MORE4NRG, Regions are boosting green growth: The examples of Prahova and Gabrovo

Brussels (B), 26 March 2010

A MORE4NRG workshop was organised today in relation to the Sustainable Energy Week - an initiative from the European Commission that aims to highlight best regional practices in the field of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.


"Bringing together 11 partner regions* from all over Europe as well as the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the MORE4NRG project aims to develop sustainable energy solutions while highlighting the importance of regional action in this area. Regions certainly play a crucial role in the exchange of good practices in the field of energy, and through their know-how they contribute to boosting green growth not only at the local but also national and European levels", said Anne Bliek, Chair of the MORE4NRG Monitoring Board and deputy Queen’s Commissioner in the province of Flevoland (NL).

The objective of the seminar was to highlight the results of the peer reviews conducted in the regions of Prahova (RO) and Gabrovo (BG). Recommendations from these audits must be now imperatively analysed by the authorities of the two regions and translated into appropriate action plans.

In order to improve energy efficiency within its territory, the region must first assess the consumption of energy in different public and private utilities such as factories, services and public buildings. The energy audit should serve as a departing point for any new reliable and effective regional energy strategy. Once the energy audit is done, appropriate energy efficiency measures should be quickly implemented where important energy profits can be released at relatively low price.

Conclusions of the Prahova energy audit

• Putting in place measures to support the use of sustainable energy sources such as green certificates or preferential tariffs.
  
  
• Establishment of public-private partnerships (PPP) in the area of research and innovation
  
  
• Evaluation of the regional potential to produce geothermal energy. The region extracts significant quantities of fossil fuels such as coal: it would be wise to use the existing drilling sites to capture the heat of the earth, which is an abundant source of non-pollutant energy.
  
  
• Increasing use of the European funds to support green economies, such as INTERREG, 7th Framework Programme for research and technological development (FP7) or ELENA (new financial instrument established jointly by the European Commission and European Investment Bank).

Conclusions of the Gabrovo energy audit:

•  Within the enterprises, it is very important to make sure that the leaders are well informed so that they can teach the employees everything regarding the defence of energy efficiency.
  
  
• Promote the establishment of PPPs in order to foster the implementation of renewable energy sources and energy services in public premises.
  
  
• Create a local energy agency as a link among all relevant stakeholders and to support the implementation of the regional energy policy.
  
  
• Implementing a mechanism to benefit the joint use of local and foreign capital, obtaining a multiplication effect (WGr).

AER is a network that allows its members to share their experiences and best practices. Following these purposes, this seminar has served as an opportunity to strengthen the main role of the regions for the establishment of a well performed energy policy in Europe. Today, with the current Europe 2020 strategy, it is particularly important for regions to play their role as main actors in order to successfully implement the European policies.


* Flevoland (NL) – lead partner, Abruzzo (I), Gabrovo (BG), Lazio (I), Maramures (RO), Noord-Brabant (NL), Norrbotten (S), Patras Science Park (GR), Prahova (RO), Valencia (E) and Västernorrland (S).

Note: next peer reviews will take place in the regions of Abruzzo (I) and Western Greece (GR) in June 2010.



MORE4NRG is an INTERREG IVC project to strengthen the delivery of regional strategies for renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by exchanging best practices on sustainable energy policies and jointly developing an integrated monitoring tool for measuring the effect of regional sustainable energy strategies. www.more4nrg.eu

The Assembly of European Regions (AER – aer.eu) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together more than 270 regions from 33 countries and 16 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional co-operation.

AER Contacts:
Press: Francine Huhardeaux, Press and Communications Officer - Tel: +33 3 88 22 74 49
Committee ‘Economy and Regional development (1): Justyna Podralska, Policy Coordinator - Tel:  +33 3 68 46 00 82