Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Cities
Mobilising local energy
investments p.10
M e r Covenant of Mayors National
e N o r v g Clubs: New networking
e platforms are born! p.13
No. 39 Spring 2011 INFO
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Oslo
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Helsinki
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Stockholm
RU
Tallinn [erepovec
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N ESTONIA Novgorod Vologda
M PIA
ECOSSE Gteborg
Edimbourg LETTONIE Kostroma
rhus Mer
Riga Jaroslavl'
YAUME- North DENMARK Copenhague Baltique Tver' Ni nij
DOSSIER LITUAN
Energetic
Dvina
UNI Sea IE
Moscou
Novgorod J
Liverpool Kaliningrad RUSSIE Kaunas
NETHERLANDS Smolensk
Volga
Manchester Hambourg Kaluga [eboksary
E Gdask
Territories
Weser
E
Birmingham
Amsterdam Minsk Tula
Berlin POLOGNE PLATEAU DE RU
Londres SSIE Saransk
Rotterdam Elb Od
er Varsovie BELARUS CENTRALE
Bristol e
BELGIUM Dsseldorf Pripet Orel Penza
Leipzig V
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GERMANY
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L a Manch Luxembourg Wrocaw Voronej Saratov ga
Frankfurt Prague Vol
Se LUXEMBOURG Cracovie Kiev
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Danu C A R UKRAINE Kharkiv Do
FRANCE Munich Vienne SL O VA Q U IE P
A Dnie Bo Dn n
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Bratislava str r
Loire
LIECHTENSTEIN
Nantes Bern AU TR IC H E
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Vaduz Dnipropetrovs
Budapest MOLDAVIE k Volgograd
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SWITZERLAND
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Lyon SLOVENIE HONGRIE
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Bordeaux MASSIF
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Turin Po Ljubljana ROMANIA Don
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Genova CROATIA BOSNIE- Belgrade Mer Elista A
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www.energy-cities.eu
Energy Cities Board of Directors gives you
good
to join the European network
reasons
Freely exchange your visions , practices and concerns on sustainable energy. Discover
(Saskia Bolten, Deputy Mayor of Delft/NL, member of the Board of Directors) the brand
new key visual
Learn about technical and financial assistance tools to implement your
local policies. (George Scripcaru, Mayor of Brasov/RO, Vice-President of Energy Cities) In 2010, Energy Cities
20th anniversary was
Influence energy and territorial EU policies . marked by a complete
(Eva Avossa, Deputy Mayor of Salerno/IT, member of the Board of Directors) rebranding of its visual
identity. The final step in
Get acquainted with innovative working methods to achieve your goals. the process is the
(Alan Coleman, Councillor of Cork County Council/IE, Vice-President of Energy Cities) development of a brand
new key visual to be
Have your say at the national and European level. featured on all
(Denis Baupin, Deputy Mayor of Paris/FR, Vice-President and Treasurer of Energy Cities) communication supports.
Promote your activities Europe-wide through our on- and offline media.
(Juan Luis Snchez de Muniin, Councillor of Pamplona/ES, member of the Board of Directors)
Get personal advice and get involved in developing your own European projects .
Visit innovators in other cities with our tailor-made study tours and exchange with
colleagues. (Abdul Osman, Councillor of Leicester City Council/UK, Vice-President of Energy Cities)
DOSSIER
Heidelberg: Work, live, learn and grow up
in one of the worlds biggest passive house
districts..................................................................................p.4
Utrecht: back to the future...................................p.5
Territorial cohesion and energy policy
six interviews with: Marie Donnelly
& Rudolf Niessler - European Commission
Ilmar Reepalu & Michel Delebarre -
Committee of the Regions Kathleen van
Brempt & Lambert van Nistelrooij -
European Parliament................................................p.6-8
Budget cuts versus
Shutterstock
a compatible
Zagreb Energy Week: Networking for
sustainability...................................................................p.12
Covenant of Mayors National Clubs:
couple?
New networking platforms are born!..........p.13
Barcelona Energy Plan:
everyone has a say.....................................................p.13
With the new Alliance,
Energy Cities. The name of our association is composed of two words: the heat is on!............................................................p.14
Energy and Cities. On the one hand a territory, the city and its peri-urban
The green drivers licence - Low-
area. On the other hand, a flow of energy that crosses said territory, emissions zones in European cities...............p.14
nourishing it and bringing comfort to its inhabitants as well as all they need
to produce, travel and have fun. Fossil energy is a finite resource. It Energy efficiency, a wish in vain?............p.15
generates local and global pollution and produces waste, in the territory Rendezvous with... Jan Olbrycht
where it is used and at its places of production, transportation and (President of URBAN Housing)..........................p.16
transformation. The Covenant of Mayors.................................p.17
IMAGINE: an important
The relationship between energy and territories has been at the heart of the resource for cities........................................................p.18
associations philosophy since its creation in 1990. Like water and air,
energy is one of the few elements that is absolutely necessary for the The POLIS project sheds light
survival of human life. It has economic, social and environmental on solar urban planning...................................p.19
dimensions. This is why energy must not just be considered as a lever Shared energy: a new association
against climate change, to which it is obviously one of the contributing and financing tool..................................................p.19
factors, but also as an issue in itself and a major dimension of authorities In Freiburg and Besanon,
policies. 200 families are actively involved
in climate protection..........................................p.19
Hence, with the next cohesion policy in its preparation stage, Energy ENGAGE for energy and climate....................p.20
Cities is taking the opportunity of this issue of Energy Cities INFO to
review its analyses and take stock of the state of the debate on this
issue. If you wish to receive this magazine
regularly and for free, please e-mail:
www.energy-cities.eu/miriam
Territ
Heidelberg:
Work, live, learn and
grow up in one of the
worlds biggest passive
house districts
k
oc
rst
te
ut
Sh
5,000
high quality for life for all, is that of harmony between the economic, social, envi-
ronmental and human dimensions. Making the most of the energy saving poten-
tial and local renewable resources of a territory leads to creating new jobs, impro- new jobs
56%
ving resource management, limiting pollution, mobilising human intelligence,
reducing energy poverty and providing the population with the quality of life they
want. CO2 reductions =
4,100t CO2 (compared to the German
All in all, territorial cohesion may seem to be a vague concept that needs to be fil- Energy Saving Regulation)
led with sense and action, not only for EU institutions but also for many people in
Europe. What if we were to set aside theoretical definitions and take a closer look
at local authorities? What if cities and regions were the first to actually demons-
trate what territorial cohesion is all about?
Energy Cities No. 39 I p.4
INFO
Energy Cities No. 39 I p.5
INFO
Members in the spotlight
Utrecht:
back to the future
Is it possible to balance sustainability
goals and historical values in an old
downtown centre? Utrecht, whose
objective is to get a CO2 neutral town
center by 2030, is about to find the
answer.
Shutterstock
Territ
Territorial cohesion
and energy policy
a matter of perspective
European
Commission
Marie Donnelly is Director New and renewable sources of Rudolf Niessler is Director for Policy Coordination at the
energy, energy efficiency Innovation at the European European Commissions DG REGIO. Already created in
Commissions DG ENER. This Directorate-General is res- 1965, the DGs mission is to strengthen economic, social
ponsible for developing and implementing a European ener- and territorial cohesion in the regions and countries of the
gy policy. European Union. The Directorate General manages the
three Cohesion policy funds.
Mrs. Donnelly, what is the territorial dimension of
the EU energy policy? Mr. Niessler, what is the energy dimension of the
territorial policy?
The territorial dimension of the EU energy policy comes into
play whenever we talk about energy savings and efficiency Success in achieving Europes 2020 goals will for the large
in buildings and urban part depend on decisions taken at local and regional level.
transport, the use and Regional Policy plays an essential role in driving the shift to
integration of local
Local authorities are in a investment in smart and sustainable growth through the
renewables, cogenera- position to make urban actions it can support to tackle energy and climate issues.
tion, heat production and systems as a whole more Achieving the target of 20% of renewables in 2020 will pro-
distribution, energy ser- vide additional jobs,
vices and of course, energy-efficient. many of them close Cities and urban areas are at the
urban planning as well as t o w h e r e i nve s t -
the practical involvement of citizens and private stakehol- ments are made. The same time part of the problem
ders. While the industry can boost innovation and improve potential for job crea- and part of the solution to
the energy efficiency of products (vehicles, insulation, etc.), tion in the field of
local authorities are in a position to make urban systems as energy efficiency, in
greater energy efficiency.
a whole more energy-efficient. There lies an infinite and particular in buil-
often underestimated potential for economic growth and dings, is also remarkable. Cities and urban areas, which
innovation. consume up to 80% of energy, are at the same time part of
Over 2200 local authorities are engaged in the Covenant of the problem and part of the solution to greater energy effi-
Mayors today. They need to tap into this vast potential. ciency. Regions and cities should see renewables and ener-
Contrary to what many people think, tackling energy gy efficiency as drivers of development and accelerate
consumption, CO2 emissions and increasing the share of investments according to their local energy potential, espe-
renewables remains in the hands of local, untraditional cially in rural and coastal areas, outermost regions and
planners, architects, plumbers, farmers and, most of all, islands. Regional Policy can help promote sustainable ener-
households. This requires a new model of governance, gies in district heating and co-generation, as well as in local
based on a territorial, rather than a sectoral approach. smart distribution networks.
Energy Cities No. 39 I p.6
INFO
Energy Cities No. 39 I p.7
INFO
How does someone in charge of regional policy look at energy issues? And
what importance does an energy policy expert give to territorial matters?
Comparing views was the objective of our interview series carried out with
six high-level EU representatives: Read the answers from the European
Commission, the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament on
these pages.
Ilmar Reepalu (European Socialist Party) is the Mayor of Michel Delebarre (European Socialist Party) is Mayor of
Malm (Sweden) and Chairman of the Committee of the Dunkerque and Chairman of the COTER Commission. This
Regions ENVE Commission. This Commission allows repre- Commission enables representatives from local and regio-
sentatives from local and regional authorities to discuss the nal authorities to discuss the planning and implementation
formulation of energy policies and to promote best practices of cohesion policies and to ensure that their concerns are
in these fields. taken up by other European institutions.
Mr. Reepalu, from your point of view, what is the M. Delebarre, what is the energy dimension of the
territorial dimension of the EU energy policy? territorial policy?
The EU energy policy requires Member States to increase I have always considered that the European Union has, to
the share of renewable energy production. This production date, placed too much single emphasis on economic com-
needs to be optimised according to local and regional condi- petitiveness and that it should give equal footing to the
tions, i.e. every region needs to get better at tapping into three pillars of sustainable development in its EU 2020
their natural sources. In order to achieve a stable, secure strategy.
and sustainable energy supply,
the production needs to be In this context and as President of the Committee of the
made available across Europe.
Cities and regions Regions COTER, I am strongly promoting that this reform
Cities and regions need need to be and of the EU territorial cohesion poli-
become more active in seeing become more active cy really considers energy and
quality of life issues as the core
Energy is not a
their very own potential for
contributing to reaching the tar- in seeing their very of urban policy definition. This willsubsection of
gets of the EU energy policy. In own potential. not happen unless the role of territorial cohesion
Malm we have the ambitious cities is truly acknowledged and
goal to cover the entire citys resources are granted to cities by but one of the key
energy demand with renewable energy, with a high propor- the EU in a contractualised, multi- components of the
tion produced locally and regionally, by 2030. governance logic. Such an ideo-
At the same time, cities need to become more active at logical mutation of the definition
territorial system.
identifying the potential for energy efficiency. Identifying of territorial cohesion is central
measures to reduce energy demand in our own regions for taking up the challenges that cities are facing, especially
means finding low hanging fruits quicker and easier and those related to energy. In short, energy is not a subsection
thus opening up potential for investments for energy effi- of territorial cohesion but one of the key components of the
ciency in the medium term. territorial system.
Energeotriices
DOSSIER
Territ
European
Parliament
Exercise
What is a territory?
Take a pen and a sheet of paper. Got it? How would
you draw your city or region? Have a go...
INF
ambitious CO2 cuts
Cities need specific financial support for their energy
and climate policies.
The success of concrete commitments such as the Covenant of Mayors will depend on the
support it gets. Signatory mayors have made a unilateral commitment, but they are expecting
positive signals, especially given the public finance crisis that local authorities are currently
experiencing. The five main fields in which local authorities need support to achieve their goals are:
numbers.
u An obligation imposed on Member States and managing authorities to
earmark credits specifically allocated to supporting the efforts of cities in
achieving the EU energy and climate objectives in a Territorial Cohesion
perspective. The European Commissions Communication of 26 January on the
contribution of Regional Policy to sustainable growth is paving the way forward.
Advantage: large dissemination throughout Europe. Drawback: the decision is still
in the hands of the States.
Energeotriices
DOSSIER
Territ
ELENA
Mobilising
local energy
investments
Access to finance, both public and private, is based on increasingly
complex procedures. As a result, a substantial amount of the avai-
lable funding remains unused whilst expectations from cities for
financial support to implement sustainable energy projects remain
Fotolia
high. The European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA) facility
demonstrates how technical assistance for developing bankable pro-
jects is paramount to triggering investment in sustainable energy at
regional or local level. It accounts for 15 Mio EUR per year and helps
innovative financing schemes be implemented.
Archiv LH Hannover
60%
States are nei-
50% ther capable of
using the money
40%
properly nor of co-financing it while
30% managing authorities are not wil-
20%
ling or capable to change the ope-
rational programmes in the mid-
10%
term.
0%
l
er
ta
RO
BG
NL
BE
LU
CY
EE
HU
SE
ES
PT
DK
FR
AT
LV
UK
CZ
SK
DE
PL
s- GR
LT
IT
SI
IE
FI
rd
M
To
Bo
Event
os
Cr
Two-thirds of the financing period 2007-2013 are already behind us, and only 22% of Open debates during
the credits allocated to sustainable investments are used! the OPEN DAYS
Would you like to discuss territory-
focused climate and energy poli-
cies with local authorities or EU
WEB
representatives? Come and take
Take 30 minutes to read the RUSE brochure if you part in the workshops organised by
want to understand how the Structural Funds and Energy Cities during the OPEN
the Cohesion Fund work. DAYS in Brussels.
Territ
Sustainability
"Durabilit ou
or profitability?
rentabilit?
Ive chosen
Jai choisi
both. les deux"
Cooperation
Partnerships
for an even Youll
bus.
find
"C'est dans
me in the
le bus
que tu
me trouveras"
better city
Wearing
"En costarda
suit, riding a
et vlo!"
bike!
Shutterstock
Discussions in a national context are already ongoing within the French
Club of the Covenant of Mayors which was inaugurated in 2010 at the
initiative of Energy Cities and under the coordination of its Vice-President,
Deputy Mayor of Paris, Denis Baupin. A similar effort is under
development in Germany: initiated by the City of Heidelberg and
coordinated by Energy Cities and Climate Alliance, the club is to be
unveiled in October 2011. Other such national networking platforms are to
be developed in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland,
Romania, Slovakia, Sweden and the Baltic area.
www.energy-cities.eu/Covenant-of-Mayors,1424
Vision
A city for people
to live in
The city of tomorrow
will integrate energy
and territories and will
look pretty much like
the city of today... but
only from the outside,
as it will have a very
different use.
Shutterstock
would tell
whether you are
authorised to circulate in a German
urban area. Similar schemes exist in
other countries even though the type of
access restriction and the instruments
adopted vary. The objective is always
the same: to improve air quality,
circulation and quality of life.
So-called low-emission zones or green
zones are being created by an
increasing number of European cities. A
website has been set up to give an
overview of these different types of
zones. Find out who can drive where on
www.lowemissionszones.eu
The issue of sustainable urban
mobility is regularly addressed by
Energy Cities, involved in the
co-ordination of the European
Mobility Week website and
participant in the Ad Personam
Shutterstock
project.
www.mobilityweek.org
www.marketingpublictransport.eu
Resource-efficiency requires a European strategy for heat!
In February 2011, Energy Cities, Euroheat & Power, Cecodhas Housing Europe,
CEWEP, COGEN Europe and EFIEES got together to focus their attention on the Members in the spotlight
heating sector and to be united in their call for strong action on energy efficiency.
Energy Cities members
Sharing the conviction that local energy concepts hold the key to an accelerated
transition to a sustainable energy future, the associations produced a joint statement actions turn up the heat
entitled Europe needs a strategy for Heat. They believe that heating and cooling u Bielsko-Biaa (Poland): uses heat
should be viewed as a market in its own right, as doing so provides important pumps to supply thermal energy at a
possibilities for energy integration and efficiency. Wastewater Treatment Plant and an
aquatic leisure centre.
This lays the foundations for a new initiative launched by Energy Cities: the network u Brussels (Belgium): renewable heat for
is about to create an Alliance for Territorial Energy. It will gather key public, private 350 flats - installed a cogeneration
and associative stakeholders willing to foster a European energy policy based on system combined with thermal solar
territorial cohesion, innovation, inclusion and job creation. panels.
u Delft (Netherlands): established a new
The potential for decentralised energy innovation in territories is far greater than in local district heating network for 20,000
big energy suppliers in terms of techniques, methods, system optimisation, homes.
governance and citizenship throughout the coming decades. Millions of jobs have u Vxj (Sweden): was one of the first
already been created and the future potential is far from being exploited. cities in Sweden to use biomass for
co-generation of district heating and
www.energy-cities.eu/IMG/pdf/110202_Press_Release_JointHeatStatement_ electricity.
sf.pdf
More in the online database with
almost 500 cities actions:
www.energy-cities.eu
Energy Cities No. 39 I p.14
INFO
Energy Cities No. 39 I p.15
INFO
Figures
World energy subsidies
In 2007, around 288 bn EUR in subsidies have been allocated to energy world wide.
Source: International Energy Agency, 2007
127
billion
77
billion
18
billion
18
billion
14
billion
11
billion
10
billion
3
billion
EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR EUR
petroleum products natural gas coal renewables electricity nuclear biofuel energy
efficiency
According to the World Energy Outlook 2010 of the International Energy Agency, the
complete removal of fossil-fuel subsidies would reduce CO2 emissions by 5.8% in 2020
(compared to a business-as-usual scenario).
Energy efficiency,
a wish in vain?
On 8 March 2011, the European However, the word action has been
Commission published its new removed from the title. This
Energy Efficiency Plan. The very first exacerbates the lack of ambitions and
line points to energy efficiency as the concrete objectives of this plan.
top priority of the 2011-2020 energy Along the same lines, the overall plan
strategy: Energy efficiency is at the doesnt constitute a response that
heart of the EUs Europe 2020 matches the scale of the challenges,
Strategy for smart, sustainable and despite a series of encouraging
inclusive growth and of the transition measures.
to a resource-efficient economy. Already the statement of the December 2010. If we do not put this
Energy Cities welcomes this new European summit in February 2011 business-as-usual attitude behind
opening and is pleased to see that made no break from tradition: After us, there is, indeed, little chance that
the Covenant of Mayors is featured in highlighting the need to harness the the 20% energy efficiency target will
the Plan: The Covenant is a formal whole energy saving180potential
milliardsofEUR be
110reached in 2020!
milliards EUR 25 milliards EUR 25 milliards EUR
commitment to reduce signatories various sectors to achieve
produits the targets
ptroliers gaz naturel charbon renouvelable
CO2 emissions by more than 20% by set for 2020, the Heads of State and www.energy-cities.eu/2011-
Energy-Efficiency-Plan-Where
2020 through sustainable energy government finally decidedto do
measures on their territories. The nothing or almost nothing. They
network also appreciates the fact that specifically refused the idea of
other initiatives (Smart Cities and binding energy saving targets,
Communities) are being developed although this had been a request of
on the basis of the Covenant. the European Parliament in
20 milliards EUR 16 milliards EUR 15 milliards EUR 4 milliards EUR
lectricit nuclaire biocarburants efficacit nergtique
Rendezvous
with... Jan
Olbrycht
Member of the EU Parliament
for the Christian-Democrats,
Jan Olbrycht is also President of
the URBAN Housing Intergroup
of the Parliament.
level.
I think it will be necessary to have one financial
instrument dedicated to the Covenant. When
public EU money is given to beneficiaries, eco-
conditionalities have to be introduced. The
Covenant can be a good eligibility criteria.
The big mistake currently The big mistake currently is that administrations
The is that administrations create special funds for everything: special funds
URBANHousing for energy, special funds for climate, special
Intergroup
create special funds for funds for CO2. We need to have an integrated
With more than 90 everything. We need to approach. That is why ELENA is interesting.
partners and 70 have an integrated
MEPs, this group has
become a true power approach.
of persuasion within
the European
Parliament in the field
of urban policy.
Energy Cities No. 39 I p.16
INFO
Energy Cities No. 39 I p.17
INFO
Covenant of Mayors Publications
OPINION http://assets.panda.org/
downloads/101223_
Europe must strongly
energy_report_final_
root its energy shift
print_2.pdf
within our local economic
and social fabric. Cost-Optimality.
In this regards the Covenant Discussing
methodology and
CoR
stakeholders. following the EPBD recast Growing numbers of
(Directive 2010/31/EU) to residents are getting
Mercedes Bresso, President of the discuss the calculation involved with professionals
Committee of the Regions (CoR) methodology. The document in shaping their local
is targeted at all internal and environment. This website is
external stakeholders of this an essential starting point for
process and explains the everyone concerned. It
background process and provides easily accessible
generic principles of the how-to-do-it best practice
methodology. information: methods,
scenarios, projects, toolkits,
www.eceee.org/ case studies, videos,
buildings/docs
publications...
www.communityplanning.net
Buildings
The Smart-e
Buildings campaign
makes energy-
efficiency viral
Yves Petit
the existing Build Up website
but it is also a platform where
IMAGINE:
building owners and
professionals will be able to
exchange experiences and
an important
ideas, thus being empowered to
take action.
And to continue the Smart-e
Me compr
mi coche ometo a adaptar
European Union 3x20 objectives. como compara usar GLP
bustible.
David, empl
eado muni
cipal. - Marz
o 2011
www.klimasucht
schutz.heidelber
g.de
Creativity Join!
Mobilise thanks to If you too would like www.pamp
lona.es
posters facilitate local u show that participative PR Jose Luis - 2011ko urtarrila
www.pam
plona.es
cration : Diane Morel / Photos : Fotolia et Istockphoto