EU continuation IEE

REPAP2020, 27 National Industry Roadmaps towards the 27 National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP)

By June 30 2010, the EU-27 Member States are obliged to submit a National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP).
Then the EC will evaluate the NREAP's, and the completion of implementation has to be done by the EU Member States by 25th December 2010.
A project, REPAP2020: “Renewable Energy Policy Action Paving the Way towards 2020”, is combining the efforts of Parliamentarians and of the renewable-energy industry to move forward to meet the national binding targets of the renewable energy share in each EU country.
The targets are set by the so called “RES Directive”: The Directive on the Promotion of the use of Energy from Renewable Sources (2009/28/EC). The aim is to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the European final energy consumption to 20% by 2020, from around 8.5% in 2005.

The Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) funded project has empowered national industry associations to come up with their individual national industry RES Roadmaps to influence the drafting phase of the NREAPs.

A new call is just opened for proposals for the Intelligent Energy for Europe program (IEE) for support of promotion activities for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Deadline for submission is 24th June, 2010.

The total amount of support is 56 mill.Euro and the support can be up to 75% of the total cost. Usually there are many good proposals, so only about 1/6 of the proposals receive a grant. There must be at least 3 partners in a proposal; but most successful proposals have at least 6. Any public or private organisation from the EU, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Croatia can apply. Applying for IEE funding is a highly competitive process. The project proposals must be of a high professional quality to have a reasonable chance of being selected for funding. Only online applications are possible.

Read more at
http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/call_for_proposals/call_library_en.htm

2009 Call for Proposals
While there are no more calls for proposals in 2008, it is expected that there will be a new call in the very beginning of 2009.
The EU will finance up to 75% of projects and each project will typically be 0.5 - 2.5 mill. Euro. The competition is expected to be hard as only 1/6 of the applicants in the 2007 call for proposals were successful. Proposals must be within the priority topics of the IEE work program to be considered.

In addition to the information below, it is worth to remember that:
- The EU can pay up to 75% of project´s cost
- Only 1/6 of the proposals receive support
- It is not an NGO grant. NGOs can participate on equal terms with others, but only if the NGOs represents less than 25% of the partners.
- The total budget for calls in 2009 is 65 mill. Euro and a typical project is around 1 mill. Euro.

The EU Commission launched new call for proposals 12/3-08 with a deadline 26/6. While the resulting project are not known yet, it is expected that campaigns and other activities to directly increase use of energy efficiency and renewable energy will have highest priority.

In 2007 was one call for proposals with a deadline in September. Some clear improvements for proposers compared with previous years were that the EU can support up to 75%, that an overhead rate of 60% is accepted on wages, and that the proposal just have to be sent on the date of the deadline (date of postmark counts).

INFORSE-Europe has made proposals for improvements based on the 2007 Call for Proposals and work programme, see HERE

In October 2006, the European energy ministers approved a continuation of the Intelligent Energy for Europe (IEE) programme, for support of sustainable energy for the period 2007-2013. It includes the old SAVE and ALTENER programmes for non-technical support for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and is itself part of the new large ”Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme” (CIP). The annual budget for the new IEE programme is in average 91 mill. € for the each of the seven years that it will run. This is substantially more than the 50 mill €/year that the previous IEE program had for 2003-2006.

The originally proposed budget for the new IEE was € 730 million for the seven years. The Commission adopted the proposal on 6th April 2005 as the COM(2005) 121 final and the first reading in the Parliament finished June 1, 2006.

The new IEE will support more rational, efficient, and sustainable patterns in energy use, by identifying and removing administrative, communications, and other non-technological barriers.
As a part of the global CIP Program, the IEE also targets sustainable economic growth with job creation, greater social cohesion and higher quality of life, while preventing waste of natural resources. With the promotion of the EU Parliament eco-innovation will be supported.

Strategic studies on energy trends for the preparation of future legislative measures as well as the development of standards, labelling and certification systems.
Creation, enlargement or reorganisation of structures and instruments for sustainable energy development. This includes local and regional energy management, and the development of adequate financial products and market instruments.
Promotion of sustainable energy systems and equipment in order to accelerate their penetration of the market and stimulate investment. Awareness campaigns and the creation of institutional capabilities should also be supported.
Development of information, education and training structures.
Promotion of know-how and best practices through operational transnational networks.