31-07-2014
Event on 25 September 2014, Edinburgh, UK, Community-energy: empowering local authorities and their communities to guide local sustainable energy roll-out in Scotland
Local decision-makers, planners, local government associations, networks and energy agencies are invited to participate in free workshop addressing potential for roll-out of community energy in Scotland. The event will include topics such as how local authorities can invest in community energy, how they can access funding, and how local authorities and community groups can work together in renewable energy. Best practice from across Scotland will also be showcased during the workshop.
30-07-2014
Poland’s first and so far the only energy cooperative was established
With one of Europe’s lowest social capitals, outdated cooperative legislation more than 30 years old and dating back to deep communism era, chaotic and unstable energy law and lack of political support for small-scale RES, Poland is not the ideal incubator for community energy projects. At the moment there is only one such initiative under development, which in time may become an example of a solution to decentralising and democratising the energy sector in Poland.
24-07-2014
Polish region an unexpected champion of green energy citizen projects
As member states continue to negotiate spending plans for the next EU Cohesion Policy funds 2014-2020 with the European Commission, the Polish north-eastern region of Podlaskie proves an unexpected champion of green citizen energy revolution in Poland.
23-07-2014
Reducing the cost of climate change adaptation in cities
The RAMSES project has released five reports aimed at helping cities reduce the cost of their climate adaptation activities. The reports focus on project outcomes in a range of areas, including architecture and infrastructure indicators, cost typologies for buildings, local climate change projections, climate change losses and adaptation costs, appropriate decision-making processes and stakeholder engagement.
17-07-2014
Ownership is Key to Giving Communities a Real Stake in Energy Policy
Expanding local ownership of renewable energy projects is key to giving communities a real stake in energy policy, according to a new report. The report, prepared by 18 groups working in the energy and community sector, highlights the very significant barriers to the development of community owned renewable energy projects in Ireland, and makes recommendations to Government to make it possible for communities and individuals to get involved in local renewable energy generation, distribution and energy efficiency projects.
The report can be downloaded here
15-07-2014
Scotland’s National Community Energy Conference 2014 – Save the dates!
The date and venue for Scotland’s National Community Energy Conference 2014 has been announced, and you are invited. Carola Bell, Chair of Community Energy Scotland said ‘This year we will gathering in Edinburgh for a two day event on Wednesday 26th and Thursday 27th November. The conference this year will really build on and update our successful event in Glasgow last year. Focussing on retaining and adding local value through community ownership of our own energy, the conference will be bringing together all the strands of the community energy and local energy economy agenda, from finance to regulation, and from planning to technologies. I’d like to encourage everyone with an interest in the increasing role of communities in control and ownership of their own energy generation and wise energy use to attend.'
03-07-2014
Inspiring Community Power stories
Community power projects have sprung up all across Europe. From wind to solar and beyond, these case studies from across the continent show what can be achieved by working together for a greener future.
03-07-2014
Local authorities and cooperatives are key to citizen energy transition
Legal and financial barriers currently prevent citizens from participating more effectively in decisions about Europe’s energy generation, but these can be overcome with help from local governments and cooperatives, as Friends of the Earth Europe, Climate Alliance, REScoop.eu, Cooperatives Europe, CECODHAS and Euro Coop said during the event on the 26th of June 2014.
03-07-2014
Local leaders discuss the future of community renewable energy during EUSEW event
City leaders have an opportunity to shape policies to promote renewable energy projects at local level, heard delegates at the "Community energy: accelerating sustainable energy roll-out" event, held yesterday in the framework of the EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2014 High Level Policy Conference in Brussels (Belgium). The event, organised by ICLEI, focused on the potential of community-led and owned Renewable Energy Sources (RES) for local and regional development. The theme that political support, manifested through supportive policies and legal and financial frameworks, can have an important impact on community power projects was echoed by speakers throughout the event.
03-07-2014
Ålands case judgment – EU Member States are not required to support the production of renewable energy in other Member States
In Ålands Vindkraft AB v Energimyndigheten (Case C-573/12) the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has concluded that the Renewables Directive remains valid and will not have to change. The Court also concluded Sweden’s support scheme for green energy is compatible with the Renewable Energy Directive.
