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Cohesion Policy support for Sustainable Energy 2014-2020
New Cohesion Policy – How to use it effectively to boost energy research and innovation in regions?
Open Days workshop: "Energy Research and Innovation – Source of Benefits for your Region"
Brussels, 8 October 2013Maud SKÄRINGER
European CommissionDirectorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy│ 1
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Cohesion Policy 2014-2020Investment policy supporting Europe 2020: growth, jobs, quality of life and sustainable development•European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)•European Social Fund (ESF)•Cohesion Fund (CF)
Total: Around € 322 billion of EU funds, concentrated in less developed regionsThe map shows eligibility simulation for the ERDF and the ESF. Approximate overall amount and classification of regions based on political agreement on EU Multiannual Financial Framework reached between EP and Council June 2013.
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Less developed regionsDeveloped regions &
transition regions
60% 20%
6%
44%
Concentration of ERDF proposed for 2014-2020Concentration of ERDF proposed for 2014-2020Research and Innovation Low-carbon economy
– Energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RES)SMEs competitiveness
No more ceiling for investing in EE in housing (currently maximum 4% of ERDF)
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Investments in Sustainable Energy in 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy
"Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors" – 5 investment priorities proposed by the Commission for ERDF and CF:
a) Promoting the production and distribution of RES
b) Promoting EE and RES use in SMEs
c) Supporting EE and RES use in public infrastructures and in the housing sector
d) Developing smart distribution systems at low voltage levels ("smart grids")
e) Promoting low-carbon strategies for urban areas
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Investments in Sustainable Energy in 2014-2020 Cohesion Policy
"Supporting the shift towards a low-carbon economy in all sectors" – Discussions in the Trilogue on fine-tuning of wording and possible further investment priorities:
• Separate investment priorities on research and innovation in low-carbon technologies and on high-efficiency co-generation of heat and power
• Support also to large enterprises in this area
• Low-carbon strategies for all types of territories, and inclusion of urban mobility
Exact levels for ERDF concentration also discussed!
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Indicative actions of high EU added value• Innovative renewable energy technologies, in particular
technologies mentioned in the SET-Plan and in the Energy Roadmap 2050, along with 2nd and 3rd generation biofuels
• Supporting marine-based renewable energy production• Investment in the wider use of Energy Performance
Contracting in the public buildings and housing sectors• Energy efficiency and renewable heating and cooling in
public buildings, in particular demonstration of zero-emission and positive-energy buildings, and deep renovation of existing buildings to beyond cost-optimal levels
• EE and RES in SMEs, including information campaigns• Integrated low-carbon strategies and sustaianble energy
action plans for urban areas, including public lighting systems and smart grids
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Implementation Principles – Energy• Mainly private sector investment. Ensure that public funding
complements private investment, leveraging it and not crowding it out
• EE: Consider creating value for energy savings through market mechanisms before public funding (energy saving obligations, energy service companies…)
• Financial instruments to be used where potential for private revenue or cost savings is large
• For physical investment, grants to be used primarily:• to address market failures• to support innovative technologies• to support investments beyond cost-optimal EE
performance: ensure energy savings and GHG emission reductions above "business as usual"!
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Links to Research and Innovation Smart Specialisation Strategies
• Future Cohesion Policy: Ex-ante conditionality for ERDF investments in RTDI to have a national or regional Smart Specialisation Strategy ("RIS3")
• In assessing their position and assets in the context of the development and implementation of their strategies, MS and regions are invited to make full use of the knowledge developed in the framework of the SET-Plan and the Intelligent Energy Europe Programme.
• A certain number of regions can be expected to decide that they will focus Cohesion Policy resources for RTDI in the area of RES or EE, in complementarity with Horizon 2020.
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• Guide issued in Nov. 2012
• How to integrate eco-innovation, RES, EE… in the Smart Specialisation Strategies ("RIS3")
• Why it makes sense
• What authorities and stakeholders can do
• Complementarities with other EU initiatives and programmes, including FP7 / Horizon 2020
• Collection of good practices• http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/guides
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Types of projects RES 2007-2013 – ExamplesResearch and Technological Development e.g. DK, DE, ATPilot projects and innovation e.g. LU, NL, PTCluster development e.g. DE, FR, AT, PL, FIUse of renewables by SMEs e.g. DE, IT, AT, PL, SKHeating, cooling and cogeneration e.g. BE, EE, ES, CY, LV, LT, HU, MT, SIAwareness raising e.g. BE, CYElectricity generation e.g. BE, IT, LU, PL, RO, SK, FI, SE
Source: Expert Evaluation Network reports on RES and EE in housing: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information/evaluations/index_en.cfm#1
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Example: Biomass, solar and wind – Burgenland, AT
• Regional development and innovation strategy in RES over more than 15 years
• Initial situation: economic downturn, depopulation, unemployment
• Objective to re-develop the region based on local characteristics and assets
• Reach energy self-sufficiency
• Generate regional growth, employment and tax revenues
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Example: Biomass, solar and wind – Burgenland, AT
• Strategic use of Cohesion Policy funding in biomass, solar and wind energy as well as into related research and training
• Great success in terms of jobs, regional development and energy security
Extensive case study available at: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/austria/at11_en.htm
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Example: Smart Specialisation in RES/EE – Alsace, FR
1998: Design of a regional strategy for RES and EE
2000: Integration into regional development contract with State
2003-05: Launch of ‘Energivie’ and use of the ERDF ‘Regional Programme of Innovative Actions 2000-06’ to boost the strategy (€ 1.9 million). Initial focus only on RES.
2005: Re-focus towards EE in buildings2007-13: 2nd phase of the strategy2008: Winner of RegioStars Awards2009: Application to be selected as a 'Pôle de Competitivité' in FR2010: Label 'Pôle de compétitivité'
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Connects construction and building professionals with researchers to address challenges such as climate change and enables innovation through cooperation.
Involves about 200 members, of which 80% SMEs. Other members include larger companies, research and education institutions and associations. Companies active in all areas of energy efficient and sustainable building, refurbishment, energy management and energy technologies.
RegioStars awards finalist 2011
ERDF co-financing: € 937.370
http://www.ecoplus.at/en/ecoplus/cluster/green-building
Example: Smart specialisation – Green Building Clusterof Lower Austria
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More information
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Cohesion Policy Project Examples:http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/stories/index_en.cfm
Policy Learning Database:http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperation/interregional/ecochange/studies_en.cfm?nmenu=5
Expert Evaluation Network reports on RES and EE in housing:http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information/evaluations/index_en.cfm#1
JESSICA horizontal (thematic) studies: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/instruments/jessica_horizontal_en.cfm
REGIO case study “Wave Hub” project, UK:http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/projects/practices/details.cfm?
pay=UK&the=68&sto=2458®ion=ALL&lan=7&obj=ALL&per=ALL&defL=ENREGIO case study “ERDF – Promotion of renewable energy sources in Burgenland”, AT:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/atlas2007/austria/at11_en.htmCOCOF technical meeting on sustainable energy March 2011:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/energy2011/index_en.cfmRegions for Economic Change Conference May 2010 Energy efficiency workshop (2A):
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/sustainable-growth/programme_en.cfm?nmenu=4Practical Guide to EU funding opportunities for Research and Innovation:
http://cordis.europa.eu/eu-funding-guide/home_en.htmlSmart specialisation platform:
http://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/homeIntelligent Energy Europe Projects:
http://eaci-projects.eu/iee/page/Page.jspICT-specific guide on energy efficiency:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/sustainable_growth/ict4ee_wiki/index_en.htm
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More information on financial instruments1. Commission Staff Working Document - Financial Instruments in Cohesion
Policyhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/official/communic/financial/financial_instruments_2012_en.pdf
2. Factsheet: Financial Instruments in Cohesion Policy 2014-2020http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/informat/2014/financial_instruments_en.pdf
3. Panorama Autumn 2012: Using financial instruments to leverage support for regional policy http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/panorama/pdf/mag43/mag43_en.pdf
4. Financial Instruments: A Stock-taking Exercise in Preparation for the 2014-2020 Programming Periodhttp://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/thefunds/instruments/doc/fls_stocktaking_final.pdf
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