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.

Poland: RENCOP kick-off

On 6th September 2018, in Warsaw, the kick-off meeting of the RENCOP partnership was held as part of the Co2mmunity project co-financed from the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region 2014-2020 program. Find a summary of the meeting in Polish here.

It was an opportunity to hear inspiriting stories of energy clusters and join discussion with experts on future of the community energy market in Poland. Next meetings will be divided into various topics such as: legislation, financing, public acceptance, presence in the power system and more.

If you would like to be a member of this RENCOP group and support an energy transition focussing on local energy potentials – do not hesitate to join us. Please contact: sekretariat@fnez.pl

Denmark: Second Round of Common Purchase of Heat Pumps

In week 44, a new round of “Common purchase of heat pumps” will start together with the municipalities from the Energy Alliance Triangle (Kolding, Fredericia, Billund, Vejen, Vejle and Middelfart Municipalities).

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.

Due to the fact, that this will be the second round of the campaign, we can use what we´ve learned from the first round and improve the process.

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

Denmark: Green bottom line with common purchase of heat pumps

”Of course it makes sense to go together with other homeowners, when you want to throw out the old oil furnace and buy a new efficient heat pump. It gives economies of scale and the possibility to spar with other homeowners about the advantages and disadvantages with different offers on heat pumps.”

This is what Carsten Mortensen, owner of Frishop.dk, who is the chairman of the group of citizens, who together collected offers on heat pumps, says. The group, of 5, maybe 7 people, are about to make a deal with Klimadan.

Peter Davidsen from Klimadan says: “I am proud that the homeowners choose our offer. The homeowners have been exciting to work with, not least because the have been prepared. Before Klimadan has been asked to make an offer, the homeowners already had informative meetings about replacement of oil furnaces. This won´t be the last time we will join this type of task and we hope there will be more of this type of initiatives.”

The initiative for the informative meetings, have been organized by the Energy Alliance Triangle (Vejle, Kolding, Middelfart, Frederica, Billund and Vejen Municipalities) and a presentation has been given by www.sparenergi.dk. In connection with these meetings, the homeowners could write their names on a list of “serious homeowners”, who where ready to replace their oil furnaces. From this part on, the homeowners contacted on their own, the suppliers, who they wanted to make offers, with a little facilitation from the municipalities.

It is a type of project, we will see much more of in the future. At least if it is up to the mayor Johannes Lundsfryd Jensen, Middelfart Municipality. Johannes Lundsfryd Jensen says:” We are working tough with the green transition and a sustainable community, which means that we together with the citizens will take the initiative and create common sustainable results. Common purchase of heat pumps is a great example of how the municipalities serve the citizens with advice and guidance, facilitation of meetings and the hassle. And yes, it can seem innovative and wild, that we support common purchase of heat pumps like this. But it is essentially fully in line with what a municipality is: a unity to solve common interests and needs, no matter if it is teaching, eldercare or collective energy initiatives. That citizens can save money and reduce CO2 emissions with 15 to 25 tons in this project is a gain for the individuals and the community.”

Author: Morten Mejsen Westergaard
Translation: Mareike Johannsen

Contact:
Morten Mejsen Westergaard (morten.westergaard@middelfart.dk)
Mareike Johannsen (Mareike.johannsen@middelfart.dk)

The article was published in Danish in the Fredericia Avisen as well (PDF). Find the original on the homepage of Middelfart Municipality.

Solar Power RENCOP in Sweden

The Swedish Co2mmunity partner Energikontor Sydost, has started an engagement for the installation of PV cells in multi-family buildings. Information was provided and the interest was perceived to be strong! Naturally, as they had a great example of how a bottom-up RENCOP can work: The installation of a solar PV system by a tenants’ association in Växjö. Anders Lundgren, one of the citizens living in the house saw a potential and his community, rather the tenants’ association acted with him – to help all of them save money. Government supported the project by taking on 30% of the labour cost, again helping local artisans. Truly a bottom-up RENCOP development.

Picture: The PV system on Andres Lundgren’s building (picture credit: SVT)

Solar Energy RENCOP in Alavus, Finland

A solar energy event was held in Alavus on the 26th March 2018 at the premises of Alavus City Development (Fasadi, Taitotie 1, 63300 Alavus). It served to enhance solar energy in the city of Alavus and sorroundings and  also to establish a temporary, smaller RENCOP. 39 participants attended and received information on how to connect solar systems to the grid, what systems are available and what possibilities exist for the coupling solar and geothermal systems. The event was free and open for everyone and advertised by the Alavus City Development in local papers and networks as well as by Thermopolis Ltd. on its Facebook page.

Green heat energy in Varena, Lithuania

One of the many projects in the heat sector already implemented in Lithuania is the renovation of an apartment building in Varena to 100% renewable heat energy and hot water supply that was completed in 2013. While the district heating system in Varena is already fired by biomass to a degree of 97 % the aim of the project was to prove a 100% off-grid solution is possible as well.  To cover the heating needs of the 40 apartments in the building from green sources, 7 wells were drilled to a depth of 100m and connected to a heat pump, while hot water is provided by solar collectors on the roof. The residents covered 40% of the total cost, the city and the JESSICA programme each covered another 30%. Another article on the project can be found here.

Middelfart Municipality starts RENCOP on heating

In Middelfart, the first 5 RENCOP meetings were held with the communities of Vejen, Fredericia, Billund and Middelfart last month. The aim is to outphase oilboilers and replace them with heatpumps taking renewable electricity off the grid. Another round of meetings is scheduled for the 12th March where people will be offered the opportunity to buy heatpumps together.

First RENCOP workshop held in Seinäjoki, Finland

On the 13th Februar 2018 the first RENCOP workshop was held at the Regional Council of South Ostrobothnia, to launch the idea of a RENCOP working in South Ostrobothnia with potential stakeholders. Organisations active in making community energy happen as well as interested parties attended, inlcuding representatives from research and development organisations, municipalities, financiers, associations and companies, 14 people in total. New stakeholders are of course welcome. Energies of interest identified are micro-combined heat and power generation as well as biomass, biogas, solar energy and geothermal heat.