PROVINCIA DI BERGAMO

Education, Training and Employment Department

Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, 106 – Bergamo, Italy

INDEX OF CONTENT

• PRESENTION OF THE PROVINCE OF BERGAMO;• INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE PROVINCE OF BERGAMO;• GREEN PUBBLIC PROCRUMENT

– A DEFINITION– IN ITALY– IN THE PROVINCE OF BERGAMO;

• RENEABLE RESOURCES.

Provincia di Bergamo

The province of Bergamo is situated in Centre-Northern Italy, in the Lombardia Region.

Provincia di Bergamo

• It has an area of almost 2,700 km2, a population of 1,027,162 inhabitants and 244 municipalities.

Focus on the Institution

• The Province is a public local authority. It interacts with the Region through agreements and coordinates all the municipalities of its territory.

• It is situated at the third level of the Italian administrative system.

• Italy has in fact a multi-level administrative organization: 1. State 2. Region (20 regions), 3. Province, 4. Municipality, the smallest administrative unit.

Focus on the Institution

• Province activities: coordination and management in different sectors: social affairs, culture and sport, territory, environment, agriculture, hunting and fishing, province police department.

• Province manages: road network, tourism, job and professional training issues.

Education, Training and Emp. Dep.

• The Education, Training and Job department monitors job centres and information points, useful helps to research available training courses, traineeships and employment opportunities.

• It provides professional training for young, adult and persons with disability according to the needs of the provincial territory.

Education, Training and Emp. Dep.

• The department is responsible for managing workers' mobility among firms and for supporting economic sectors to recover from crisis period.

• In 2005 the Province creates the ABF (Azienda

Bergamasca Formazione), an independent company which manages public local services concerning professional education.

Projects carried out

• “Shared Enhancement for Cooperation to Transform and Restructure” (S.E.C.T.O.R.)Article 6 - EU Commission Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities DG -Total Amount of the project: € 838.304,00.

• “Textile Innovative Restructuring” (T.I.R.) – ID VS/2007/0517Progress - EU Commission Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities DG -Total Amount of the project: € 212.436,52.

Projects carried out

• “Orobie – “Mountain socio - economic Integration” FESR – Objective 2Total Budget 313.500,00 €

• Immibridge Bridges for ImmigrantsEuropean Found for integration of citizens of third countries2007-2013Budget: 102.106,00 Activities in running

Projects carried out• Brezovo project

Operation 4.2 inter- regional Cooperation BulgariaRenouvable energies investments in Brezovo and Maritsa municipalitiesActivities in running

• Zilina project EEA European Economic Area Grants and financial mechanism New public services in Zilina regionActivities in running

• Bridge Full capacity for non national workers insertionLeonardo Multilateral project 2009Activities in running

• Intercultural Language Learning for Illiterate AdultsLeonardo Multilateral project 2009Activies in running

• Highly scalable deployment model of Inclusive E - GovICT PSP Obj. 3.3 inclusive egovernance 2009Activities in running

• “ Lavoriamoci “ AzioneProvincieGiovani 2010Activities in running

PROVINCE OF BERGAMOInstitutional activities

Production and transport of energy

A) Equipment for the production of electricity

• Single Authorisation installation and operation of manufacturing plants powered electricity from conventional sources of power less than 300 MW;

• Single Authorisation for plants producing electricity from renewable energy sources (RES);

• Authorizations for construction and operation of plants that use waste as a fuel or other means to generate energy (R1) and incineration land (D10 ) is not subject to AIA;

• Simplified procedures for energy recovery (R1 ) of the waste (Articles 214 and 216 of Legislative Decree 152/ 06) are not subject to AUA;

• Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and verification subject to the VIA or plants producing energy from conventional and renewable sources that do not fall into categories and / or plants, AIA or plants for energy recovery of waste ( R1) do not fall into categories and / or plants, AIA.

Production and transport of energy

B) Electrical power lines and gas pipelines• Authorization for the construction and operation of

power lines of voltage between 30 and 150 kV;• Testing of electrical lines authorized;• Authorization for the construction of gas pipelines and

related works;• The Province is the competent authority to authorize

the construction and operation of power lines with a voltage of up to 150 kVolt under the Regional Law n. 52/1982 .

• For the construction and operation of power lines with a voltage of less than 30 kVolt you can access the "simplified" procedure .

Production and transport of energy

C) Geothermal probes• Installation in closed loop geothermal probes - depth <150 m

D) Deposits of mineral oils• Authorization and testing for deposits of mineral oil for domestic heating (excluding plants located in the city of Bergamo)

Production and transport of energy

E) Deposits of petroleum, petroleum products, petrochemical and chemical hazardousVerification of systems subject to the VIA " storage of petroleum , petroleum products, petrochemical and hazardous chemicals , according to the law of 29 May 1974 no. 256 , as amended, with a total capacity exceeding 1,000 m3" ( Appendices to Part II , Annex IV, point 8 letter . g ) of Legislative Decree no . 152/ 06).

F) Implementation of programs , projects and interventions in the promotion and encouragement of renewable energy sources and energy saving

Local Agenda 21 in the Province of Bergamo

The UN Plan of Action for Sustainable Development , Agenda 21 , was born during the Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.Summarizes the specific actions and strategies to be implemented globally , nationally and locally by signatory countries in every area in which human activity harms the ecosystem.In particular, indicates the need for each local authority to develop a Local Agenda 21 for the community and to foster a fair and sustainable development .

Local Agenda 21 in the Province of Bergamo

• Chapter 28 of Agenda 21 , dedicated to the local authorities , then invokes the responsibility of local government , since levels of government closest to the people, " to build, operate and maintain local infrastructure of the economy, society and the environment to coordinate planning processes , to intraprenderee social policies and laws in favor of the environment and to contribute to those policies at the regional and sub- regional “

• 1 . defining a Local Agenda 21 which contains the commitments of the local environmental , economic and social ;

• 2 . recognizing that success depends crucially on the participation of the greatest number of actors in the process.

Local Agenda 21 in the Province of Bergamo

• After Rio , for Europe to respond positively to the challenge of sustainable development, was organized in 1994, the Aalborg Conference under which founded the European Campaign city SUSTAINABILITY

• The Charter of European cities for sustainable development and sustainable ( Aalborg Charter ) was adopted by 80 European local governments and 253 representatives of international organizations , national governments, scientific institutions , consultants and individuals who participated in the European Conference on sustainable Cities held in Aalborg, Denmark , 24 to 27 May 1994.

Local Agenda 21 in the Province of Bergamo

• With the signing of the Charter cities and regions in Europe have undertaken to implement Agenda 21 at the local level and to develop action plans for long-term sustainable development and sustainable, and to launch the campaign for sustainable development and sustainable European cities.

• The Aalborg Charter elaborates the concept of sustainability , identifies the responsibilities of the urban environment and committed to developing policies and affirmative actions to go Everso sustainable cities ' .

Local Agenda 21 in the Province of Bergamo

Covenant of Mayors

The municipalities that adhere to the Covenant of Mayors Covenant of Mayors are called to meet the challenge of a 20% reduction of CO emissions by 2020 on its territory, through the planning and implementation of concrete measures and actions, which also constitute a means of access to sources of national and European funding through the implementation of the SEAP.

Covenant of Mayors The Province of Bergamo, serves as the main

actor of the Covenant with the role of the support structure of the European Commission for the province, the common reference point for adhering to the Covenant in Bergamo

Single Authorisation Environmental- AUApursuant to Presidential Decree 59-2013 to operators of installations covered by Article 1 of the same Presidential Decree , subject to at least one of the following certificates of permission:

a. authorization to discharge under Chapter II of Title IV of Section II of Part Three of the legislative decree of 3 April 2006, no . 152;

b . prior notification referred to in Article 112 of the legislative decree of 3 April 2006, no . 152 , for the agronomic use of manure , vegetation waters from oil mills and wastewater from businesses therein;

Single Authorisation Environmental- AUA

c . authorization to emissions into the atmosphere for plants referred to in Article 269 of the legislative decree of 3 April 2006, no . 152;

d. general authorization referred to in Article 272 of the legislative decree of 3 April 2006, no. 152;

e . communication or authorization referred to in Article 8 , paragraphs 4 or section 6 of the Act of 26 October 1995 n . 447;

Single Authorisation Environmental- AUA

f . authorization for the use of sewage sludge from the treatment process in agriculture referred to in Article 9 of Legislative Decree 27 January 1992 n.99;

g . communications on the subject of waste referred to in Articles 215 and 216 of the legislative decree of 3 April 2006, no. 152.

Single Authorisation Environmental- AUA

Some examples : • unloading on the ground;• Draining the surface water body;• Discharge into public sewer;• Emissions into the atmosphere;• noise impact;• Disposal of non-hazardous waste at the place of

production; • Use of sewage sludge in agriculture

The Environment Service

• Local Agenda 21 • Environmental Awareness • Composting of waste and agricultural use of sewage

sludge • Spillage of hydrocarbons in surface waters, illegal

disposal of waste, sanctions • Waste Management Centre • SEA - Strategic Environmental Assessment • VIC - Assessment of incidence • Environmental Accounting • GPP - Buy green • Day of the clean green

Waste Observatory

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Incidence of SCIs and SPAs on the municipal planning instruments

Municipal planning instruments

• Sites of Community Importance • Special Protection Areas

Waste Service

The service's work , divided into four offices - Landfills and waste plan , Surveillance systems , cadastre waste , protection of soil - is aimed at the technical-administrative control of the proper management of waste (including remediation of contaminated sites ) , the release permissions and opinions recovery and disposal and verification of simplified procedures for waste recovery activity

Waste Service

• News , circulars and regulations regarding waste• Screening of the V.I.A.• Published in the Official Bulletin of the Lombardy

Region 2nd Ordinary Supplement no. 5 of February 4, 2010, the Regional Law n. 5 February 2, 2010 Regulations on Environmental Impact Assessment .

• Remediation of contaminated sites• Methods of application of the rules concerning the

remediation of contaminated sites , municipal and skills testing mode of remediation

• Waste management activities : Forms and Charges for the technical investigation

Waste Service• Forms necessary for the granting of

authorizations updated/adapted to the new rules and directions on how to pay the charges for the technical investigation and control during the activity and final testing;

• Search a disposal facility and/or recovery of waste on exercise;

• Tool to search for plants in operation on the territory of the province have obtained a permit for the disposal and / or recovery of waste that operate under the Integrated Environmental Authorisation (AIA ) or in ordinary or simplified.

Day of “clean green” (verde pulito)

Day of “clean green”

• The Lombardy Region identifies a date every year (usually the first Sunday of April ) for the development of the "Day of the green clean ", established under Regional Law 14/1991

• The Lombardy Region has identified the day on April 6, the date for the holding of the Day of Clean Green for the year 2014 , as provided by the Regional Law 14/91 .

• This day in years plays a significant role is to raise awareness and inform citizens about environmental issues , which implementation of concrete actions of cleaning and arrangement of green areas

Air emissions and noise – AIA• integrated environmental permit ( IPPC - AIA) for industrial plants and waste treatment ,• integrated environmental permit ( IPPC - AIA) for the intensive farming of animals ( for the issues of environmental importance )• control of waste incineration plants and issuing opinions for their construction or operation,• authorization to atmospheric emissions for activities subject article . 269 of Legislative Decree no . 152/2006 as amended - Ordinary Permissions ,• authorization to atmospheric emissions for activities subject article . C.2 272 of Legislative Decree no . 152/2006 as amended - Permissions in derogation• authorization of mobile systems for waste treatment ,

Air emissions and noise – AIA

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and an EIA verification of industrial plants, recovery / disposal of waste subject to AIA ( of provincial jurisdiction ) and other works attributed to the Environment Sector in implementing the DGP No. 74-2012 , as well as for campaigns using mobile plants authorized to manage waste;• management of the regional land registries ( CURIT ) in the municipalities of the province - excluding the City of Bergamo,•check on the state of maintenance of heating systems in all municipalities in the civil Provicnia excluding the city of Bergamo;• organizing and conducting the qualifying examination for the operation of the plant thermal civilian thermal power rating greater than 0.232 MW;

• issuance of license for the operation of the plant thermal civil rated thermal input of more than 0.232 MW;

• assets at risk of a major accident;

• noise level in the field of overmunicipalities ;

• Airport noise;

• implementation of programs , projects and interventions relating to the protection of air quality;

• Action connecting with the local authorities as part of the Action Plan for the Prevention of Atmospheric Pollution;

• Coordination of Commons of ' Agglomeration of Bergamo for acute episodes of air pollution.

Integrated environmental authorization

IPPC - AIA• From 1 January 2008, the Province has authority to issue , renewal and review of the integrated environment;

• Authorization for new plant;• How to file a motion for new installations;• Editing authorized facility;• Request a change;• Renewal of Authorization;• Provisions for the submission of renewal;• charges instructors;• Transmission of Data Monitoring Plan AIA;• Indications of the Lombardy Region.

• Scrap ferrous and non-ferrous• New regime for use of scrap ferrous and non

ferrous;• publication Instances;• Publications of the operator pursuant to Art. 29c

c.3 Leg. 152/2006 and subsequent amendments.

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control• Regard to the prevention and reduction of pollution

from certain activities, including the most impactful (Annex I of Decree 59/2005 ), integrated environmental authorizations issued to these activities :– provide measures to avoid or reduce their

emission;– avoid them if you can not reduce air, water and soil– reduce the production of waste;– take into account the use of raw materials in the

production cycle , energy efficiency, noise , prevention of accidents, risk management , etc. ..

Integrated Environmental Authorisation• The Integrated Environmental Authorisation is not

just a " sum" of the environmental permits that a company must have ( permission to air emissions , the discharge of wastewater and storage / management of waste), but something more;

• It ' a new vantage point from which you should be able to see the activity as a whole, also taking into account the cross effects, to try to prevent and control, in coordinated manner, the various forms of pollution that may result.

Integrated Environmental Authorization• And just following the principle of the integrated AIA

requires companies to achieve certain environmental performance by adopting techniques preferably Process rather than purification techniques.

• The conditions for the release of the AIA ( emission limit values , levels / environmental performance indices,…) are therefore generally determined, by the performance of the best available techniques (BAT) identified for the specific system from the investment manager.

• These techniques are more environmentally effective among those economically feasible in specific conditions ( of the productive sector, plant engineering, management, geographical and environmental).

Integrated Environmental Authorization

• The application of the provisions of Legislative Decree no . 59/2005 must not penalize the productive sector;

• Generally speaking, however, it should be directed to obtain the best performance from each environmental plant, without compromising unsustainably , also from the economic point of view, the level of productive sector.

Air quality

• Coordinated Area "agglomeration Bergamo”;

• Institutional Permanent Table of the Lombardy Region;

• Control exhaust gas vehicles in 2012;

• Blocking Traffic – “Urban Area Bergamo"

THE GREEN PUBLIC PROCRUMENT:A DEFINITION

The Green Public Procurement ( GPP) , Italian contract in green or Green purchasing of Public Administration ] is the integration of environmental considerations in the procurement of public administration , that means to be able to choose "those products and services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment than other products and services used for the same purpose " (U.S. EPA 1995).

Buying green means then buying a good / service taking into account the environmental impacts that this can have in the course of its life cycle from raw material extraction , disposal of waste (ie "from the Cradle to the Grave "). It is one of the main tools used to implement sustainable development strategies .

The practice of Green Public Procurement is the ability to include environmental qualification criteria in the request that the Public Administrations expressed in the purchase of goods and services aimed on the one hand to reduce their environmental impact, on the other hand may exert a " pulling effect " the market for environmentally friendly products. Public procurement , in fact, represent Italy in about 17% of the Gross Domestic Product ( GDP) and in European Union countries about 14%

The green concept of the contract , on an international scale , was originally promoted and confirmed by the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) .

THE GPP IN EUROPEAN UNION AND IN ITALY

The use of the instrument GPP has been encouraged for several years by the European Union, widely described in the " Green Paper on Integrated Product Policy " in 1996 , both in the Sixth Environmental Action Programme and developed in the Integrated Product Policy ( IPP - Integrated Product Policy).

However, it is the Directive 2004/18/EC of 31 March 2004 on the " coordination of procedures for the award of public supply, service and works " which, by regulations, recognizes the possibility of incorporating the environmental variable as a criterion for the enhancement of the offer.

IN ITALYIn Italy, the Green Public Procurement is not mandatory, but there are some rules that call for the introduction of establishing specific requirements or objectives for the purchase and / or use of certain products or services.

The public procurement directives do not contain any limitation as to the characteristics of purchases , so they are "neutral" . The institutions are free to decide what you need and what and how to buy.

The institutions thus have a wide scope for taking account of environmental considerations in the choice .

1. Definition of the subject

2 . Definition of technical specifications

(Article 68 of Legislative Decree 163/ 06)Specifications may contain particulars in terms of technical standards (characteristics, quality standards , processes and production methods, etc.). Contained in laws or technical standards of the industry. Annex VI of the Code contains an illustrative list of such technical standards , among which there may be also "levels of environmental performance ." In the contract may also be included technical specifications in terms of performance and functional requirements, which " may also include environmental characteristics . "

3 . Selection of candidates (Article 38 and 39 of Legislative Decree 163/ 06)

The public body may justifiably be excluded from participation in the tender those who have been convicted by a judgment which has the force of res judicata for offenses affecting the professional conduct or who has committed serious and proved error, in professional matters .

4 . Award of contract (Art. 81 , 84 Legislative Decree 163 /06 )

The award of the contract may be made with the criterion of the lowest price or the most economically advantageous tender. In the latter case, the notice sets out the bid evaluation criteria , relevant to the nature and characteristics of the object of the contract , including but not limited to: price, quality, ..., environmental characteristics .

5 . Performance of the contract (Article 69 of Legislative Decree 163/ 06 )

The contracting authorities may lay down special conditions for the performance they provide for equal treatment ... that abide in particular, environmental and social needs.

IN ITALY

The decree also stipulates that recipients take in the formulation of tenders for the supply and installation of manufactured products and goods , and in the formulation of specifications for public works, such criteria to be fulfilled in respect of the quotas established by the decree.

IN ITALY

In April 2006, in implementation of European directives has been published on the Code of public works services and supplies (Legislative Decree 12/04/2006 , n . 163). states that "The principle of cost-effectiveness may be subject ... to the criteria specified in the invitation inspired by social needs as well as the protection of health and the environment and promoting sustainable development“.

For the public administration it becomes possible to buy green intervening in the 5 phases of the procurement rules.

THE GREEN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT IN THE PROVINCE OF BERGAMO

• Application of GPP in the Province of Bergamo

• Working Group Agenda 21

• Working Group inter-sectoral

GPP Province of Bergamo: what has been done • Establishment of the manual "Guidelines for the

implementation of GPP in public organizations "(2005) • Publication on the website of the Province of Bergamo

(2006) • Application of GPP in different sectors Entity (2006) • Seminars to present, in all public bodies of the Province

concerned, • Manual "Guidelines for the implementation of GPP in public

bodies" (March 2006 and December 2007) • Publication and dissemination of the handbook "Good

practices green" (October 2008 and November 2009) • Establishment of new waste reduction and GPP Ag21 WG

(2008) _ Establishment of new cross-sector working group (2009

GPP Province of Bergamo

• Guidelines for the implementation of GPP in Public bodies " published in March 2006

• Identification of the operating instructions necessary to include the " ecological criteria "into procurement of products / services

In the manual • Operating Instructions : Item greening , environmental

criteria in• specifications , selection of candidates , mode of

award , the implementing rules.• Cards : containing the minimum environmental criteria

that can be• included in invitations to tender for the purchase of

some of the most• commonly required by government .• Examples of calls of proposals : including

environmental requirements related to the purchase of furniture, purchase of paper and provision of maintenance services of public green .

Application in the areas of Provincial public authority • Having identified the areas where to apply GPP;• On a specific comparison with representatives of the

sectors;• Identified: - road sector management , budget and bursar ,

General affairs;• analyzed calls of proposals published regularly by the

sectors;• Provide indications of possible interventions to draw up

green calls (eg, inclusion of specific technical products with a lower impact environmental);

• Published "calls green" purchases made through agreements;

• CONSIP "green“.

Application in Province departments

• Traffic Management Sector : service maintenance;• Sector budget : service budget and treasurer's;• General Business Sector : Information Services;• With each of the representatives of the various

services were are analyzed more calls of proposals;• Roads: call on roads maintenance;• Administration: Call Card purchase and service

cleaning;• Information services: hardware acquisition

announcement.

Other initiatives within the Province of Bergamo• Publication of the guide "The good green practices" for all

employees of the public;• Establishment of an inter-sectoral group for the

implementation of GPP Outside the Province of Bergamo;• Organization of seminars and accompanying comparison to

the local authorities of the territory (March 2006 and December 2007);

• Information about funding for initiatives to prevent the production of waste;

• Incentive of the collections of waste and GPP implementation (October 2006).

Other initiatives within the Province of Bergamo

• Establishment of a work group on GPP and waste reduction (July 2008);

• dissemination of the handbook "Good practices green" at the European Week for Waste Reduction (November 2009)

Award

The Province of Bergamo in October of 2009 winned the award for BEST CompraVerde GPP policy - SECTION LOMBARDY.

Motivation: It is a well-structured policy, continues over time and fully integrated with the environmental management system of the institution

Working Group on Agenda 21

Purpose of the WG • Dialectic confrontation of needs, expectations and

proposals for the work plan of the group Ag21;• Identifying the barriers that local authorities meet with

the introduction of GPP;• Indicating which transformations allow to overcome

the barriers identified;• Determining on which products to build a green

purchase contract;• Defining what are the expectations of the participants

on the objectives proposed.

Perspectives

Minimum scenario • Identification of product categories on which intervene

in accordance with PAN;• Preparation of calls for tender type.Advanced scenario • Identification of product categories on which

intervene in accordance with PAN;• Definition of a memorandum of understanding to

purchase "in common" _ articulation of a purchase procedure "common" by of members in the Memorandum of Understanding signed.

What has been done in last years • Update the latest EU regulations and national

GPP;• Analysis of minimum environmental criteria

published by the Ministry of environment and supporting the implementation of the same in procurement procedures of public entities belonging to the group;

• Processing of requests for quotations shared among the members of the Group for the purchase of green products (Rebuilt toner and stationery).

What has been done in last years

• Support to knowledge and understanding of the main labels Ecological present on the market;

• Participation in the European Week for Waste Reduction;

• Diffusion with manual paper-less "The good green practices“.

RENEWABLE RESOURCES

The European Commission presented a communication on renewable energy in which studies how to reduce costs through a more coordinated approach at EU level outlines the policies to be implemented after 2020.

Interventions by the European Union to promote the use of renewable resources

Being able to generate more energy using wind, sun , tides, biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric resources helps the European Union to become less dependent on energy imports and boost innovation and employment . It would be possible to reduce these costs by encouraging competition in the EU energy market . The phasing out subsidies for fossil fuels and the revision of the energy taxation should encourage investment in low-carbon technologies of CO2 ( carbon dioxide).

At the same time , support for renewable energy should be gradually reduced or eliminated in order to encourage this sector to become more competitive with other energy sources in the longer term . Even the national support schemes should be modified to promote the reduction of costs; bring them across the EU and simplifying them would reduce the administrative costs of the industry.

The EU should push to produce wind and solar energy where it costs less , as they do already for other companies products and services. So the member states will be able to purchase wind or solar energy from another EU or non-EU states spending less than they should invest in developing alternative energy sources on their territories.

EUROPEAN BEST PRACTICES

Cultivating crops on city rooftops

To meet the challenges of producing food in a more environmentally-friendly way, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has called on cities to develop 'living walls' of edible plants. Through vertical farming, agriculture could become a feature of urban life, lowering energy consumption, carbon emissions and resource use in food production. By shortening the distance produce has to travel from ‘farm-to-fork’, and by negating the need for heavy machinery, vertical farming can reduce CO2 emissions.

Agricultural research institute focuses on renewable energyA new UK centre of excellence for environmental and energy research could increase renewable energy in agricultural, while also investigating use of alternative bioenergy sourcesThe Renewable Energy Centre (REC) is part of the Agri Food and Bioscience Institute (AFBI) in County Down, Northern Ireland. It will provide an agricultural setting to address practical problems regarding the production of biomass crops, use of alternative bioenergy and sustainable treatment of farm waste. The objective is to assist the agri-food industry in maximising the potential of renewable energy and support technology transfer.

Maximising investment in sustainable energy (ELENA)Many EU towns and regions lack the necessary technical expertise and organisational capacity to implement large energy efficiency and renewables projects. The benefits of cutting energy use and pollution are clear, but the challenge is to guarantee value for money and timeliness, as well as securing extra funding. ELENA (“European Local ENergy Assistance”) is there to help. Run by the EIB, it is funded through the European Commission’s Intelligent Energy-Europe programme.

ELENA covers up to 90% of the technical support cost needed to prepare, implement and finance the investment programme. This could include feasibility and market studies, programme structuring, energy audits and tendering procedure preparation. With solid business and technical plans in place, this will also help attract funding from private banks and other sources, including the EIB ( European Investement Bank). So whether it is the retrofitting of public and private buildings, sustainable building, energy-efficient district heating and cooling networks, environmentally-friendly transport etc. ELENA helps local authorities get their projects on the right track.

Contacting the EIB

ELENA assistance may facilitate access to EIB finance or finance from another bank. You can contact us through elena@eib.org - by telephone, fax, e-mail or letter. For a first contact we will need a brief description of the planned investment (e.g. type of investment, approach to  implementation), the expected investment cost and time schedule for the programme, plus the amount, scope and main needs to be addressed by the requested technical assistance.

• For additional information on EU initiatives on climate change and renewable energies, please visit the following websites:

• The Climate Action and Renewable Energy Package, Europe's Climate Change Opportunityhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/climate_action.htmThe Covenant of Mayorshttp://www.eumayors.eu/Intelligent Energy Europehttp://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/

http://www.veryschool.eu/index.php http://www.smartmedparks.eu/en/project

ITALIAN BEST PRACTICES

Photovoltaic in agriculture: the pilot project Cutrofiano municipalityThe project of solar concentrating photovoltaic presented in Cutrofiano municipality represents an experience pilot in this sense, because it wants to try to do it in a partially utilized agricultural area through a completely new technology for the Italian market : photovoltaics concentration ( CPV) . The concentrating photovoltaic systems exploiting an optical concentrator ( Fresnel lens ) to converge the solar rays on the solar cells of reduced dimensions , which convert sunlight into electricity , with a conversion efficiency of radiation Solar 44% , much better than the photovoltaic panels on the market .

Favignang island

Favignana island will be the first island zero CO2. The " Sun and stars of the Egadi ", in fact , made by AzzeroCO2 for the City of Favignana, obtained a loan of € 1,165,000 of 4 million of the total available Call “Renewable energy sources , energy saving and mobility ' sustainable in the smaller islands".

Favignana island

The objectives of the project " Sun and stars of the Egadi " are:– encourage the spread of energy in the area

from renewable sources, technologies to promote efficiency and sustainable mobility will bring to energy savings of approximately 5,700,000 kWh of electrical energy per year;

– reduction of CO2 emissions , 36% from the current level.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

There are energy sources that can allow a sustainable development , for an indefinite period , and held without the possibility of damaging nature except in some cases.

HOWEVER:

RENEWABLE≠SUSTAINABLE