For an optimal view, open this newsletter in your web browser RES-Scoop #16 - June 2016 Energy transition to energy democracy Welcome to RES-Scoop, the news alert of REScoop.eu to all people interested in how citizens can get organized to launch renewable energy cooperatives from start to end and how to work with policy makers and local authorities. In this news alert: Human Energy launches crowdfunding campaign Put your cooperative and project on the map European REScoops gathered in San Sebastian Energia Positiva is our latest member EUSEW 2016 was a great success 2 July 2016 - International day of co-operatives Academic Research on REScoops WISE Power awards best community wind projects PV Financing is working on innovative financing models CITYnvest is helping local authorities to take action on EE Edinburgh Community Energy Co-operative Human Energy launches crowdfunding campaign Human Energy from Poland wants to make a movie about renewable energy cooperatives and the people behind these inspiring initiatives. They therefor launched a crowdfunding campaign. You can donate and/or share this message with your members. Put your cooperative and project on the map The citizenergy platform is now fully operational and supports local REScoops to get their RES and EE projects financed. The platform acts as a kind of tripadvisor in a way that it guides citizens to interesting projects in their local community. The platform already features 9 REScoops and 11 of their projects. Visit www.citizenergy.eu and submit the project that you want to get funded. 1 van 6 23/06/2016 15:18
European REScoops gathered in San Sebastian About 50 representatives of leading European REScoops gathered in San Sebastian (Spain) from 18-21 May 2016 to attend REScoop Plus and REScoop MECISE project meetings, the general assembly of REScoop.eu and a local seminar targeting local municipalities in the Basque region. Paul Monaghan (Co-operative Energy) wrote an inspiring article about San Sebastian that was published by the Co-operative news. Energia Positiva is our latest member Energia Positiva is our latest federation member. Energia Positiva is a brand new Italian REScoop based in Torino. The cooperative wants to provide local citizens with a completely new idea of energy consumption. The cooperative issues energetic plant shares and develops renewable energy projects in the whole country. Members thus become co-owners of the projects and get access to clean energy from local sources. Energia Positiva manages the administration. The cooperative provides members with a financial return under the form of discount on their energy bill. The initial investment of the members is then refunded whenever the installation has ended its economic life. Energia Positiva believes that anyone should get access to renewable energy from local sources, not only those who can afford PV panels on their roof. At the same time, the cooperative acts against pollution and global warming. www.energia-positiva.it 2 van 6 23/06/2016 15:18
EUSEW 2016 was a great success REScoop.eu successfully joined forces with Greenpeace and WISE Power to organise a conference at the EU Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels. Our event Empowering Europe The role of energy citizens, local communities and innovative financing was attended by 205 people. Amongst them many EU policy makers and EU institution representatives. This year our Portuguese member Boa Energia was nominated for the EUSEW awards, and although they did not win, the EU Commission praised them for their innovative and sustainable approach. Congratulations, Boa Energia! 2 July 2016 International day of co-operatives This year s International Day of Co-operatives ( Coopsday or #coopsday on social media) is on 2 July 2016. Themed Co-operatives: The power to act for a sustainable future, the day this year will be dedicated to the Sustainable development goals. For more information, please visit http://coopsday.coop/. Academic research on REScoops The British Academy for humanities and social sciences did some academic research on the topic of community energy and renewable energy cooperatives. The results of their analysis has been described in two reports: a case study report and a policy report. Both reports are available on their website. 3 van 6 23/06/2016 15:18
WISE Power awards best community wind project WISE Power - an EU project that aims to foster social acceptance for wind projects is now looking for the Best Community Wind Project throughout Europe. The winning project will be promoted and celebrated across the WISE Power network. REScoops are eligible for the awards. You can register until 31 July 2016 through the following link. Community energy projects are also eligible for the European Utility Industry Awards 2016. PV Financing is working on innovative financing models In PV Financing REScoop.eu, Ecopower and Som Energia are joining forces with the German Solar Industry (BSW) to develop new financing models for solar projects. Especially Generation kwh, the investment scheme initiated Som Energia, has gained the attention from the project partners. Members of Som Energia are invited to provide the cooperative with a 0% interest loan for 25 years, which then allows the cooperative to invest in local RES projects. The loan then gives members the right to consume renewable energy at cost price for a period of 25 years. Som Energia already raised 1.8 million euro through this model and overcomes the lack of financial support for RES generation in Spain. Generation kwh is one of the investment schemes that are part of REScoop MECISE. 4 van 6 23/06/2016 15:18