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C O N F E R E N C E P R O G R A M M EP A N E L 1 b - R E S A T R E G I O N A L A N D L O C A L L E V E LPanel 1b:RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES DEPLOYMENTAT REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL - FROM DEPENDENCYTO SECURITY OF SUPPLY: HOW FAR AND FAST CANREGIONS IMPROVE THEIR ENERGY MIX?Europe’s regions and their local communities are closestto the final energy consumer. When it comes to renewableenergy sources, the work of regional authorities andmunicipalities is therefore of outstanding importance.Due to their decentralised nature, many renewable energytechnologies are closer to the end consumer than conventionalenergy technologies and can therefore be particularlywell promoted on both regional and local levels.Furthermore, they represent an excellent opportunity forwealth creation in urban and remote areas through thecreation of jobs and income for the local population.In order to further promote renewable energy sourcesand demand management, integrated energy planningat local and regional level, incorporating a mix of legal,regulatory, financial, communication and trainingmeasures are necessary. Many regions in Europealready apply such an integrated approach which contributesto increasing the security of supply and minimizesthe external energy dependence. This is especiallyrelevant in times of liberalization of energy markets,where the decentralized approach is gaining in importance.An increasing number of representative casesare emerging in Europe, leading to substantially highRES shares, even designed to reach 100% of local energysupply and, resulting from this, to the stimulation ofthe local/regional economy, while improving the environment.Cross-border cooperation between regions ofdifferent countries of the European Union and itsAccession States has brought forward fruitful synergyeffects, promoting best-practice and sharing lessonslearnedtowards a common objective.In recent years, the European Commission has beenplacing an increased emphasis on capacity building atregional and local level, through the creation of regionaland local energy agencies. The first agencies dateback to the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nowadays, theCommission is working with around 250 local andregional energy agencies spread all over Europe, withthe objective of developing and implementing a combinedenergy efficiency and renewable energy strategyfor their respective fields of activity.10This session will illustrate the importance of actions atregional and local level for the development of renewableenergy sources. It will give an overview of the key lessonslearnt on the basis of examples collected from all overEurope. It will also address challenges, barriers and waysforward and, finally, it will discuss the impact of existingpolicy frameworks and put forward suggestions for futureaction at Community level.How does a high share of Renewable EnergySources at regional and local level contributeto job creation and economic growth?Renewable Energy is an alternative economicactivity in rural areas whose development islagging behind and in declining industrialareas – what are the reasons for success?Which Renewable Energy technologies aremost successful in these areas and whichtechnologies are unexpectedly left behind?What are the main barriers / stimulating factorsfor RES development at regional and local level?What recommendations and hints for successcan be derived from existing initiatives?What sort of Community intervention andpromotion would be appropriate duringthe next 5 years as the basis for a future“European Public Awareness Campaign?”REGIONAL ENERGY PLANSTHE CASE OF NAVARRA (SPAIN)The region of Navarra is located on the westernmost partof the Pyrenees, on the border with France. It has a populationof 550,000 inhabitants, and is counted among thepioneers of Europe in wind energy development. TheNavarra Energy Plan (1995-2000) paved the way to supplying40% of the region’s electricity needs in 2000 from windenergy –nearly double the original target. In 2002, installedrenewable energy capacity produced 55% of the electricityconsumed. This boost was achieved by the clear objectivesof the regional Energy Plan, broad social acceptance ofwind energy facilities, and private promoters.The Navarra Energy Plan Targets for 2005 foresees yetagain a doubling of RES electricity capacity, includingthe doubling of wind installed capacity and expansion insolar photovoltaic and solar thermal generation – aimingtowards a 97% green electricity coverage by 2005.
C O N F E R E N C E P R O G R A M M EPanel 1c:PAVING THE WAY TOWARDS 100 % RE BASED COMMU-NITIES & ISLANDS: UTOPIA OR AMBITIOUS REALITY?Modern societies are seeking to implement integrateddevelopment models and infrastructure that will accommodatesocial and economic requirements and expectations,respect the environment and that will be sustainable.The integration of all these, sometimes conflicting, elementsis a complex issue and calls for the guidance providedby successful examples of a manageable size, and thatcan point the way forward for larger units. Local energycommunities can pioneer the application of the integratedmeasures which are required to attain our global commitmentsand, as a result, become excellence-models for thedissemination of such concepts around Europe. An increasingnumber of communities in Europe are committed toreach renewable energy shares which go far beyond the EUglobal objectives: they do not speak of 12% RES share, butare working to achieve 100% Renewable Energy supply.Islands and isolated rural communities, particularly in theremote or outermost regions of Europe are at present highlychallenging laboratories for the development of 100% RESsolutions, due to their scale, highly costly or lack of conventionalresources, abundance of renewable resources, needof future energy reliability and the environmental and economicimpacts caused by importing conventional energy.Communities and islands aiming towards 100% RES aretoday facing the double challenge of firstly having to consolidatetheir recently attained achievements, and secondly todemonstrate that they have the capacity to contribute to thelarge-scale deployment of renewables at a European level.In Europe some pioneer Communities have shown theway and through the Campaign for Take-Off, a number ofpilot communities - regions, cities and islands, which aimat 100% renewable energy supply, have become Partnerswith the European Commission. These should serve ascredible pacemakers showing to other communities theright way to achieve large-scale development of 100% RESprojects. Their initiatives and strategies represent in manyrespects the most successful future energy policies basedon renewables. They serve as essential references in thesearch for solutions to the complex problems and challengesbrought by technological innovation, favourablemarkets, appropriate regulations and social participationand facilitate the consolidation of renewables-based scenarios.This session will present the policies and experiencesof rural and island communities in the EU from awide range of different perspectives, and the discussionswill focus on those aspects which could form the basis forfuture actions aimed at building on their successes. Theaim will be to explore how best to use the existing actionsand experiences in the future, and if necessary to adaptthem in order to make them attractive to larger communities,particularly in urban areas.RAISING AWARENESS AMONG LOCALAUTHORITIES OF ISLANDS:Starting from the 1 st European Conference onSustainable Island Development in 1997, a completelynew approach was boosted to raiseawareness of public authorities and citizens, promoteactive inter-island co-operation and reinforceexchange of islander experience in findingintegrated concepts towards sustainabledevelopment. The specificity of island issues hasbeen a constant element of reflection in moststakeholder meetings on European level and hasbeen subject to inter-island agreements. TheDeclarations of Palma de Majorca (1999), Azores(2000), Cagliari (2001), Chania (2001) and Crete(2003) have illustrated the necessity of joint initiativesand action and have put a clear focus onsustainable island development, therein particularlyreinforcing the importance of renewableenergy development.What are the success factors to achieve100% Renewable Energy supply?How to face intermittency in supplyand how to face seasonal demand?How to reconcile energy supply with demandin a tourist oriented economy, or a farmingbased economy?What are the main barriers/stimulatingfactors for RES deployment on islandsand remote communities?What recommendations and hints for successcan be derived from existing initiatives?What is the role of the policy framework todayand what needs arise for the future?1 0 0 % R E B A S E D C O M M U N I T I E S A N D I S L A N D S - P A N E L 1 c11
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