Renewable energy co-operatives: allies of regional and local authorities

Transcription

1 Renewable energy co-operatives: allies of regional and local authorities Brussels organised by Energy Cities October 2013

2 Cooperatives: could they be supported by local authorities and the Structural Funds? (14h00-14h30) Presentation: 15 min Discussion with audience): 15 min - What is Ecopower? - How does it work (organization)? - Who are the involved partners? - What projects have been supported so far? - What are the results achieved? - What impact is expected on local jobs creation? - Are local or regional authorities involved as cooperative members? - Could local and regional authorities in Belgium and in the EU support local cooperatives? - Could structural and cohesion funds co-finance such cooperatives? Do you have any existing example? CCLD Vlaanderen houding? Elena /Jessica

3 Who is who? Dirk Vansintjan , Halle, Flanders, Belgium - master linguistics KULeuven, active in renewable energy sector since co-founder of: - REScoop.eu in 2011: federation of groups and cooperatives of citizens for renewable energy in Europe - REScoop.be in 2010: federation of groups and cooperatives of citizens for renewable energy in Belgium - ODE-Vlaanderen in 1996: federation renewable energy in Flanders/Belgium - Ecopower in 1991: renewable energy cooperative (10 people around our kitchen table)

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8 Ecopower: organisation - REScoop: renewable energy sources cooperative following - 7 international ICA principles ( - Charter of REScoop.eu ( - democratic governance - one person/one vote - general assembly is highest decision body - board of administration/open board meetings - internal meetings of project engineers/supply personel - own production facilities/distribution networks/supply - open structure

9 Examples of involvement of local authorities: format 1: City of Eeklo Urbanistic analysis using participatory process Council Advice committees citizens Result 3 zones for windturbines 2 WT's on city property

10 City of Eeklo: 1999: public tender importance to participation of citizens choice of Ecopower 100% participation

11 City of Eeklo: 2001 royal volunteer

12 City of Eeklo: 2001 building phase 2 x Enercon 1,8 MW et 1 x Enercon 600 kw Inauguration June 01 et January 02 Excellent collaboration Enercon - Ecopower - city - landowner- citizens electricity grid From 30 (1999) to ca. 700 members (beginning of 2003)

13 City of Eeklo: 2011 New public tender 2 x Enercon 2,3 MW Ecopower won tender Fixed amount for city Ecopower partner of city Engineer District heating PV...

14 Examples of involvement of local authorities: format 2: Municipality of Dour Extension of existing windfarm (total of 14 WTG of 2 MW) Council demanded participation 24,9% municipality Rest: citizens through REScoop Emissions Zero Result 2 windturbines owned by 'project coop'

15 Context of Crises In the context of crises: - financial crisis - economical crisis/system crisis - environmental crisis/energy crisis - social crisis Energy is one of the major issues of the coming decades (2000 /pp/y). We are facing an energy transition from - fossil/nuclear fuels towards renewable energy - centralised to decentralised production (right time/place/amount) - spoiling energy to rational energy use

16 Opportunity for citizens Citizens and communities have now the opportunity to take up an active role in their future energy production, distribution and supply They will do so anyway as: - consumer - taxpayer - money-saver Renewable Energy Sources Cooperatives are the ideal enterprise for citizens to take an active role in the energy transition. Also because RES are common goods. Citizens have the choice...

17 REScoop.eu Federation of groups and cooperatives of citizens for Renewable Energy in Europe - Practical application of the 7 cooperative principles - Supporting local communities - Clean, affordable energy for all - Citizens: role in production, distribution and supply - Sharing of experience - Mutual practical and organisational support - Creation of cooperative investment fund? - Creation of pan-european sustainable energy balancing agent? - Advocacy local, regional, national, European and international authorities

18 REScoop IEE project Project partners support groups and cooperatives of citizens to go together for renewable energy Over 2000 REScoops in Europe?

19 Project summary REScoop WP1 Project management renewable energy cooperatives WP2 Best practices & Mentors Common understanding success and failure factors WP3 REScoop business models Models to be applied WP5 New RES projects federations of REScoops and coops local energy agencies Common understanding (focus on financial schemes) Group of Mentors WP4 Investment schemes Financial advice and network WP6 Leveraging WP7 Communication WP8 Dissemination Activities Investment schemes to be applied Toolbox for wide application academical partners sustainability agencies join forces for more RES-projects, more REScoops, more citizens involved in Europe, reaching its targets

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21 Could local and regional authorities in Belgium and in the EU support local cooperatives? YES! - Belgium: legislation/measures about participation of citizens through REScoops - Walloon region: 25/25/50 % - Province of Eastern Flanders: 10/10/80% - Municipalities: Eeklo, Gent, Asse, Beersel, Bilzen,... - Scotland: MW community and locally owned RES target - development risk insurance or guarantee (financial instrument) - Denmark: 20% participation in each windproject - South Tirol (nothern Italy): - tax exemption for not for profit REScoops - these REScoops don't have to unbundle (result: lower prices) - EU: proposal to allow clustering of REScoop projects in order to be able to use the tools of the EIB (financial instrument)

22 Could structural and cohesion funds cofinance such cooperatives? 1. Start up of REScoops is often problematic - money for developing project is big risk (100/5) % own capital for getting bank finance - 10% of 3 million euro for ordering windturbine e.g. Solution? - Role for European federation REScoop.eu and EIB? - Role for regions: development risk insurance? 2. Quite a lot of established REScoops have money but no projects Solution? - Revolving cooperative fund? Guaranteed by cooperative banks (due diligence) 3. authorities retreat (crisis), cooperatives take place in different sectors: Solution? access of coops to Cohesion and structural funds? Cofinancing could activate savings of citizens through co-ops

23 Do you have any existing example? - Not to my knowledge, but our inventory is far from complete - Three European established REScoops - De Windvogel (Netherlands) - Somenergia (Catalonia) - BeauVent (Belgium) co-finance PV projects of starting Portuguese REScoop BoaEnergia - Ecopower co-financed 13 WTG of 2MW of starting Walloon REScoops

24 More information on REScoop For more information or contact have a look at or subscribe to our news alert Partners

25 Thank you REScoop project partners support groups and cooperatives of citizens for renewable energy. Contact us for support!

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