GOOD PRACTICE TEMPLATE

Title of the measure/initiative: Network of Local Energy Communities (LEC)

Name of the organisation: Wigwam Circuit

Status of the organisation: Association

Address: I - 35028 Piove di Sacco (Padova) - Via Porto, 8

Contact person: Efrem Tassinato

Phone: +39 049.9704413 Fax: +39 049.9702221

E-mail: info@wigwam.it

Web site : www.wigwam.it

Topic (multiple answers are possible)

X Public Sector

Private Sector

Large Industrial Buildings

X Solar Plants

X District Heating

X Wind

X Biomass

Geothermal energy

X Energy saving

X Energy efficiency

Energy concepts

Other, please specify ___________________________________________

Stakeholders (multiple answers are possible)

X Citizens

X Households

Property owners

Policymakers

X Local and regional authorities

Energy service company (ESCO’s)

Architects and engineers

Other, please specify ____________________________________________

BACKGROUND The project involves 9 municipalities located in the Veneto Region (northeast Italy) and

interested in the concepts of sustainable development, energy efficiency and recycling of

urban waste, and their application. The Network of Local Energy Communities comprises the

following municipalities: Badia Calavena, Arzergrande, Casalserugo, Legnaro, Lendinara,

Stanghella, Arre, Piove di Sacco, Due Carrare.

OBJECTIVES

The project aims at the promotion of sustainable development and the realization of the

initiatives for efficient use of energy and energy production from renewable sources in the

areas involved. The crucial point of the project is to create the favourable conditions in order

to reach the energy auto sufficiency through the energy saving and energy production, and

involving the inhabitants in every initiative to be undertaken. Moreover, for the efficient

technical and administrative support in the management of Local Energy Communities a

multidiscipline group of advisors has been created.

The specific objectives of the project are following:

1) to promote the culture and concrete actions in the field of energy production utilising

renewable sources, to provide information about the advantages deriving from the energy

efficiency and from the valorisation of urban wastes;

2) to promote the environmental protection issues, diffusion of plants producing energy from

renewable sources and influencing the occupational growth, support in the creation of new

enterprises, especially between young people and in the small communities (located in the

rural and montanous areas);

3) create a community of inhabitants associated in the Project Club that participate at the

activities coordinated by a local municipality, in order to carry out concrete actions in the

field of sustainable development.

PROCESS

The first step of the project was to recognize a good practice, i.e. a local community virtuous

in the field of energy production using renewable sources. The Wigwam Circuit has chosen

the Municipality of Badia Calavena that from 10 years has applied the active energy strategy

based on the use of renewable sources. That small municipality has got an eolic plant of 100

meters height, a biomass heating system for schools, photovoltaic and thermal solar plants

distributed on the territory.

The successive step was to disseminate the experience of Badia Calavena through the training

courses and giving to other municipalities the proper instruments and preparation for the

energy production using renewable sources and energy saving, and reaching a high level of

energy auto sufficiency. A key success factor has been recognised in the inhabitants

involvement.

The training sessions are based on the analysis of the technical, administrative and legislative

aspects that have to be considered by local administration in order to realize a plant for energy

production using renewable sources (photovoltaic, eolic, biomass, hydroelectric). Moreover,

the guided visits are organised in the Park of Renewable Energies in Badia Calavena (please

find enclosed a presentation flyer).

FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND PARTNERS

The sources for the training courses’ funding are the inscription fees.

The initiative was supported by Veneto Region.

RESULTS

The attended results of the initiative are: CO2 emission reduction, social benefits (occupation

growth), health benefits (air quality improvement).

LESSONS LEARNED AND REPEATABILTY

The initiative could be repeated in other areas in Europe, the main factor of success is to

aggregate communities interested to become energy efficient and to carry out the concrete

actions utilising potential resources present in their territories.

PHOTOS: (please include up to 3 photos)

Energie In Comune