Many pilot projects have shown the economic and environmental benefits Renewable Energy (RE) actions can bring to remote rural areas of Europe. However, the implementation of decentralised energy actions requires supporting and reliable funding mechanisms. Such requirements can inter alia be met by the European Cohesion Policy which will open a new funding period between 2007 and 2013.
The project will provide additional support for an extended use of Structural and Cohesion Funds for sustainable energy actions in rural environments. Therefore, a dialogue with decision makers on European and national level ending up at regional administration units will be realised. Pilot Actions in eight rural remote areas of Europe will identify feasible energy actions by the design of Master Plans. The selected target regions are located in (more information on target regions):
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Furthermore, the project will prepare stakeholders in remote regions for the opportunities offered by European Cohesion Policies after 2006. Additional knowledge on suitable funding schemes will be created, such as Seed Money and a new Funding Quality Standard.
Several project events will be organised. These comprise eight national seminars designed for project developers and local stakeholders. An "Investment Forum" will mobilise private investments for Structural Fund supported energy actions and a special seminar on media work will provide useful knowledge for project stakeholders on the effective use of local and national media.
The "Energy 4 Cohesion Actor Cycle" shows that a large group of actors has to be brought together for successful implementations of decentralised RE actions in rural areas. Consequently the project follows a combined Top-Down and Bottom-Up approach. During the Top-Down phase European Cohesion Policies shall become accessible for RE actions in remote and underdeveloped areas, e.g. by raising the awareness for the RE development potential among policy makers. In parallel the Bottom-Up approach supports concrete project implementations on-site by the creation of best practice and a knowledge basis for efficient and profound energy planning actions.
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Figure: Energy 4 Cohesion Actor Cycle
The below given "Flow chart of the planning process within Energy 4 Cohesion" gives a more detailed overview on relations between individual steps needed for the development of energy plans including the support from Structural/Cohesion Funds.
A more detailed overview on the project can be found as pdf-file in the Energy 4 Cohesion information sheet, in the Energy 4 Cohesion presentation or in the Work Programme and in the Project Outcomes.
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Figure: Flow chart of the planning process within Energy 4 Cohesion