Author: Gerlind Wagner.Vogel

Finland: Heating thought through – a way forward for Helsinki

Aalto University, the Co2mmunity partner implementing the RENCOP in Helsinki, has developed a comprehensive overview on renewable heating within district heating in Helsinki. A short article on the homepage of Aalto University also provides some key points. One main component proposed is to use wind energy to power large heat pumps. Already since 2006 the biggest heat pump in the world produces 100 MW of heat under the Katri Vala Park in Helsinki. And only 10 such heat pumps could power the whole district heating system of Helsinki.

Generally speaking, it is not very efficient to use electricity for heating, as for example electric space heaters do. Especially when using electricity generated from fossil fuel the combined efficiency can be well below 30% of the original fuel source. Heat pumps however leverage the energy by taking advantage of existing temperature differentials in the environment. Therefore heat pumps can provide a multiple of the electricity invested in the form of heat and boost overall efficiency. The discussion paper by Aalto University proposes to use the heat pumps in an integrated system with wind energy, CHP plants and heat storage to provide both heat and electricity when they are needed. Surely, this would be a great step towards an integrated energy system.

 

EU Parliament adopts directive on the promotion of Renewable Energy, 13th Nov 2018

A major pillar of EU climate policy has always been the transition to renewable energy. With the proposed recast of the ‘Directive on the promotion of renewable energy sources’ energy communities have come into focus for renewable energy deployment due to their numerous benefits. Energy communities, as far as they are legal entities, are to be supported so that they can compete with larger actors. Also energy self-consumption up to 30 kW of generation capacity is protected by the directive.

The text will now go back to the council for its final adoption. After being adopted there, it goes into force automatically as foreseen in the ‘Ordinary Legislative Procedure’ of the EU. This comes as part of the EU Winterpackage of 2016 that set the new climate protection goals of the EU. In June, the commission, council and parliament had already reached agreement on renewable energy, which has not been achieved in the area of energy efficiency.

Germany: Co2mmunity partner offers seminar on public participation in wind energy planning

The first part of the seminar will be held on 4th December in Rendsburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. There the participants will get to know how to participate in the amendement of windenergy development zonation in the federal state of Schleswig-Holstein, which is still possible until the 3rd January 2019. A second workshop on realising regional and local benefits follows in January. Unfortunately both workshops are in German only.

Find the complete invitation here:
REGIONALPLANENTWURF FÜR WINDENERGIE-VORRANGGEBIETE
VERSTEHEN, BEURTEILEN, STELLUNG NEHMEN UND DANN?

Dienstag, 4. Dezember 2018, 18 – 20.30 Uhr
ConventGarten – Gildezimmer, Hindenburgstr. 38 – 42, 24768 Rendsburg

 

 

Sweden: Next RENCOP meeting on 11th December in Karlskrona

Information about renewable electricity for apartment owner associations

Energikontor Sydost works for increased production of renewable electricity. We therefore invite you to a meeting where the apartment owner association Taube 31 in Karlskrona tells about the experiences of its new solar cell system from the first ideas to the results after a few months of operation. We will also listen to a representative from the Affärsverken on their role in such projects.

Find the info in Swedish here.

Denmark: Common Purchase of Heat Pumps – Second Round

The 30th of October the first meeting out of four, about alternatives to oil furnaces was held in the village Brenderup, in Middelfart Municipality. The other three meetings are planned in Fredericia (31st of October), Kolding (5th of November) and Vejen (6th of November) Municipalities. Some of these municipality’s are associated partners in co2mmunity, and the collaboration is a witness of spreading, and sharing, experiences with Community Energy projects.

The goal of this campaign is to support citizens to change from a fossil fuel based heating solution to a heat pump, and by purchasing heat pumps collectively to reduce the investment cost.

The topics of the meeting in Brenderup were: Alternatives to oil furnaces, common purchase of heat pumps, energy renovations and heat pumps on subscription. The whole evening, experts were present and ready to answer any questions, the citizens might have.

For more information contact:
Morten Mejsen Westergaard (morten.westergaard@middelfart.dk)
Mareike Johannsen (Mareike.johannsen@middelfart.dk)

Finland: Second expert-driven RENCOP meeting in Lapua

Second expert-driven RENCOP meeting held in Lapua, South Ostrobothnia 24th of September 2018 in the premises of Thermopolis Ltd. – Energy Agency of South Ostrobothnia (Lassilantie 12, 62100 Lapua). Ten experts participated to this meeting and represented participants from municipalities, research and development organisations, educational organisations and financers with a link to the citizens. New idea came up for an open citizen-driven RENCOP process, which is to give inspiration and organize events for ordinary villagers in Aisapari Leader area (includes following municipalities: Kauhava, Lappajärvi, Evijärvi, Vimpeli, Alajärvi and Lapua) to promote renewable community energy in the village houses of the area.

Sweden: Coming together for solar PV

As announced here the Energy Agency for Southeast Sweden has held a RENCOP meeting for appartment building owner associations in Växjö on the 20th September to inform them on the possibilities for installing their own solar PV.

About 40 people from several appartment building owner associations gathered at BRF Lyckansberg. Anders Lundgren told about his owner association’s experiences with its own solar PV installation, that was installed in May. Since then the facility has generated 42 218 kWh of electricity that were used in the common areas, laundry rooms and especially for lighting. Therewith, the goal of generating 53,000 kWh / year is almost reached and the associations’ members are very satisfied.

Denmark: Climate and Energy Day in Middelfart

On the 28th September, Middelfart Municipality invited politicians and citizens to participate in the Climate and Energy Day. A day full of activities, debates and discussions about climate and energy, where everyone could participate to earn a currency specifically designed for this day and trade it with climate friendly food and more. The goal: to spread awareness of climate change and what we all together can do about it.