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Future of the Intelligent Energy Europe programme? |
 27.06.2012 - In November 2011, the European Commission published its proposal for Horizon 2020, the new programme for research and innovation. This new financial instrument is set to bring through a single set of rules and a major simplification to the two funding instruments it is combining. Out of a total budget of €80 billion of Horizon 2020, €6.5 billion is to be allocated to research and innovation in „secure, clean and efficient energy“, during the period of 2014-2020. A relevant share of this budget should go to the “Market uptake of energy innovation“. This part of the Horizon 2020 should also include the elements of the Intelligent Energy Europe–programme, currently not explicitly mentioned under the Horizon 2020. The Horizon 2020 has a very technical focus and therefore Climate Alliance and its members are concerned that essential ‘non-technological’ work funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme will be left out. Networking, capacity building, development of innovative management models and financing schemes in the fields of climate and sustainable energy should not be overlooked. Climate Alliance, in its amendment proposals (pdf, 385 KB) sent to the members of the European Parliament, highlighted the need of introducing explicitly the key elements of the IEE Programme within the Horizon 2020 Framework programme. A separate sub-programme with its own identity (similar to the IEE programme) with a focus on sustainable energy policy, capacity building and mobilizing financing, should be included in the Horizon 2020 (under chapter 3: Secure, clean and efficient energy). The IEE programme considers local authorities as an important target group in the field of sustainable energy and climate change mitigation. It finances for example the Covenant of Mayors Initiative, which currently brings together more than 4,000 local authorities committed to reducing their CO₂ emissions at least by 20% by 2020. Already some 1,500 Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SEAPs) are being implemented throughout Europe. The IEE programme has also helped creating new financial tools such as ELENA which helps cities to invest and implement their sustainable energy action plans. Last week, during the seventh edition of European Sustainable Energy Week, several sessions discussed the future of Intelligent Energy Europe programme. In the session organized by the Executive Agency on Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI) Vincent Berrutto and William Gillett highlighted the important role of Intelligent Energy Europe projects in supporting EU energy policy and helping the implementation of key energy related directives. In this context Marie Donnelly, Director at DG Energy on Renewables, Research and Innovation, Energy Efficiency officially launched the public consultation on the future of the Intelligent Energy Europe Porgramme and invited the interested parties to have their say in shaping the future of Intelligent Energy Europe–programme. Further details on the consultation: here
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