Renewable EnergiesTransfer System
Introduction
The three-year RETS project is funded through the INTERREG IV programme and is a partnership of 12 organisations in nine countries. The aim of the project is to improve the knowledge and competencies of local and regional policymakers in renewable energy systems, and by doing so facilitate a greater deployment of effective renewable energy policies at local and regional levels.
The Interregional Cooperation Programme INTERREG IVC, financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund, helps Regions of Europe to work together to share experience and good practice in the areas of innovation, the knowledge economy, the environment and risk prevention. EUR 302 million is available for project funding but, more than that, a wealth of knowledge and potential solutions are also on hand for regional policy-makers.
Summary of Project Research
The main project activity will be the creation of simple usable tools for local authorities to help in making informed choices for the implementation of the right renewable energy strategy within their territories. This will be achieved through:
I. Collection and analysis of regional RES initiatives and production of a good practice guidebook.
II. Study visits to exchange ideas and practices between the members of the network
III. Tailored RES seminars for local authorities to transfer knowledge, good practices and stimulate policy implementation. Click here for details of the seminars run by Staffordshire University in February 2011, including seminar presentations.
IV. Creation of an online RES community bringing together local authorities and RES experts through a collaborative tool, allowing them to find, exchange, discuss and transfer information on RES in an innovative way.
V. Dissemination of the project activities and results making use of both traditional (conferences, paper publications, newsletters, press releases) and new forms of communication (website, mailing lists, online collaborative tool). Click here for the first RETS Newsletter.
Background
The project kicked off in Serta, Portugal with a conference attended by 200 people. Catherine Ledig (ADEC) and Jon Fairburn (Staffordshire University) were both interviewed about the project and appeared on the national news that evening.
The host, Serta Town Council, has been involved with renewable energy since the 1950s when dams were installed. Today those three dams generate 850 GWh/year. Serta also has a wind farm with 26 wind turbines which is still expanding and two biomass power plants (3.5MW built and testing 10MW licensed). Micro projects include the use of geothermal energy to heat a local nursing home and solar panels on the municipal swimming pool.
Within the Serta region training and education is provided to support renewable energy. This includes training in placement of wind and solar thermal systems (undergraduate level) and technology and bio-fuels awards at postgraduate level.
Project Partners
Overall Project lead: ADEC, France
WP3 Lead: Institute for Environment, Sustainability and
Regeneration (IESR), Staffordshire University
Lead: Jon Fairburn jon.fairburn@staffs.ac.uk
+44 1782 294038
Other staff involved: Agne Prochorskaite, Graham Smith,
Neil Packer (CET)
Partners:
France: ADEC (Project lead) and Pezenas city
UK: IESR (Staffordshire University) and West Wales Eco Centre
Portugal: Serta Town Council and Pinhel Town Council
Germany: IHK Zetis GmbH
Romania: ICEMENERG
Hungary: Vecses Town
Italy: Provincia di Varese
Netherlands: City of Sittard-Geleen
Slovenia: EnergaP
A Google map of the partners with links to their websites
Project timeline: The project started January 2010 and will finish December 2012
Project Website
Project website www.rets-project.eu/