press articles. As a follow up to these activities, a call for proposals was launched on 15 December 1995 in order to set up a new OPET network which will ensure the promotion of energy technologies supported by the JOULE/THERMIE programme (OJ No S 240 of 15.12.95 p. 29).