mag
I N T E L L I G E N T
E N E R G Y
E U R O P E
FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
3 Renewable energy
A new era
9
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
EU Directive triggers industry
investment in renewables
10-11
MANAGER & MANAGED
PV Legal
14-15
COUNTRY PROFILE
Plotting paths for renewables
MAGAZINE
O F T H E I N T E L L I G E N T E N E R GY- E U R O P E P R OG R A M M E
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
B Y M A R I E D O N N E L LY
EDITORIAL
Director at DG Energy
Renewable energy is the focus for this issue of the Intelligent Energy – Europe
magazine.
There are many renewable energy projects within the IEE programme, though the ones
you can read about in this issue’s lead feature have been chosen because they have
“We’re making
good progress
and the goal
is likely
to be met.”
had a particularly high impact.
IEE project partners from across the European Union are together helping achieve
I N T E L L I
the Union’s over-riding goal: to boost renewable energy’s share of the EU’s final gross
energy consumption to at least 20% by 2020.
Happily we’re making good progress and the goal is likely to be met.
If it is, I’m sure the IEE’s contribution will have been substantial.
E N E R G Y
You’ll see in the lead feature how the foundation has been laid to enable renewable
technologies to roll out across the EU. Offshore energy and biomass are examined
in some detail.
Elsewhere, in the regular ‘manager and managed’ section, there are interviews with
E U R
those responsible for the PV Legal project. Photovoltaic energy has enormous potential
but is being held back in certain countries by unnecessary bureaucracy. The PV Legal
team has compiled a comprehensive database on the remaining administrative
obstacles. How much bureaucracy is required for a rooftop installation in your country?
The country profile section in this issue puts the spotlight on solar, biomass and
hydropower in Germany and Poland.
FOR A SUSTAINA
There is also a special focus on energy services companies and related energy
performance contracts – solutions for financing energy efficiency and renewable
energy in both the public and private sectors.
Enjoy the issue!
Marie Donnelly, Director for new and renewable sources of energy, energy efficiency
& innovation, European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy
PAGE 2
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
ec.europa.eu/intelligentenergy
THE INTELLIGENT
ENERGY-EUROPE
mag
MAGAZINE
ISSUE NUMBER
3
Table of contents
Editorial
Lead feature Renewable energy, a new era
4-7
On the ground Rethinking renewable energy
8
In their own words
EU Directive triggers industry investment
in renewables
9
4
Manager & Managed
PV Legal
10-11
Focus on
Get others to do the hard work
12-13
Country profile
Plotting paths for renewables
14-15
On the ground
Training makes the difference
16
On the ground
European energy inspiration
17
On the ground
The energy of the sun powers our world
18
mag
12
2
I N T E L L I G E N T
E N E R G Y
E U R O P E
FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
3 Renewable energy
A new era
8
10
Photos:
P. 5: © iStockphoto/Teun van den Dries. P. 6: © iStockphoto/Roberto Gennaro. P. 8: © juwi Holding AG; © Fiona Ball; © juwi Holding AG.
P. 10: © iStockphoto/Pedro Castellano. P. 11: © iStockphoto/Fabio Ficola. P. 12: © Berlin Energy Agency. P. 13: © iStockphoto/
seewhatmitchsee. P. 14: © Piotr Kubiesa and Włodzimierz Łukasik. P. 14-15: © Energietag Baden-Württemberg, Ingo Bartussek,
guukaa. P. 16: © Shell; © Shell; © Petras Ruzgus. P. 17: © Toyota Motor Europe; © Claudia Julius. P. 18: © SaaS; © Torresol Energy;
© sostenible.cat.
The responsibility for the content of this publication lies with the authors; it does not necessarily reflect the opinion
of the European Union. The EACI is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.
The information contained is given for information purposes only and does not legally bind any of the parties involved.
Editors: Andrea Pascal and Cindy Carolle, EACI
9
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
EU Directive triggers industry
investment in renewables
10-11
MANAGER & MANAGED
PV Legal
14-15
COUNTRY PROFILE
Plotting paths for renewables
© European Union, 2011
More details on the IEE programme can be found at ec.europa.eu/intelligentenergy
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011 /
PAGE 3
RENEWABLE ENERGY
LEAD FEATURE
Renewable energy
A new era
The Intelligent Energy –Europe programme aims to help the European Union
meet its 2020 renewable energy target with projects that remove barriers,
improve market transparency and mobilise investment.
When it comes to climate change, targets
usually grab the headlines.
How ambitious should our carbon dioxide
reduction targets be? Should targets be
voluntary or mandatory?
What you seldom see in the mainstream
press is coverage of exactly how these
targets are met. How does the European
Union turn these fine words into action?
The target set out in the Renewable Energy
Directive of 2009 – that renewable energy
should make up at least 20% of the EU’s
final gross energy consumption by 2020 –
is a case in point.
If Europe meets this target – an increasingly
likely eventuality – it will be thanks to a
flurry of activity in the EU institutions and
in the Member States, almost all of which
is out of the public eye.
The Intelligent Energy – Europe Programme
helps bridge the gap between the target
and the reality on the ground.
IEE projects are bringing together key market
players like governments, local authorities,
SMEs and industry with the grand aim of
accelerating the growth of the RES market
in Europe, an increasingly significant market
in terms of investment and jobs created.
IEE projects are designed to give momentum
to the Renewable Energy Directive: Member
States had to come up with a National
Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) by the
PAGE 4
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
end of June 2010: now they have to implement
Intelligent Energy – Europe targets all lay-
these action plans. IEE projects help them
ers of government and society. Through
while at the same time improving the efficiency
Concerted Actions, like CA-RES, respon-
of markets and mobilising investments.
sible authorities in Member States work
together to find the most effective ways to
The Intelligent
Energy – Europe
Programme helps
bridge the gap
between the target
and the reality
on the ground.
implement EU Directives. “Together with the
Commission, participants from 30 countries
meet informally twice per year to exchange
best practices and to find common solutions
for implementing the Renewable Energy
Directive,” says EACI project officer María
Laguna.
On a local level, another IEE project, Polis,
aims to boost solar energy in six cities
(Paris, Lisbon, Munich, Vitoria, Lyon and
Malmo) by bringing together architects,
urban planners and energy policy-makers.
“Sometimes these professions have different priorities,” says María (who is also
For example, REPAP2020 connects European
Parliamentary policy-makers and industry
with the aim to facilitate the implementation
of the Renewable Energy Directive. Initially,
the project supported the relevant authorities
by offering good advice on the development
of the NREAPs; more recently, an independent
and detailed assessment of these action
the project officer for Polis). “They need to
integrate solar criteria into city plans, and
into tender procedures for city rehabilitation
projects. Energy needs to be included at the
beginning of the planning stage.”
“We are not just talking about active solar
potential, but also about passive solar
potential,” adds project coordinator Sigrid
plans has been carried out by the project
Linder. South-facing buildings generate less
team: “Positive outlooks but more is needed
heating demand in winter, while heat gains
on support schemes. It’s important that the
can be reduced in summer with proper
plans are followed by actions from today
shading devices. While to decree that all
onwards”, are the main conclusions of this
buildings must have south-facing windows
study, says Jan Geiss, EUFORES Secretary
would be impractical, town planners are
General.
being urged to keep the concept in mind.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Building offshore Grids in the Northern Seas of Europe –
what should the grid look like?
“The cable length between the wind farm and the shore
has a huge impact on cost,” says Jan De Decker, project
coordinator for the IEE project Offshore Grid.
The Offshore Grid project examined the various options
for connecting offshore wind farms to the electricity grid.
Project partners looked at the technical and economical
challenges, the policy aspects and the required regulation.
The result is a set of recommendations considered so
thoroughly researched that the European Commission
has adopted them. “Governments should favour hubs [of
wind farms], and hubs should be developed at the same
time,” says Jan. Large zones of wind farms are preferable
to numerous smaller zones.
The project examined the relative merits of connecting
wind farms to interconnectors, the power lines that ensure
security of supply between countries and allow them
to trade. While this can lead to cable length savings, it
restrains trading capacity between national markets when
there is wind. “Attaching wind farms to interconnectors
can be beneficial, though this is not always the case,”
says Jan. “It depends strongly on the capacities, the cable
lengths, and the price differences between the countries.
The trade-off between reduced cable costs and reduced
trade needs to be examined on a case-by-case basis.”
EACI project officer Dana Dutianu is very complimentary.
“Offshore Grid was a huge effort,” she says, that provided
important input to the preparation of the Communication
on Energy infrastructure priorities. This document
includes several references to possible offshore grid
concepts for the North Seas and the Baltic Sea, which
were developed by the OffshoreGrid project.
FOR MORE INFO
Communication “Energy infrastructure priorities
for 2020 and beyond - A Blueprint for an integrated
European energy network”
ec.europa.eu/energy/infrastructure/strategy/2020_
en.htm
www.offshoregrid.eu/
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011 /
PAGE 5
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Biomass – particularly wood pellets for power production –
has become a globally tradable commodity. Pellet consumption
in Europe is around 9 million tons per annum, of which about
2 million tons is imported from outside Europe.
But developing a market for biomass fuels is not
straightforward. Investors need to understand what
drives supply and demand. They need re-assuring that
the commodity is up to standard; differences in quality
would stifle trade.
The EUBIONET III project is increasing pricing transparency
and supporting the development of standards for solid
biofuels.
“When you know how and why prices fluctuate, you
understand better the market. People are then more
likely to enter,” says EACI project officer Silvia Vivarelli.
Project partners are helping to define the characteristics
of solid biofuels, the required physical and chemical
PAGE 6
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
properties, especially moisture content, so that fuels
can be properly transported, stored and used.
I N
“The role of biomass has always been important but
now there is more international trade,” says project
coordinator Eija Alakangas, who has 28 years of experience
in the sector. Pricing indexes for industrial wood pellets
in the Baltic region are now published monthly, Eija points
out. EUBIONET III project partners have worked with
the International Organization for Standardization to
ensure that biomass fuels can be traded on a reliable
basis worldwide.
E N
For the future, Eija is concentrating on new biomass fuels.
“In Finland, we are using ethanol from bakery residues,”
she says. Finland is however ahead of the game compared
to the rest of the world.
FOR MORE INFO
www.eubionet.net
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Sustainable public procurement
the private sector to support investment in
structural and cohesion funds on the one
Implementing effective obligations concern-
small and medium-scale photovoltaic plants.
hand and people from the energy sector
Project partners are targeting so-called
on the other,” says project coordinator
‘marginal’ land: landfill sites, brown-field
Carmen Heinze. The project team is
sites, former quarries, buffer zones (near
organising a series of study tours that
airports for example) and former military
provide experts from one Member State
complexes, all areas with low or no economic
with the chance to visit another, picking up
value.
valuable tips on renewable energy project
ing minimum levels of energy from renewables in building regulations and codes for
new or refurbished buildings or in the public
procurement (for example, for social housing)
is a highly technical exercise. Local authorities across the EU need to train staff
applications as they go. “In some Member
to ensure this takes place with the mini-
States, the procedures can be lengthy and
mum amount of procedures. An IEE project,
Patres, has provided authorities with the
necessary training.
“The situation varies from country to country,”
explains project coordinator Fabio Tomasi.
“Local authorities can have a higher or a
lower level of freedom. We want to simplify
procedures so that it doesn’t take months
of bureaucracy to get permission to install
a geothermal heat pump or a solar panel.
We are working on the details, and as you
bureaucratic, which puts some applicants
“We are working
on the details,
and as you know,
the devil is in
the detail.”
optimum level of penalty to deter architects
“We were taught that, when making local
regulations to promote renewable energy
and energy efficiency, we should not specify
the type of technology we prefer,” says
Francesca Ravaioli, energy manager with
the Forlì town council in Italy. “We should
instead focus on the performance.” Francesca,
who has attended three Patres training
Consumers of renewable energy are a
natural target for the IEE programme. The
Qualicert project covers the certification
of installers of small scale photovoltaic,
solar thermal, geothermal, heat pump and
qualified installers, who will deliver high
“Municipalities own various marginal areas
quality installations,” says EACI project
and they are at the same time having dif-
officer Gianluca Tondi. ‘This is important
ficulties finding financial resources at the
because the quality of installation affects
moment,” says project coordinator Erica
the efficiency of the system. Negative
Holland.
publicity generated by a poor installation
PVs in Bloom mobilized investment of ap-
can take years to overcome.”
proximately Euro 37 million with just Euro
“EU legislation states that by the end of 2012
1 million of public support.
installers of small scale renewable systems
should be certified by national authorities or
Funding is available
have equivalent qualifications,” says project
Amid all the talk of cash-strapped govern-
make the market more transparent, and will
ments, it should be noted that funding for renewable energy is still available. In fact, the
coordinator Marjolaine Pont. “This will
increase the overall quality of installations.”
energy budgets of the EU’s regional and cohesion funds have not been fully used so far.
FOR MORE INFO
“Regional funds can invest in energy
REPAP2020
efficiency and renewables but there is still
a gap between the theory and the practice,”
says Damien Cocard, EACI project officer for
SF Energy Invest. “Managing authorities and
project developers should take advantage
of the extended opportunities within the
Structural funds to finance and develop
energy projects.”
sessions this year, has incorporated her
SF Energy Invest targets both managing
newly acquired knowledge into a renewable
authorities and fund managers. Matchmak-
energy tender for a local school.
ing events are held to help bridge the gap
Municipalities have been actively engaged in
Installers need to be certified
“End users need to be able to choose
from deviating from their original design is
“We are not just
talking about
active solar
potential,
but also about
passive solar
potential.”
funds easier to access.”
biomass systems.
know, the devil is in the detail.” Defining the
just one example of this delicate process.
off,” says Carmen. “We want to make the
between the applicant and the authority.
another IEE project, PVs in Bloom, which aims
“It’s about networking, about bringing
to bring together public administrations and
together the people involved with the
www.repap2020.eu
CA-RES
www.ca-res.eu
Polis
www.polis-solar.eu
Patres
www.patres.net
PVs in Bloom
www.pvsinbloom.eu
SF Energy Invest
www.sf-energyinvest.eu
Qualicert
www.qualicert-project.eu
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011 /
PAGE 7
RENEWABLE ENERGY
ON THE GROUND
“The repowering of just
one of the five wind
turbines in November
2010 is resulting
in an annual yield
which is much higher
than before.”
Rethinking
renewable energy
Two Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign projects
make efficient energy approaches even more efficient.
Innovative design
for energy performance
In Isleworth, just outside of London, a
broadcasting centre like no other is being
born. A few exterior details, such as the
giant natural ventilation chimneys, hint
at the building’s unique energy efficient
approach. Sky Broadcast’s design choices
and architecture have made the building
Europe’s most sustainable broadcasting
studio and data-centre.
Sky will use the multi-storey building called
‘Harlequin 1’ as its centre of operations,
housing the television company’s recording,
post-production and transmission facilities.
Harlequin 1 will be fully complete in late
2011, but a large part of the building is
already in use.
Every detail, from ventilation options to
water consumption in toilets was considered
when construction plans were developed.
“Renewable energy is at the heart of the
building,” says Fiona Ball, Sky’s head of
environment.
“To reduce carbon emissions, we will use
biomass to fuel a combined cooling, heating
and power plant. In addition, the energy
from a wind turbine will deliver 55-60%
of the annual office lighting requirements
of Harlequin 1. And we have even built
flexibility into the infrastructure to one
PAGE 8
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
day incorporate other sustainable energy
solutions, such as hydrogen fuel cells.”
FOR MORE INFO
Fiona Ball
www.sky.com/environment
Capturing the wind
“Repowering means placing more powerful
wind turbines in the best wind locations,”
explains Christian Hinsch, juwi’s Director
of Corporate Communications. “With our
approach we are producing significantly
more clean energy using fewer systems
than before.”
“With a sensible programme, we can
reduce the number of wind turbines and
still generate much more power than is
currently produced.” Some of the best sites
are already occupied by smaller machines
nearing the end of their life. These can be
replaced by a smaller number of bigger
machines.
A project in Schneebergerhof in the
Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany
proves Christian’s point. “The repowering
of just one of the five wind turbines in
November 2010 is resulting in an annual
yield which is much higher than before,”
says Christian
Repowering is especially beneficial for
countries that have invested in wind energy
early on and are now seeking to expand their
wind energy production.
FOR MORE INFO
Christian Hinsch
www.juwi.com/wind_energy/references/
schneebergerhof.html
“The PPC group is
planning to invest
€ 2 bn in RES
projects within
the next four years.”
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
PROF. ARTHOUROS ZERVOS
Chief executive of Greece’s
Public Power Corporation
EU Directive triggers industry
investment in renewables
The IEE magazine talks to Prof. Arthouros Zervos,
chief executive of Greece’s Public Power Corporation.
What impact has the EU
Renewable Energy Directive
had on industry?
The 2010-2020 decade started out with a
groundbreaking proposal for the industry:
legally binding targets to reach at least
20% renewable energy by 2020 in the EU.
The Directive provides a strong and stable
regulatory framework, which is absolutely
key to the development of the renewable
energy industry in Europe.
Member States’ National Renewable Energy
Action Plans show that the approach
continues to pay off and that total renewable
energy consumption will more than double
in 2020.
Progress towards greater use
of renewable energy varies from
country to country within the EU.
Why is this? How in your opinion
could countries be encouraged
to catch up?
for peak-load. Synergies can therefore
Progress on the use of RES varies from
could be happy with a wind farm with a
country to country for many reasons. The
maturity of each technology could be one
reason, as well as the different economic
situations
and
most
important
RES
availability. The Greek RES market faced
three main obstacles: the complicated
legal framework, public acceptance and
grid inadequacy. The new legal framework
along with the creation of a one-stop shop
for investors has significantly accelerated
the licensing procedures. However, much
As far as Greece is concerned, the Directive
more needs to be done regarding public
will boost Greek investments, and there
acceptance and upgrading the grid, for
are a number of investors who realise that
renewable energy sources (RES) will play a
key role in the country’s attempt to return
instance explaining to local communities
that boosting investments in green energy
is one of the best ways to reshape our
be achieved while integrating a mix of
technologies on the electricity grid.
When assessing RES you must first
understand the conditions under which
investment is taking place. An investor
high load factor or a photovoltaic park
with high irradiation or geothermal
power in a region with high enthalpy.
Is there anything that programmes
such as IEE could do to make
your life as a chief executive
of a major utility easier?
IEE already plays a crucial role in
dismantling
institutional,
financial,
behavioural and informational barriers
which slow down RES uptake. In my
personal view, the IEE programme
directly contributes to the achievement
of the RES 2020 target by enabling the
economy.
sharing of best practices (e.g. through
Which type of renewable energy
do you regard as potentially the
most profitable for the electricity
industry? And why is that?
of RES installers), by addressing non-
the 200 MW photovoltaic plant in Western
A mix of renewable energy technologies
importance that the IEE grows with the
Macedonia, and the 1,339 MW wind farms in
is interesting: some provide a back-up to
renewable energy industry, in order to
Crete, Karpathos, Kassos and Rhodes.
the electricity grid where others provide
pursue its very useful mission.
to growth. Public Power Corporation (PPC)
is investing to increase RES in the group’s
electricity production mix. The PPC group
is planning to invest € 2 bn in RES projects
within the next four years and is currently
developing some large scale projects like
the Qualicert Project on certification
technological barriers or facilitating
policy implementation (e.g. through the
Concerted Action on the RES Directive),
and by raising awareness. It is of key
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011 /
PAGE 9
RENEWABLE ENERGY
“They have involved
the right people; industry
is doing it for industry.”
MANAGER & MANAGED
Eliminating photovoltaic
energy bureaucracy
The PV Legal project has built up comprehensive data
on the administrative barriers that hold back market
growth.
Zoé Wildiers,
EACI project officer, PV Legal.
PV Legal is a key project within the Intelligent
Energy - Europe programme, its final objective being the removal of administrative
barriers to the installations of RES systems
(in this case PV), one central topic of the
Renewable Energy Directive. Its contribution
to removing the administrative barriers that
hold back greater use of photovoltaic energy
is already evident, and the project’s impact
is expected to outlive the 32 months of EU
funding that has supported it until now.
“According to Article 13 of the Renewable
Energy Directive, Member States have to
remove administrative barriers,” says Zoé
Wildiers, the EACI project officer in charge
of PV Legal. “This is also just what PV Legal
is aiming to do.”
Project partners have not only identified existing hurdles, they are also drawing up concrete
policy recommendations that will facilitate
PAGE 10
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
the growth of the entire PV market, from
small rooftop installations to ground-mounted large-scale plants. In a number of countries, bureaucracy has already been cut back.
The project has highlighted the divergent
The database identified
the problems
Cooperation between the project partners,
situation in different Member States. “In some
countries it can take over 3 years to get a PV
permit,” Zoé says.
the coordinator and EACI is reported to have
been strong.
To achieve this, the time and cost of the
various legal requirements (such as permits)
for different PV installations in 12 European
countries have been fed into the PV Legal
database. “With the data we can see why
development is faster in some countries
than in others. Thanks to the database, we
know where the problems are,” says Zoé.
The fact that the PV Legal partners are industry associations has also contributed to the
project’s success. “They have involved the right
people; industry is doing it for industry,” Zoé
continues. “If you are a developer you can use
the database to decide where to invest. If you
don’t like the barriers that exist in one country
you can push for change or go elsewhere.”
“The consortium of PV Legal - through the
coordinator - kept the EACI continuously
informed on project findings and success
stories. On the other hand, when one of the
partners encountered problems during the
course of the project we worked together
with the consortium to find a solution so the
project could ensure the foreseen impact,”
remarks Gianluca Tondi, who was formerly
in charge of PV Legal at the EACI.
It will be important to keep up the momentum
after the project ends in 2012, says Gianluca.
“The PV Legal database will continue in
some form. It doesn’t make sense to collect
all this data and not keep it updated.”
Legal-administrative costs as a share of overall project development costs
(excluding PV equipment)
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Segment A
BG
CS
FR
Segment B
DE
GR
Segment C
IT
NL
PL
PT
SL
SP
RENEWABLE ENERGY
“Germany already has
15 years of experience
of connections,
support programmes
and administrative
procedures.”
MANAGER & MANAGED
When barriers go down,
installations go up
Evidence suggests there is a direct link between
administrative hurdles and market growth.
operators are legally obliged to accept any
installation in Spain are around 39% of
PV connection request.
the total – but progress is nevertheless
concrete.
Administrative costs
can exceed 70%
Diversity between national markets remains:
Then compare this situation with Poland,
rooftop, whereas in Italy and the Czech
where the PV market is not as developed
and where the administrative costs of
setting up a medium-size demonstration
Thomas Chrometzka,
project coordinator PV Legal.
Is it a coincidence that the size of the photovoltaic (PV) market in individual Member
States seems to be inversely proportional to
the bureaucracy required for installations?
PV installation are in excess of 70% of the
planning costs (i.e. excluding hardware).
While growth can sometimes be achieved
despite bureaucracy, bureaucratic headaches
are always a brake on any market potential.
“In Italy and Spain there has been quite
significant market growth but legal and
PV Legal project coordinator Thomas
Chrometzka does not want to jump to
conclusions before the project has run its
course, but he admits the evidence points
in this direction.
administrative barriers are preventing
Just look at one of the European Union’s
most developed markets – Germany –
where the legal and administrative costs
of PV installations of all sizes are below
10%. “In the more mature markets, grid
operators and authorities are more aware.
Germany already has 15 years of experience
of connections, support programmes and
administrative procedures,” says Thomas.
German regulation and permit procedures
are so advanced that in most cases grid
The data has also been used to compile
cheaper PV systems from coming online,”
says Thomas.
The database the PV Legal team has compiled
will itself help reduce these barriers.
recommendations that have in some cases
already led to changes in the law.
As an example, Thomas points to Spain,
where the obligation to obtain a permit for
a rooftop PV installation of up to 100 kW
for connection to a low-voltage grid was
in Germany, most PV installations are
Republic ground-mounted large-scale PVs
have taken off to a greater extent. PV Legal
policy recommendations have been tailormade to reflect this diversity and to boost
market segments in all countries.
Among the only administrative hurdles
project partners had to overcome among
themselves was establishing a common
position on the methodology for their
analysis. “It’s not that easy when you have
a large project consortium,” says Thomas.
“It ended up taking much more time than
we thought. We realised we had to go into a
lot of detail. Eventually, however, the effort
was worth it and now we are able to provide
good data for the participating countries.”
Despite these challenges and the remaining
barriers, the overall picture across Europe
remains positive: growth in installed capacity
doubled in 2010.
FOR MORE INFO
w w w. p v l e g a l . e u
removed by royal decree in April 2010.
Spain still has more work to do – the legal
and administrative costs of a rooftop PV
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011 /
PAGE 11
Sometimes high upfront
investment costs and
insufficiently short
payback periods deter
potential investors.
FOCUS ON
Get others to do
the hard work
Market barriers to energy services companies and
energy performance contracts must be removed if
these useful tools are to reach their full potential.
Winners of the European Energy
Service Award 2009.
Sustainable energy has long been a
European goal, but sometimes high upfront
investment costs and insufficiently short
payback periods deter potential investors.
One solution is to use energy services
companies (ESCOs) or energy performance
contracts (EPCs), market-based solutions
that can be harnessed to promote energy
efficiency and renewable energy sources
in both the public and private sectors.
Both ESCOs and EPCs are highlighted
for financing, thus the public authority
in the EU’s Energy Efficiency Plan 2011
does not need to indebt itself. The project
as important means for the promotion
is already delivering natural gas and heat
of sustainable energy. The European
energy savings of €100 000 annually.
Energy services are broadly defined as any
type of project or measure that leads to a
verifiable and measurable or estimable
energy efficiency improvement and/or
primary energy savings. But they must be
delivered on the basis of a contract, ensuring
that suppliers and customers have confidence
these services will deliver what they propose.
The EU has an estimated 700 to 1 000
active ESCOs, turning over as much as
€8.5 billion annually. They deliver energy
services and/or other energy efficiency
measures to their clients, and get paid
on the basis of the savings they achieve.
Being complementary to EU regulations,
these for-profit businesses are seen as
key to further stimulating energy efficiency
in Europe. Yet the energy services market
still faces numerous barriers, including a
lack of awareness and information, distrust
in suppliers, accounting rules, different
procedures in each country, and problems
accessing finance.
PAGE 12
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
Commission is also looking at ways to boost
Europe’s energy services market.
Driving energy services
“We want to introduce advanced EPC in
countries where the concept is established
and standard EPC in countries where
the market has yet to get going,” says coor-
The Intelligent Energy – Europe (IEE)
dinator Susanne Berger. But she acknowl-
programme has supported the energy
edges difficulties for EU-wide harmonisa-
services market via about 20 projects.
tion: “We learned it makes no sense today
The IEE project EESI is raising awareness
of energy performance contracting through
the annual European Energy Services Award
and 24 pilot projects across Europe. It shows
that such contracts are a cost-efficient
to create a European standard for energy
performance contracts, so are focusing on
national EPC standards which will benefit
future projects.”
way of using the building sector’s existing
Confidence is key
potential for energy saving. In the Czech
There is some scepticism in central and
Republic, SEVen, an EESI partner in Prague,
is working with the Regional Authority of the
Pardubice region to cut energy and heat use
in schools, hospitals, social and healthcare
centres in 30 different locations. Measures
include installation of new enhanced heating systems, reconstructing distribution
systems and improved localised control.
eastern European countries with undeveloped
energy services markets that EPCs will
deliver the promised energy savings and
pay back the investments made by ESCOs or
others. So the Permanent project seeks to
build confidence among financiers there, by
promoting two international protocols that
can be used to measure and verify either
The work is financed under a 13-year
energy performance or energy efficiency.
energy service contract between the ESCO
Several hundred people in each partner
and the building owners, with one year for
country have been trained to use these
equipment installation and 12 years to repay
protocols in energy audits, so as to provide
the company’s investment of €1.32 m. The
the
ESCO has taken over the full responsibility
savings from an EPC for buildings.
all-important
guarantee
of
energy
“Our project’s 49 field
tests already indicate
there is huge European
potential for profitable
energy efficiency services.”
FOCUS ON
7
00 to 1 000 active ESCOs,
turning over
€8.5
billion annually
The ChangeBest project is promoting the
development of energy efficiency services
(EES), while encouraging companies to enter
this sector based on good business models.
According to coordinator Wolfgang Irrek,
“Our project’s 49 field tests in 16 Member
States already indicate there is huge
European potential for profitable energy
efficiency services.” The tests look at ways
to roll out services that are either ‘new’
or ‘optimised’ for a company, community
or country; results are being turned into
guidelines for companies to develop
marketable and successful services. One
test, in Denmark, targets the refurbishment
of private households, a new market niche
for energy efficiency services.
W H AT I S A N E N E R G Y P E R F O R M A N C E
CONTRACT?
FOR MORE INFO
EPCs come in various forms, depending for
example on the agreed payback times or
penalties. In a typical one, which may cover
heating and the envelope of a building,
an ESCO (energy service company) will
design and implement an energy retrofit
with a guaranteed level of savings. These
savings are used to reimburse part or
all of the ESCO’s initial investments.
The building’s owner or tenants may benefit
from some of the energy savings. When all
investments have been reimbursed, the
contract ends and henceforth the owner
and/or tenant benefits from all energy
savings.
EESI
www.european-energy-service-initiative.net
Permanent www.permanent-project.eu
ChangeBest www.changebest.eu
FRESH www.fresh-project.eu
MINUS 3% www.minus3.org
Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs)
are increasingly popular across Europe,
especially in Germany, Austria, the Czech
Republic and Scandinavian countries.
They are not a new concept, but they are
only now making inroads into the market,
in particular in the public building sector
– where they offer owners a guaranteed,
quantifiable and long-term reduction in
energy consumption and energy costs.
They appeal to local authorities seeking
easy access to finance in this sector, one
traditionally ignored by risk-averse banks.
Current energy performance contracts
deliver between 5% and 30% energy
savings. The Fresh project is looking at
ways of using them in social housing,
which accounts for 35 million homes
across Europe, and achieving greater
savings. According to the coordinator,
Christophe Milin, “The energy retrofitting
of social housing is hampered by a lack
of adapted funding. One solution is to use
EPCs, in which an energy service company
invests in comprehensive refurbishment
and repays itself through the generated
savings.” But he notes that laws covering
this field must be clarified, to address
complete refurbishment and problems
of recouping capital from the energy
savings enjoyed by tenants after such
refurbishment.
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011 /
PAGE 13
COUNTRY PROFILE
By calling on solar
energy, Europe could
cover the equivalent of
the total space and water
heating consumption
of almost 10 million
households today.
Plotting paths
for renewables
Snapshots of solar power, biomass and hydropower
allow German and Polish partners in four IEE projects
to roll out new plans.
Stuttgart homes and residences which are
ideally designed for the use of solar energy.
EU Member States are ramping up their
use of renewable energies to ensure they
make up at least 20% of their final energy
consumption by 2020, in line with national
commitments under the Renewable Energy
Directive. The Re-Shaping project gives
them a helping hand and will contribute to
the formulation of European renewables
policy beyond 2020.
future deployment of renewables. According
to the Re-Shaping project’s coordinator
Dr Mario Ragwitz, “German government
ministries and energy regulators are
benefiting from our project recommendations
on optimising RES policy measures. This
includes the economic efficiency of renewables
support schemes and the effectiveness of
renewables policies nationwide.”
The project has published RES Policy Country
Profiles, which assess Member States’
renewables policy effectiveness and efficiency.
The profiles are snapshots of national
successes and failures, now widely used by
energy-sector investors and local authorities
to improve best practice for renewables policy.
A web-based ‘scenarios viewer’ also shows
how EU policy choices on everything from
biomass imports to subsidies would affect
Germany’s 2020 target is 18%, but it intends
to beat this and achieve 19.6% under the
new national renewable energy action plan.
“Because of this planned overachievement,
Germany is in a strong position to discuss
the EU Renewables Directive ‘cooperation
mechanisms’ with other EU countries,” adds
Mario, referring to the possibility for Member
States to exchange their renewables target
surpluses and deficits.
Switching on solar
About half of the energy consumed in Europe
goes on heating and cooling of buildings
and for industrial applications. Satisfying
this demand is tough. But solar thermal is
one proven and cost-effective technology
solution. By calling on solar energy, Europe
could cover the equivalent of the total space
and water heating consumption of almost
10 million households today.
ProSTO aims to boost the use of solar
thermal systems by promoting solar thermal obligations (STOs), local regulations
that oblige owners of new and renovated
buildings to install solar thermal systems.
The project developed a database on existing STOs, plus a Developers Toolbox to guide
communities in setting up their own STO.
The German partners in ProSTO were the
City of Stuttgart and the Steinbeis Research
Institute (Solites). For new public buildings
and renovations, Stuttgart recently set
energy requirements that were 30% stricter
than the equivalent national legal regulation.
This municipal initiative in Stuttgart has
been followed by new regional and federal
laws using the same approach. The two
project partners have capitalised on their
STO experience, for example organising
Polish farmer’s straw-fueled boiler.
PAGE 14
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
a campaign to promote solar thermal in
Stuttgart’s multi-family homes.
“Hydropower generates
a relatively small share
of energy in Poland,
but plays a significant
role in energy grids.”
COUNTRY PROFILE
“We learned that solar thermal laws are
not enough: local authorities in Germany
and the rest of Europe also need support
and tools to implement them.”
Newly installed solar thermal plants in
basis where biomass energy is concentrated
Stuttgart increased by 10% between 2008
and its energy potential, including where
and 2009, compared with a drop of about
this biomass can be potentially used
20% across the rest of Germany, mainly due
(energy sinks) especially for heat and
to the financial crisis. Thomas Pauschinger
electricity production. Armed with this
of Solites attributes this to the Baden-
knowledge, regional authorities will develop
Wuerttemberg region’s renewable heat law
regional masterplans for sustainable use
and Stuttgart’s sustainable energy initiatives.
of renewables. Local communities and
“We learned that solar thermal laws are not
farmers are included in every step, ensuring
enough: local authorities in Germany and
the plan is workable and will succeed.
the rest of Europe also need support and
tools to implement them,” he says, referring
mainly to awareness-raising campaigns and
guidelines on setting up a STO.
Using local biomass
Many European regions sit on a biomass
‘goldmine’, without knowing it. One project
focused on renewables energy planning is
now highlighting this huge potential in the
UK, Germany, Poland and Italy. BEn, the
Biomass energy register for sustainable site
development for European Regions, shows
local authorities what kind of biomass
is available and storable in their area,
to prompt them to play an active role in
The project’s two Polish partners are the
Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas
(IETU) and the Gostynin Lake District Tourist
Communes Association (StowGmin). “In our
Central Poland region, the GIS tool convinced
local communities that it is feasible to
build biomass plants that run sustainably
on locally sourced straw or wood,” says
Janusz Krupanek of IETU. Potential biomass
investments identified there include
individual heating boilers for local farms
between 20 and 200 ha, medium-sized
biogas plants for husbandry farms and food
producers, and briquette production for
regional use in individual boilers.
regional energy planning.
Hydropower database
The project delivered an online biomass
Small hydropower (SHP) covers installed
energy register for the four selected
capacity up to 10 MW. Europe still leads
regions, using biomass data in a web-
the world in this sector, generating
based Geographical Information System.
enough electricity to power over 12 million
The tool’s users can visualise on a regional
households. But while experts see huge
potential to upgrade old schemes or build
new ones, SHP production and capacity have
stagnated – due to growing environmental
concerns and time-consuming administration.
The SHP Stream Map project is looking at
opportunities and challenges in the sector.
One result is HYDI, a unique database
on hydropower installed capacity and
production in the EU27, updated annually.
“A methodology for reliable data collection
for HYDI has been developed, despite severe
problems in acquiring data from some major
energy actors,” says Dr Janusz Steller, from
the Polish Hydropower Association, one of
the eleven project partners.
Janusz notes there has been no major
hydropower scheme in Poland since 1971,
but that more than 80% of its technical
hydropower potential remains untapped.
“Hydropower generates a relatively small
share of energy in Poland, but plays a
significant role in energy grids – so vital in a
country developing its wind power sector.”
The next project goal is to create a roadmap
for the small hydropower sector, which
can be used to influence the country’s
decision-makers.
FOR MORE INFO
Ben www.ben-project.eu
SHP Stream Map www.streammap.esha.be
Re-Shaping www.reshaping-res-policy.eu
ProSTO www.solarordinances.eu
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011 /
PAGE 15
ON THE GROUND
“How a vehicle is driven
makes a significant
impact on how much
fuel is used.”
Training makes
the difference
Education and training projects that are part of the
Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign are resulting
in real energy savings.
Vehicle performance is linked to driver
behaviour, load, and fuel purchases.
Helping drivers save energy
we think about extending the programme
As part of the Sustainable Energy Europe
across a partner’s fleet of, say, more than 100
equipped with marketable skills and im-
trucks, the savings will really begin to add
provements are taking place in apartments
up. That’s good news for the environment.”
across Lithuania. During the seven-day
Campaign, Shell and its Netherlands-based
partner The Emons Group put an innovative
course, participants aged over 50 learn
new fuel management system to the test
about energy and the environment, as well
using a fleet of 17 Emons Recycling Logistics
as the law, and ways to communicate with
vehicles. Called Shell FuelSave Partner,
residents. Many graduates have been hired
the technique is designed for commercial
road transport operators and uses in-
FOR MORE INFO
vehicle monitoring and real time analysis
Joseph Machado
of where fuel is being consumed, lost or
www.shellfuelsavepartner.nl or
used inappropriately. It tracks a range of
www.shellfuelsavepartner.com
parameters, including individual measures
(click on “More about”
of driver performance, such as acceleration.
and “Visit web site”)
“We have found that driver-related factors
Global Commercial Environmental Solutions.
Many Lithuanians grapple with high energy
impact on how much fuel is used.”
bills because their previously state-owned
the information provided by Shell FuelSave
Partner, Emons worked with drivers oneon-one. Shell FuelSave Partner links vehicle
apartment buildings were built when energy
efficiency was not a priority. Renovating is a
challenge, because homeowners associations do not typically exist.
performance with driver behaviour, load
The Union of Lithuanian Pensioners (Bociai)
management and fuel purchases. Detailed
has created a popular training programme
analyses allow fleet managers to engage
that addresses this as well as another
drivers to take immediate action.
problem: age discrimination.
“For some drivers at Emons, we saw up
“Our training is expressly designed for senior
to 10% savings in fuel consumption in the
citizens - a valuable sector of the workforce,”
first six months,” Joseph explains. “When
says Petras Ruzgus, chairman of Bociai.
PAGE 16
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
have become the renovation representative
for their own building.
Of course employment is not the programme’s only positive outcome. The renovations are increasing energy efficiency and
savings for individuals, while decreasing
Never too old to learn
“How a vehicle is driven makes a significant
Using tailored training sessions based on
by building management companies, or
CO2 emissions.
are key to improving fuel consumption,” says
Dr Joseph Machado, responsible for Shell’s
Thanks to Bociai, older people are being
FOR MORE INFO
Petras Ruzgus
www.lietuvosbociai.lt
“Customers walk
into the dealership
at La Rochelle,
and say ‘Wow’.”
ON THE GROUND
European energy inspiration
Two projects, both part of the Sustainable Energy
Europe Campaign, demonstrate energy efficient
solutions and hold great potential for pan-European
replication.
Toyota’s enviro-wise car dealership
in La Rochelle is carbon neutral.
Instant information,
instant gratification
from nine other countries recently launched
explains Christopher. “It is obvious that
the “European Citizens Climate Cup,” a
together with our dealer Ronan Chabot,
Individual. Dialogue. Free. These words
competition between private households.
we have created something different.”
Winners are recognised for the largest energy
describe
the
Energy
Savings
Club
(Energiesparclub) and its interactive Energy
Savings Account (iESA), where members
savings and the lowest CO2 emissions, with
all tracking done using the iESA.
Energy use is significantly less, thanks to
the structure’s energy efficient design.
For heating, ventilation and cooling Toyota
input their heating fuel, electricity and water
installed a series of underground pipes
meter readings or usage estimates into an
that use the temperature of the earth to
online system. Thanks to 20 integrated
regulate the inside air. Other features
online advisory tools, the iESA provides
include a green roof to provide insulation
users with instant feedback on how, based
FOR MORE INFO
and shading, and building insulation made
on lifecycle-costs, they can increase their
Claudia Julius
of recycled materials. All showroom lighting
energy savings.
www.theclimatecup.eu
uses energy efficient lamps. Furthermore,
around 2 000 square metres of photovoltaic
“In Germany alone, 32 000 members are
panels have been installed on the roof; these
registered,” says Claudia Julius of co2online.
“These households benefit from free
feedback and advice on how to cut costs
The future of retail, French style
and CO2 emissions. We found that members
Close to La Rochelle on the west coast
are reducing natural gas consumption by an
of France, an exemplary car dealership
average of 4% each year, and saving even
combines innovation and design. Toyota
more on costs, especially if prices rise.”
has built a carbon-neutral building that will
The Energiesparclub was founded in Germany
serve as a benchmark for future projects.
by co2online gGmbH. “As far as we know, no
“Toyota takes a 360 degree approach to
other single system covers so many aspects
sustainability,” says Christopher Barrow,
of energy savings advice and consumption
Manager of Sustainable Development for
monitoring with a single log-in,” Claudia
Toyota France. This means an environmental
adds. By next year, membership of the
strategy for each step in an automobile’s
Energiesparclub is expected to reach 100 000.
lifetime, from design and manufacturing, to
Replicating this German success, thanks to
produce on average three times the amount
of energy consumed on site.
FOR MORE INFO
Christopher Barrow
www.toys-motors.fr/eco-concessionla-rochelle.php
logistics, distribution, and end of life recycling.
support from the Intelligent Energy – Europe
“Customers walk into the Toyota & Lexus
Programme, co2online and consumer groups
dealership at La Rochelle, and say ‘Wow,’”
N°3 - OCTOBER 2011 /
PAGE 17
RENEWABLE ENERGY
ON THE GROUND
“Gemasolar
is the first commercial
plant in the world to
use this technology.”
The energy of the sun
powers our world
Spain is host to two forward-thinking Sustainable
Energy Europe Campaign projects which use the
Mediterranean sun to produce energy for our needs.
Thoughtful design ensures that the building
decreases the need for electrical lighting.
Capturing the sun’s rays –
with salt!
Further south in Spain, energy experts
are putting renewables to the test with
an innovative tower plant that uses a
combination of solar energy and molten
salts to capture and store energy. When
is the critical advantage of this system. We
façade, along with thermal insulation, act
have achieved a method that enables to turn
as a shield to keep the daytime heat at bay.
a renewable source like solar energy into
Air conditioning relies on a free cooling
a ‘dispatchable’ energy, meaning we are
system, which means that when possible
capable of supplying electricity on demand.
cooler air from outside the building is used
Other renewable energies like wind power
to ventilate the interior. Solar thermal and
generation have no easy storage option.”
photovoltaic systems have been installed
commercial production begins at the
The technology has been developed by the
Gemasolar plant in Seville later this year,
engineering and technology group SENER,
it has been estimated that the tower will
the majority shareholder of Torresol Energy.
supply clean and secure energy to 25 000
on the roof of the BST. Interior blinds with
mirrored components transport daylight
into the building, which decreases the need
for electrical lighting.
households, thereby reducing CO2 emissions
“The demand for electricity for lighting
by more than 30 000 tonnes annually.
has been reduced by about 30% because
of the window blinds,” Joan explains.
Launched by Torresol Energy Investments,
S.A., a private energy company based in
Bizkaia, Gemasolar is a massive plant that
uses central tower receiver technology
with a heat storage system. This means
FOR MORE INFO
Juan Ignacio Burgaleta
www.torresolenergy.com
that thousands of mirrors (or heliostats)
temperatures above 500 degrees Celsius,
generates steam and produces electrical
power. Excess energy captured from the sun
“Considering the Catalan heat, durability
is key,” said Joan Sabaté of SaAS Sabaté
Associates Architecture and Sustainability.
He was describing the facilities of the
salt tank.
Blood and Tissue Bank of Catalonia (BST),
the world to use this technology,” says Juan
designed to be sustainable and energysmart.
Ignacio Burgaleta, Director of Technology for
Innovation is everywhere. For starters, the
Torresol Energy. “Storage of the solar energy
walls are extra-thick. The density of the
PAGE 18
/ N°3 - OCTOBER 2011
most energy efficient buildings in the
Innovation around every corner
can be transferred and stored in the molten
“Gemasolar is the first commercial plant in
“The BST is considered to be one of the
savings in thermal demand,” Joan adds.
an innovative molten salts system within the
collected by the salts, capable of reaching
to the position of the sun.
Mediterranean region because of the vast
surrounding a tower focus solar rays, and
tower transfers heat to a boiler. The heat
The blinds automatically rotate in relation
FOR MORE INFO
Joan Sabaté
www.saas.es/banco-de-sangre-decataluna/
Tools and
services
for local
and regional authorities
and energy agencies
www.managenergy.net
Interactive website
Networking opportunities
Capacity building workshops
Case studies and good practice
Education corner
Information on EU legislation
Annual events
© littlesam - Shutterstock
Dates for your diary
> November 2011: The results of the evaluation of the 2011 call for proposals are revealed.
> November 2011 – February 2012: Negotiations on the proposals recommended
for funding.
> February 2012 onwards: Grant agreements will be signed. You can start work!
> Early 2012: Next IEE call for proposals.
INTELLIGENT APPLICATION
Become an expert evaluator
for Intelligent Energy – Europe
If you are an expert in the field of sustainable energy or transport and you are not applying
for funding from the Intelligent Energy – Europe Programme, you may be interested
in helping us to evaluate project proposals.
Why not apply to be included on our list of evaluators?
http://ec.europa.eu/eaci/call_en.htm
Once you are on this list, and depending on the nature of the task, we may invite you
to assist us in future evaluation exercises.
executive agency
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
for competitiveness & innovation
EA-AB-11-003-EN-C
IEE INTELLIGENCE