Funded Projects 2014-2020

Project LECo

Project Acronym	LECo
Project Title	Community based energy solutions for remote areas
Project subsite	LECo

Summary

The project shall deliver a set of locally adapted concepts for Community based energy solutions in remote areas. These concepts will be modelled, developed and implemented in selected test communities in each participating country. The methodology for setting up such local adapted concepts and their implementation will be made available in form of a practical guideline which can be used for transferring the results to other locations. With help of the German project partner Renewable Energies Agency the project will learn from good practices of the German and Austrian “energy villages”, which by implementing smart energy solution successfully created added regional value, jobs and contributed to climate protection. The concepts will be analysed, adapted and tested in pilot communities in the project region. Further existing cases of Energy Villages inside and outside the NPA area will be analyzed in form of documented cases and shall deliver guidance about success- factors and pitfalls for Energy Villages.

Objectives

1. To assist villages and communities to become self-sufficient in energy supply.

Use of fossil energy is expensive and lead to GHG-emissions and loss of purchasing power for local economy. Saving and reinvesting this money in local energy solutions has been proven as an economic stimulator in existing Energy Villages.

2. To deliver a set of locally adapted concepts for Community based energy solutions in remote areas.

The methodology for setting up local adapted concepts and their implementation will be made available in form of a practical guideline which can be used for transferring the results to other locations.

3. To promote transnational learning opportunities, knowledge exchange and networking in the sector.

Knowledge transfer from excising Energy Villages in Germany and Austria. The project will offer Local Energy Communities (LECo) networking opportunities with research institutes in other countries, and lead to increased innovation capability of LECos'.

Impacts

Tangible

Reduced environmental impact:	To support small communities in becoming energy self-sufficient, LECo has provided feasibility studies to analyse the costs and benefits of implementing renewable energy solutions, such as: community solar farms, replacing oil heating with renewable energy sources or using biogas plants. The “Energy Village” Strategic Plan serves as a guide for communities on how to best use locally available renewable energy sources and reduce the impact of climate change on the community. The Summary report summarizes the support that local and international experts provided to working groups in rural communities during the project.

Reduced environmental impact:

To support small communities in becoming energy self-sufficient, LECo has provided feasibility studies to analyse the costs and benefits of implementing renewable energy solutions, such as: community solar farms, replacing oil heating with renewable energy sources or using biogas plants.

The “Energy Village” Strategic Plan serves as a guide for communities on how to best use locally available renewable energy sources and reduce the impact of climate change on the community. The Summary report summarizes the support that local and international experts provided to working groups in rural communities during the project.

Intangible

Changing attitude and behaviour:	The project has increased communities´ awareness and changed their attitude towards sustainable energy solutions by means of: a transnational networking workshop, community events, visits to successful LECo project´s sites, a conference presenting the lessons learnt from the study trip to Germany and Denmark and a series of podcast episodes.
Building institutional capacity:	The LECo project combined innovative technologies with locally available natural resources to create more energy self-sufficient communities. Building on the principles of circular economy, the project has researched the best ownership models for community energy projects, analysed the ways of financing communities´ renewable energy projects and investigated the barriers that discourage communities from transitioning to green energy.

Changing attitude and behaviour:

The project has increased communities´ awareness and changed their attitude towards sustainable energy solutions by means of: a transnational networking workshop, community events, visits to successful LECo project´s sites, a conference presenting the lessons learnt from the study trip to Germany and Denmark and a series of podcast episodes.

Building institutional capacity:

The LECo project combined innovative technologies with locally available natural resources to create more energy self-sufficient communities. Building on the principles of circular economy, the project has researched the best ownership models for community energy projects, analysed the ways of financing communities´ renewable energy projects and investigated the barriers that discourage communities from transitioning to green energy.

Lead Partner

CENTRIA University of Applied Sciences
Finland
Heidi Kanala-Salminen
phone +358 447250241
e-mail: heidi.kanala-salminen@centria.fi

Partners

Project Info

Theme
Renewable energy, eco products

Priority
3 Renewables and Energy Efficiency

Objective
3 Increased use of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions

Project duration
31-07-17 to 30-07-20

Total budget
1 951 926 EUR

NPA co-financing
1 261 252 EUR

Target groups
local public authority
regional public authority
infrastructure and (public) service provider
interest groups including NGOs
enterprise, including SME
General public
business support organisation
sectoral agency

Joint Secretariat Desk Officer
Rachel Burn