EC Programmes
The European Commission operates a number of programmes which present funding opportunities for renewable energy projects. These are split amongst several of the Directorate Generals (departments).
Trans-Directorate
Directorate General for Energy (DGXVII)
- ALTENER is designed to promote the use of renewable energy sources.
- OPET - Organisations for the Promotion of Energy Technologies were initiated to disseminate information on, and promote the benefits of, using non-nuclear energy technologies.
- SAVE II is the non-technological programme aimed at promoting the rational use of energy within the Union.
- SYNERGY has a special emphasis on supporting energy policy dialogue, the preparation of the pre-accession process and the development of trans-regional co-operation.
- THERMIE is the Demonstration Component of the Non-Nuclear RTD JOULE-THERMIE Programme.
Directorate General for Science, Research and Development (DGXII)
Directorate General for External Relations (DGIa)
Directorate General for Regional Policy and Cohesion (DGXVI)
Directorate General for (DGVI)
- CORDIS - Community Research and Development Information Service
- FAIR focuses on research, technological development and demonstration in the field of agriculture and fisheries.
The Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) sets out the priorities for the European Union's research, technological development and demonstration (RTD) activities for the period 1998-2002. These priorities have been selected on the basis of a set of
common criteria reflecting the major concerns of increasing industrial competitiveness and the quality of life for European citizens.The Fifth Framework Programme has two distinct parts: the European Community (EC) framework programme covering research, technological development and demonstration activities; and the Euratom framework programme covering research and training activities in the nuclear sector.
FP5 differs considerably from its predecessors. It has been conceived to help solve problems and to respond to the major socio-economic challenges facing Europe. To maximise its impact, it focuses on a limited number of research areas combining technological, industrial, economic, social and cultural aspects.
Management procedures have also been streamlined with an emphasis on simplifying procedures and systematically involving key players in research.Programmes and Key Actions: A major innovation of the Fifth Framework Programme is the concept of "
Key actions". Implemented within the specific programmes, these flexible instruments are targeted at achieving solutions to topics of great concern in Europe. "Key actions" will mobilise the wide range of scientific and technological disciplines - both fundamental and applied - required to address a specific problem so as to overcome the barriers that exist, not only between disciplines but also between the programmes and the organisations concerned.
Rules: Modifications to the
Budget:
All the
calls for proposals under the Fifth Framework Programme are available from the CORDIS site._________________
(1) In line with the agreement reached by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers within the Conciliation Committee, an amount of 3,140 million euro is allocated to the Fifth (EC) Framework Programme for 1999. The remaining 10,560 million euro for 2000-2002 must be confirmed following the adoption of the European Union's global financial perspectives in 2000.
ALTENER (DGXVII) is designed to promote the use of renewable energy sources. It is in place to address the European Union objective to stabilise its carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at their 1990 levels by the year 2000, in order to help counteract the threat of global warming. Approved in 1993, the ALTENER Programme aims to develop the use of renewable energy sources in the European Community and increase trade in products, equipment and services within and outside it.
ALTENER does this by: promoting the market for renewable energy and its integration into the internal energy market; financial and economic measures; training, information and outreach activities; and co-operation with countries beyond the Community.
The Programme's specific target, by 2005, is to effect a 180 million tonne reduction in CO2 emissions by doubling the use of renewable energy sources, from 4% of total consumption in 1991 to 8% in 2005, trebling production of electricity from renewable energy sources and securing a biofuels market share of 5% of total vehicle fuel consumption.
As well as environmental protection, ALTENER contributes to the better use of local energy sources, ensure efficient allocation of public funds, play a part in the completion of the Union's internal market and, importantly, reduce dependence on imported energy.
Altener I has run for five years, from 1993 to 1997 inclusive, with a total budget of around 40 MECU. There were annual calls for proposals which led to a number of projects funded to meet Altener targets. (
http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/altsum.htm)ALTENER II (DGXVII)
The Commission adopted a proposal on 12 March 1997 for a pluriannual programme for the promotion of renewable energy sources - ALTENER II. The proposed decision would enact a five year Programme of measures and actions to promote renewable energy sources in the European Union. A budget of 30 MECU has been proposed for the first two years. The purpose of the project is to make a meaningful contribution to the achievement of the Union's objective for a significant increase in renewables. Its aims will be firstly to help create the necessary legal, socio-economic and administrative conditions for the implementation of an action plan for renewables, and, secondly, to encourage private and public investments in the production and use of energy from renewable sources.
The ALTENER II Programme is scheduled to begin in January 1998. It will consist of:
Its aim is not to finance any research activities or technological demonstration projects, but rather to help implementation of their results, encouraging the promotion of projects with a multi-regional or multi-national dimension or benefit. The Programme will be open to co-operation with the Central and Eastern European Countries, who are in the pre-accession phase, as well as to co-operation with Cyprus. (
http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/alten.htm)(Organisations for the Promotion of Energy Technologies)
The OPET Network is an initiative of the European Commission whose aim is to disseminate information on, and promote the benefits of, using non-nuclear energy technologies. These energy technologies cover the areas of renewable energy sources, rationale use of energy in industry, buildings and transport, solid fuels and hydrocarbons. The OPET Network is supported by the Directorate-General for Telecommunications Information Market and the Exploitation of Research (DG XIII), under the INNOVATION Programme, in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Energy (DG XVII), under the THERMIE Programme.
The OPET Network draws upon the wealth of information and experience produced by initiatives in EC Programmes, activities in the Member States of the European Union and international initiatives, and ensures that this material is disseminated to key market actors such as industry, public authorities, educational/training bodies, the financial sector and the final consumer.
The work of the Network is carried out by the 39 OPETs who are situated throughout the European Union and in Norway and Iceland. These OPETs are responsible for a number of initiatives such as market studies, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, publications etc., all with the aim of disseminating information on non-nuclear energy technologies. The OPETs are supported in their activities by the OPET-Central Unit (OPET-CU), based in Brussels. (
http://www.cordis.lu/opett/home.html)SAVE II (DGXVII) is the European Union non-technological programme aimed at promoting the rational use of energy within the Union. The programme is the follow-up to the original SAVE programme which ran from 1 January 1991 until 31 December 1995. The SAVE II programme was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 16th December 1996, and will run until the end of 2000.
SAVE II is designed to complement the efforts of the Member States in improving energy efficiency. A major element of the programme is the use of measures and actions which ensure the addition of value at Union level for the rational use of energy. In view of budgetary limits, the programme will not provide funding for real or so-called hardware investments The purpose of the programme is rather to create an environment in which investments in energy efficiency will be accelerated and whereby energy efficiency will be recognised as a market opportunity.
The SAVE II programme has the following elements:
(http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/save.htm)
The SYNERGY programme focuses on responding to the objectives defined by the European Council in Europe's external regions. It has a special emphasis on supporting energy policy dialogue, the preparation of the pre-accession process and the development of trans-regional co-operation. SYNERGY helps the European Community develop external relations in the field of energy. It allows the Community to achieve its objectives in the energy field in the areas of overall competitiveness, security of supply and protection of the environment.
The predicted increase in Europe's external energy dependency, the low growth rate of the European energy market compared with external markets, and the increased importance of energy-related environmental problems are three major areas of SYNERGY focus. SYNERGY also works to help the European Community develop a specific strategy towards neighbouring areas of importance for production and transit, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, whose energy demand in the years to come is durable and increasing, and the Mediterranean.
In the framework of the producer-consumer dialogue, areas such as Asia and Latin America are also involved in this strategic approach, particularly by focusing on the main countries and regions with regards to energy : China, India and the Mercosur. In Africa, SYNERGY concentrates on the constitution of expert networks for rural electrification and the development of energy policy measures favourable to renewable energy sources, in South Africa with the ultimate objective of participating in social recovery and energy trade with neighbouring countries. (
http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/synergy.htm)SYNERGY is funding a number of actions. The 1997 SYNERGY action plan consists of 41 projects which are considered by Commission services as "Priority projects". These projects cover all geographical areas as required SYNERGY Council regulation adopted on 14 April 1997. (
http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/synproj.htm)THERMIE (DGXVII) is the Demonstration Component of the Non-Nuclear RTD JOULE-THERMIE Programme. It runs for 4 years (1995-1998) with a budget of 577 million ECU and is managed by the Directorate-General for Energy (DG XVII). THERMIE covers all demonstration activities as well as other activities such as strategy, dissemination, preparatory, accompanying and support measures, concerted actions and technology stimulation for SMEs. It provides a continuity to the previous (1990-1994) programme, also called THERMIE.
In view of the challenges which the European Union (EU) is facing today, the European Community is pursuing some fundamental objectives by promoting energy technologies through the THERMIE Programme:
THERMIE also aims to contribute to the achievement of other important EU objectives such as reinforcing the competitiveness of the EU industry (especially of SMEs) with benefits for the economy, employment and export potential, improving economic and social cohesion and contributing to co-operation with Third Countries (in Central and Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union, the Mediterranean region, Latin America, Southeast Asia, Africa and non-EU industrialised nations).
The THERMIE programme supports the demonstration and application of innovative energy technologies and provides for the enhanced dissemination of information to encourage a wider use of successful energy technologies.
THERMIE concentrates on two areas of activity. These include THERMIE A actions for support for demonstration projects, implementing innovative energy innovative, and energy technologies in the three following sectors: Rational Use of Energy (RUE), Renewable Energy Sources (RES), and Fossil Fuels (FF)
They also include THERMIE B actions including support for other activities (pre-feasibility or market studies, workshops, conferences, training, etc.) in the fields of development and implementation of an energy RTD strategy, dissemination of energy technologies, concerted actions and networks, preparatory, accompanying and support measures, technology stimulation to encourage and facilitate the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
THERMIE actions are mainly carried out inside the European Union but can also be conducted outside the EU territory (Latin America, Mediterranean Region, Central and Eastern Europe Asia, etc.) provided that they fall within the scope and objectives of the programme.(
http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/thsumary.htm#1)(International Cooperation)
Specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration in the field of co-operation with third countries and international organisations, 1994-1998: The specific programme in the field of co-operation with third countries and international organisations is established to strengthen the Community's scientific and technological capability, to support the implementation of Community policies vis-a-vis third countries, and to contribute to solving regional and global problems.
International S&T co-operation conducted by the Community will be co-ordinated both centrally in this programme and through the relevant provisions in the other specific programmes enabling European third countries not covered by the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement to participate in research activities of the specific programmes. In addition, the programme will incorporate non-nuclear co-operation activities and the co-operation activities developed in earlier framework programmes, as well as the APAS. Activities conducted under the programme focus on three areas: scientific and technical co-operation in Europe; co-operation with non-European industrialised countries; and scientific and technological co-operation with developing countries. Measures are to be taken to step up co-operation with European scientific bodies, such as CERN, ESA, EMBL and COST. (
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg12/coper97.html)JOULE
(Non-nuclear Energies)JOULE is the European Commission's specific research and technological development and demonstration programme in the field of non-nuclear energy. JOULE focuses on "Technologies for cleaner and more efficient energy production and use". The overall aim of the programme is to encourage research and development in the field of clean and efficient energy technologies as a contribution to ensuring secure energy supplies which are compatible with the environment and the overall goal of sustainable development.
The programme also aims to encourage partnership between the various actors, and to contribute to economic and social cohesion by developing appropriate energy sources suitable for decentralised use and harnessing local resources. To achieve these aims, the programme contains both a research and development phase (focusing on the improved conversion and use of energy and renewable energies) and a demonstration phase (focusing on the rational use of energy, renewable energies, and fossil fuels). (
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg12/joule1.html)(Targeted Socio-Economic Research)
Targeted Socio-Economic Research (TSER) is a specific programme of targeted socio-economic research established to rationalise decision-making at decentralised, national or Community level and lay the foundation for the sustainable development of Europe's economies, enabling them to withstand international competition and create jobs. The research conducted under the programme is focused on three areas: evaluation of science and technology policy options in Europe; research on education and training; and, research into social integration and social exclusion in Europe. Whenever possible, research actions will permit participation by experts and working parties representing the interests of the end-users of the research results. The targeted research activities under this programme are supplemented by the socio-economic research provisions contained in the other specific programmes of the Fourth Framework Programme. (
http://www.cordis.lu/tser/home.html)(Poland, Hungary: Aid for the Reconstruction of the Economy)
The aim of the PHARE programme (DGIa) is to support the process of reform in certain countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in particular by financing or participating in the financing of projects or co-operation measures aimed at economic restructuring in the areas of agriculture, industry, investment, energy, training, environmental protection, trade and services.
The Phare Programme is a European Community initiative which supports the development of a larger democratic family of nations within a prosperous and stable Europe. Its aim is to help the countries of central Europe rejoin the mainstream of European development through future membership of the European Union.
Phare does this by providing grant finance to support its partner countries through the process of economic transformation and strengthening of democracy to the stage where they are ready to assume the obligations of membership of the European Union. Phare provides know-how from a wide range of non-commercial, public and private organisations to its partner countries.
Phare acts as a powerful catalyst by unlocking funds for important projects from other donors through studies, capital grants, guarantee schemes and credit lines. It also invests directly in infrastructure, which will account for more Phare funds as the integration process progresses.
The main priorities for Phare funding are common to all countries, and include restructuring of state enterprises including agriculture, private sector development, reform of institutions, legislation and public administration, reform of social services, employment, education and health, development of energy, transport and telecommunications infrastructure, and environment and nuclear safety. For countries that have signed Europe Agreements, Phare is the financial instrument of the European Union's pre-accession strategy which will lead them to full membership.
The Phare programme is the world's largest grant assistance effort for central and eastern Europe. (
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/phare/index.htm)The Tacis Programme is a European Community initiative (DGIa) for the New Independent States and Mongolia, which fosters the development of harmonious and prosperous economic and political links between the European Community and these partner countries. Its aim is to support the partner countries' initiatives to develop societies based on political freedoms and economic prosperity. (
http://europa.eu.int/comm/dg1a/tacis/index.htm)Interreg II is aimed at assisting both internal and external border areas of the European Union in overcoming the special problems which arise from their relative isolation within national economies and within the Union as a whole; to promote the creation and development of cross-border networks; and to assist the adjustment of external border areas to their new role as border areas of a single integrated market.
As regards cross-border co-operation, the geographical scope of Interreg II covers all areas along the internal and external land borders of the Community and certain maritime regions, at NUTS III level (that is, sub-regional divisions of the Member States). There is no general provision for interregional cooperation outside border areas. Forms of assistance are loans, grants and technical assistance in the preparation and organisation of programmes.
As regards energy-related activity in the area of cross-border cooperation, eligible measures include: the provision in border areas of local gas and electricity supplies; the development of renewable energy resources; programmes for the rational use of energy; and measures in the energy field to complement the development of Trans-European Networks so as to enable border regions to benefit more fully from them (see section on "Energy and Economic and Social cohesion") in this collection .
Interreg II also aims to complete selected energy networks (already defined in the REGEN initiative for the period (1989-1993) and to link them to wider European networks. These projects, eligible to receive Community assistance over the period 1994-1999, depending on their degree of progress and estimated expenditure, are as follows:
The Interreg II operational programmes and projects shall be the subject of joint financing by the Member States and the Community. Loans from the European Investment bank and the European Coal and Steel Community may also be made available. For the regions of eastern and central European countries neighbouring the Union's external borders, cross-border activities can be assisted by PHARE.
The total contribution by the Community's Structural Funds to Interreg II during the period 1994 to 1999 is estimated at 2,900 million ECU, of which approximately 2,400 million will be allocated to cross-border cooperation, including cross-border cooperation in energy fields, and in the order 500 million ECU to the completion of energy networks, spread over as follows among the Member States: Spain: 80 million ECU; Greece: 200 million ECU; Italy: 80 million ECU; Portugal: 140 million ECU.
Applications from the Member States concerned for the new operational programmes to be decided under the Interreg II initiative have been invited by DG XVI.
(http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/regen.htm)
(Community Research and Development Information Service)
CORDIS provides a "map" for navigating around the "world" of information on research, technology and development in Europe. CORDIS represents a unique initiative for strengthening the competitiveness of European organisations. It represents the R&D starting point for the European Commission. It is an integral part of the European Commission's INNOVATION Programme, and provides information on a vast range of research, development and innovation activities undertaken on a European level.
CORDIS is the starting point for:
CORDIS is designed to assist enterprises and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in particular, through the critical stages of technology transfer and innovation. It offers a wide range of services that keep you current on R&D and innovation activities that are occurring within the EU. (
http://www.cordis.lu)An Environment and Climate home page has recently been added to the CORDIS site. (
http://www.cordis.lu/env/home.html)FAIR (DGVI) is the European Commission's Agriculture and Fisheries Specific programme of research, technological development and demonstration in the field of agriculture and fisheries, 1994-1998: Research efforts under the specific programme in the field of agriculture and fisheries (including agro-industry, food technologies, forestry, aquaculture and rural development) focus on providing a technological base for the competitive, efficient and sustainable development of the four economic sectors covered by the programme.
These concern the primary sector (agriculture, horticulture, forestry and fisheries), the "input" industries (e.g. seeds, juveniles for aquaculture, fishing technology and inputs for fisheries, machinery, chemicals, fertilizers, feed, etc.), the processing sectors (e.g. wood, paper, pharmaceuticals, food, the starch industry, bioenergy, bioplastics, etc.) and other rural and coastal activities. In this context, the specific areas of RTD covered by the programme focus on the following: integrated production and processing chains; scaling-up and processing methodologies; generic sciences and advanced technologies for nutritious foods; agriculture, forestry and rural development; fisheries and aquaculture; and other activities addressed by concertation. (
http://www.cordis.lu/fair/home.html)