Eastgate Renewable Energy Village |
|
| Name of the project | Eastgate Renewable Energy Village |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Description | Using solar, wind, hydro and biomass sources to generate electricity, the community surrounding the area can reap the benefits of increased employment and tourism as well as low cost and sustainable energy. The project is now in the finalizing stages of gaining permission to start the development. At this stage the ownership of the area will transfer to the community, free of charge. |
| Project developer | Weardale Task Force |
| Start date | 30-11-1999 |
| Financing sources | Grant from the dept of energy and climate change. |
| Initiator | Weardale Task Force |
| Investor(s) | Lafarge Cement, One NorthEast, local community |
| Project owner | Weardale Task Force |
| Actors who receive benefits | Local community, non profit organisation still to be created |
| Legal background | The project is mainly possible because the cement company wished to return the area to the community, free of charge, in a way which would be beneficial to its economic development. Currently, the municipality is in the process of researching any liabilities concerning this transaction prior to accepting it. |
| Background information | With the departure of the local cement company (Blue Circle was bought by Lafarge Cement UK ) from the cement quarry, Eastgate lost a large source of income and employment. It was therefore promised by Lafarge Cement UK. that there would be an alternative use for the location, one that would restore economic benefits in the community. When a geothermal source was found, providing naturally heated water of a quality usable for a spa, the area was immensely attractive to use as a eco-friendly touristic destination. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Benefits in kind Local contracting Local employment Indirect social benefits |
| Renewable energy source | Wind power Hydropower Solar energy Bio-fuel Geo-thermal energy |
| Application of BSM | Benefits in kind: Local contracting: The work which needs to be done in the development stages of the project is delegated to local contractors as much as possible, generating temporary employment for the local community. Local employment: As the project will result in a small scale renewable energy showroom, there will be permanent employment in maintenance and operation. Furthermore, there will be indirect effects due to the increased tourism, which will generate jobs in hospitality businesses, as well as other economic activities. Indirect social benefits: The project is designed to attract various sectors of tourism, as it provides for a spa as well as a showroom for five different methods for harvesting renewable energy sources. |
| Roles of the different stakeholders | The Lafarge Cement company facilitates the project by donating the area to the community. Local government stimulates the project by streamlining the process of permit application, having a facilitating role between the developers and the local community, as well as providing information to its citizens. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on socio-political level or market acceptance | This project is one of the first in the UK which uses such a large variety of energy sources. If the project works out to be as successful as anticipated, the use of renewable energy sources as a (new) source of income to a region as well as an attraction for tourists, could be stimulated and repeated within the country as well as in the rest of Europe. |
| Website | http://www.davidlock.com/weardale2/ |
Amareleja - the world's biggest photovoltaic power plant |
|
| Name of the project | Amareleja - the world's biggest photovoltaic power plant |
| Country | Portugal |
| Description | In Amareleja, in the interior region of Portugal which largest town is Moura, has been built by ACCIONA the largest solar photovoltaic plant in the world, with a 46MW peak and 10MW average with 93 KW-h per year. The site occupies 250hectares of land and the company owns 320 hectares total. Since 2008, the plant is fully operational and takes advantage of the feed in tariff established in Portugal. The labour was sourced mainly from local population and workers were trained on the job by the company as needed. |
| Project developer | ACCIONA Solar |
| Start date | 30-11-2007 |
| Total investment (€) | 261 Million |
| Financing sources | Private investment |
| Initiator | AMPER Solar whose shareholders were Moura City Council (88%), Comoiprel (2%)Renatura Networks.com (10%) |
| Investor(s) | ACCIONA Solar |
| Project owner | ACCIONA Solar |
| Actors who receive benefits | Local community |
| Background information | The Decree-law 33_A of February 16th, 2005 modified the system of feed-in tariffs, establishing a new calculation system with a formula that takes the technology into account, as well as the environmental aspects and the inflation rate through the index of prices to the consumer. In 2007 a new tariff for emerging technologies, such as Concentrated Solar Power and wave energy, was introduced. ACCIONA acquired the total capital of Amper Solar that previously owned the rights to the installation. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Local employment |
| Renewable energy source | Solar energy |
| Application of BSM | Local employment: The creation of such a pioneering and substantially large project has created employment which was sourced mainly from local population. Workers were trained on the job by the company as needed. An average of 150 workers were employed on the site. A small company was also created in the region to carry out some of the panel assembly. This company continues to assemble PV components for external sale. |
| Factors which contributed to the success of the project | Highly favorable national legislation with higher feed in tariff for CSP projects Favorable physical and socio conditions |
| Roles of the different stakeholders | A key role was played by the project developer who has successfully took up the initiative started by the previous society and has involved and trained local population in the construction process. |
| Planned production of MW by your project | 64 |
| Website | http://www.best-solar-energy.com/solar-energy/accionas-solar-plant-in-portugal/ |
Texel Energy |
|
| Name of the project | Texel Energy |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Description | Texel Energy is a small scale energy company which supplies energy originating from renewable energy sources to consumers on the island of Texel, as well as to those in the rest of the country. The company started out with supplying the energy it purchased from other producers, but has the goal to be self-sufficient in the future, using geothermal, hydro, wind, biomass and solar power. The first step towards this was taken when the first windmill was put in service in the beginning of 2010. |
| Project developer | Texel Energy |
| Start date | 01-01-2007 |
| Financing sources | Shareholder equity Subsidies |
| Initiator | A group of Texel citizens, starting up Texel Energy |
| Project owner | Shareholders |
| Actors who receive benefits | Shareholders, Texel community |
| Legal background | Texel Energy does not aim at making a profit. It uses the proceeds to invest in the company, which will be beneficial to the local Texel economy. Investments are made in the use of new technology for renewable energy harvesting, such as tidal waves for electricity. The island can be used as an example for other area's, a sort of showroom of various renewable energy projects. The Texel economy will also be stimulated through the creation of jobs within the projects itself. |
| Background information | Texel energy appeals to the Texel inhabitants due to its small scale. The company has an office on the island, which can be visited freely, customers do not feel the distance they experience with large companies and call centres. With a population of only 13.783 the small scale approach is sustainable. Texel Energy has been successful in their bottom-up strategy as they started out as a small company, located on the island with close ties to their consumers, a method which appealed to their target market and therefore created a substantial consumer base. With a steady income the investments for self generation of renewable energy could be made. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Local ownership/co-ownership Local contracting Local employment Energy price reduction Indirect social benefits |
| Renewable energy source | Wind power Hydropower Solar energy Bio-fuel Geo-thermal energy |
| Application of BSM | Local ownership/co-ownership: Customers of Texel Energy buy shares by becoming a member, at a fee of €50. This membership allows them to use the energy supplied by Texel Energy at a discounted rate. Memberships can also be purchased by anyone who wishes, without the obligation of becoming a customer. Local contracting: Texel Energy aims to use local employees for the construction of its expanding business model as much as possible. Local employment: The goal is to use sustainable energy sources on the island to produce all the electricity and heat required. The harvesting of these sustainable resources will create new employment opportunities. Furthermore, as that most of the shareholders are Texel citizens,each investment made into the company benefits the local economy. Energy price reduction: When becoming a member, the renewable energy is supplied with a discount. Indirect social benefits: These stem from the potential Texel has in becoming a showroom due to the innovative technologies Texel Energy plans to put to use in the near future. Even though the island is already a popular destination for tourists, the renewable energy projects will increase this due to its appeal to a broader crowd, and will spread the flow of tourism more evenly towards the colder months. |
| Factors which contributed to the success of the project | Texel Energy is successful because it used a bottom-up technique, which means that it started small and is proceeding in achieving its goals by taking incremental steps. The first step was to attract investors through co-ownership. Most of these investors are also consumers, making sure there is a steady source of income. The next step is to not only deliver renewable energy, which is purchased from another supplier, but to also produce locally. Wind energy is now produced by Texel Energy and the goals is to take gradual steps towards an island fully reliant on renewable energy sources. With the bottom-up approach, Texel Energy did not need to look for large investors or apply for large sums of government funding. Slowly but steadily the company can achieve its goals. By staying small it remains true to its initial values, to be a local energy supplier, supplying to the Texel community. |
| Roles of the different stakeholders | Local consumers enable Texel Energy to develop, as they provide the initial capital through their membership fee and an income base through their consumption. The local and national government have supplied Texel Energy with subsidies, which are put in place for initiatives which increase the share of renewable energy sources in the total energy supply, as well as initiatives which promote the use of these renewables. Texel Energy applies both these characteristics, and therefore qualified for these subsidies. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on community acceptance | Community Acceptance: Texel Energy has used the small scale of the Texel community and the value that it places on local initiatives, local companies to develop a strong relationship with its consumers. The fact that the company is founded by locals with an aim to cater to locals creates strong support. Having a wide scale of renewable energy sources at its disposal, the implementation of the renewable energy projects as it is planned at this point will create a source of knowledge, the local community gains access to this as well. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on socio-political level or market acceptance | Texel Energy aims to have Texel become a showroom to the world. The method it takes has effect, the first windmill is in use. Texel Energy can therefore be a good example to replicate in other locations, perhaps with similar small communities. |
| Website | www.texelenergie.nl |
PV Soundless |
|
| Name of the project | PV Soundless |
| Country | Germany |
| Description | In 2001 a grid-connected photovoltaic sound barrier was constructed at Freising. At the time of construction this PV sound barrier was the highest yielding sound barrier of the world with a total capacity of 718 kW. |
| Project developer | Utility Freising, Gehrlicher Solar, Consultant M. Grottke |
| Start date | 23-12-2002 |
| Total investment (€) | 3,6 million |
| Financing sources | Shareholder Equity (Utility Freising, Local Private Investors) National public financing for sound barrier European Commission Co-Financing (minor part of PV system) Debt financing |
| Initiator | Utility Freising, Gehrlicher Solar, Isofoton, Consultant M. Grottke |
| Investor(s) | Utility Freising and private investors of the region |
| Project owner | Utility Freising and private investors of the region |
| Actors who receive benefits | Utility Freising and private investors of the region & surrounding residents |
| Background information | Highway traffic increase and a parallel grow of the municipality of Freising required the construction of a noise barrier between the highway and the newly created industrial real estate area of the municipality. At the same time the citizens of Freising are very active in the clean electricity sector. The concept of combining a sound barrier with a PV system seemed an ideal manner to combine two public goods. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Local ownership/co-ownership Benefits in kind |
| Renewable energy source | Solar energy |
| Application of BSM | Local ownership: in the first two subsystems of the PV installation local citizens were offered the possibility of purchasing shares in the project. Benefits in kind: combining the public good of a sound barrier with the generation of solar energy. |
| Factors which contributed to the success of the project | Political Support: the municipality of Freising is actively involved in promoting renewable energy and has large ambitions in this field. Gathering the required permits for a noise barrier and PV system requires the collaboration of several public actors such as the utility, the organisation in charge of highway maintenance and the municipality. As the municipality was the initiator this greatly speeded the process of realising the project. |
| Roles of the different stakeholders | Local politicians (strong green party) are pushing the municipality of Freising to reach 100% clean electricity generation within medium-term The municipality of Freising is the 100% owner of the utility Freising which installed the system The municipality of Freising via its utility has direct links to other relevant stakeholders, such as the organisation in charge of highway maintenance |
| Impact of BSM of this project on community acceptance | The project demonstrates on a larger scale the possibilities of integrating renewable energy solutions in other public goods such as sound barriers which have a high rate of public acceptance. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on socio-political level or market acceptance | Market Acceptance: in Germany this project is used as an example for other PV noise barriers. The constructer actively promotes this product. |
| Planned production of MW by your project | 718 kW |
Solar Park Rothenburg |
|
| Name of the project | Solar Park Rothenburg |
| Country | Germany |
| Description | A grid-connected 20,6 MW PV system was installed on the former airport area. It is one of the largest solar photovoltaic systems installed in Germany and has a surface of approximately 68 ha (the area required is around 2,9 ha per MW). The expected annual yield should exceed 20 GWh. Project development, project financing and project installation was realised by Gehrlicher Solar AG. |
| Project developer | Gehrlicher Solar AG |
| Start date | 14-04-2009 |
| Total investment (€) | 60 million |
| Financing sources | Private capital of Gehrlicher Solar AG, private capital of the utility Munich (Stadtwerke München GmbH) and co-financing via banks. |
| Initiator | Gehrlicher Solar AG |
| Investor(s) | Gehrlicher Solar AG, private investor, Stadtwerke München GmbH |
| Project owner | Gehrlicher Solar AG, private investor, Stadtwerke München GmbH |
| Actors who receive benefits | The assiciation of communities Rothenburg Görlitz, local Airport |
| Legal background | In Germany the local network operators must pay for grid extension measures. These costs are then forwarded to the clients via network charges. For the investor the installation area must be classified as a 100% conversion area. Otherwise the feed-in tariff might not be paid after the system is operational. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Benefits in kind Local contracting Local employment Indirect social benefits |
| Renewable energy source | Solar energy |
| Application of BSM | Benefits in kind: the local airport was threatened with closure. As the PV park was built on land of the airpot it makes periodic payments for land use which together with business taxes allow the airport to remain operational. Local Contracting: During the construction phase of the PV park local contractors were employed for the instalment which are now employed for its maintenance. Local employment: the PV park created new jobs for operation and maintenance which are shared with the airport Indirect Social Benefits: as the airport can remain open thanks to the PV park, many existing jobs were preserved. |
| Factors which contributed to the success of the project | Legislative factors played an important role, as the airport was designated a 'conversion' area leading to higher revenues to the local authorities and allowing the local airport to remain open. Political support also played a large role as the head of the district authority was the previous mayor of Rothenburg. He was aware of the financial problems the town was facing and significantly supported the project to secure funds to allow the airport to remain functional. |
| Roles of the different stakeholders | Head of district authority: as previous mayor of Rothenburg he provided a great level of support for the project, and helped work away bottlenecks. |
| Difficulties which had to be overcome | The local network operator was hesitant to make the grid connection with the PV park. The costs for the grid extension would have to be forwarded to its clients, and the higher the share of fluctuating renewables, the higher the charges which have to be asked from its clients. Also the area developed must be designated a 100% 'conversion' area to receive the correct feed-in tariff. The designation is often uncertain however, which creates difficulties for the developers during the planning phase. |
| Impact of BSM of this project on community acceptance | The fact that the construction of the PV park used local contractors, created local jobs and preserved old jobs in the airport helped create a broad level of community acceptance. |
| Planned production of MW by your project | 20 MW |
Surano Nursery School |
|
| Name of the project | Surano Nursery School |
| Country | Italy |
| Description | The projects entails a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 819 kWp. The panels used are Suntech model stp230/20wd and have a capacity of 230 watt. The support structures are made of galvanized steel embedded in the ground directly without the use of foundations. |
| Project developer | Energia Progettazione Sviluppo Srl |
| Start date | 22-08-2008 |
| Total investment (€) | 2'800'000 |
| Financing sources | Private capital of Energia Sviluppo Sud Due Srl and co-financing from Gestore dei Servizi Energetici - GSE S.p.A. (GSE) via banks. GSE plays a central role in promotion, support and development of renewable energy sources in Italy. GSE’s sole shareholder is the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance which, in consultation with the Ministry of Economic Development, provides guidance on GSE’s activities. |
| Initiator | Energia Progettazione Sviluppo Srl |
| Investor(s) | Energia Sviluppo Sud Due Srl |
| Project owner | Energia Sviluppo Sud Due Srl |
| Actors who receive benefits | Local community, Enel SpA, Energia Sviluppo Sud Due Srl, Energia Progettazione Sviluppo Srl |
| Legal background | The Puglia region has a local law that facilitates the approval and construction of photovoltaic systems and lines of connection to the national grid. These simplified rules combined with large solar radiation typical of southern Italy making the plant very productive and convenient to be built. |
| Background information | The 'initiator' company (Energia Progettazione Sviluppo Srl) is based in Perugia (a city located in middle-south part of Italy), which is pretty close to Puglia and that has enabled developers to monitor projects in a very careful way. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Benefits in kind Local contracting Local employment Indirect social benefits |
| Renewable energy source | Solar energy |
| Application of BSM | Benefits in kind: the area where the plant has been built - about 3 hectares - was abandoned and no longer used for agriculture during the last 20 yeas. So the land dried up due to prolonged carelessness showing a predominance of limestone outcrops. Thanks to the PV plant construction the area has been reclaimed and an electric cabin for public use has been built allowing access to the site and then promoting the development of new industrial activities. Secondly, since technical rooms are prefabricated and internal streets are made of clay and gravel a minimum environmental impact has been guaranteed together with an easy restoring of the site at the end of production cycle. Local contracting: to build the photovoltaic plant temporary employment has been used. Local employment: once the plant started to be operative a stable opportunity of work for local people is guaranteed for the maintenance of the land and the photovoltaic plant as well as for surveillance of the area . Indirect social benefits: the land on which the photovoltaic system has been installed is owned by a charity organisation that can then relies on a direct benefit from the rent allowing the survival of both a hospice for elderly people and a nursery school. |
| Factors which contributed to the success of the project | Legislative simplification of Puglia region regarding the installation of photovoltaic panels has been the guideline for the Italian national legislation. Moreover, the support from political side together with the local community involvement has been crucial. |
| Difficulties which had to be overcome | This type of plants are very well accepted in industrialized areas but hardly common in tourist areas. |
| Planned production of MW by your project | 1'100 MW per year (planned) |
| Website | www.energiasviluppo.it |
Barba (Lecce) PV power plant |
|
| Name of the project | Barba (Lecce) PV power plant |
| Country | Italy |
| Description | This project entails a photovoltaic plant of 999 Kwp power, which has been built on a marginal land of 3 hectares that was not used for agriculture for more than 20 years. Each crystalline silicon module is Suntech model stp230/20wd with a power of 225 watt and it is anchored to a steel support directly driven in the land without cement foundations. |
| Project developer | Energia Progettazione Sviluppo Srl |
| Start date | 20-03-2008 |
| Total investment (€) | 2'800'000 |
| Financing sources | Private capital of Solare Delta and co-financing from Gestore dei Servizi Energetici - GSE S.p.A. (GSE) via banks. GSE plays a central role in promotion, support and development of renewable energy sources in Italy. GSE’s sole shareholder is the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance which, in consultation with the Ministry of Economic Development, provides guidance on GSE’s activities. |
| Initiator | Energia Progettazione Sviluppo Srl |
| Investor(s) | Solare Delta Srl |
| Project owner | Solare Delta Srl |
| Actors who receive benefits | Local community, Enel SpA, Solare Delta Srl, Energia Progettazione Sviluppo Srl |
| Legal background | The Puglia region has a local law that facilitates the approval and construction of photovoltaic systems and lines of connection to the national grid. These simplified rules combined with large solar radiation typical of southern Italy making the plant to result very productive and convenient to be built. |
| Background information | The 'initiator' company (Energia Progettazione Sviluppo Srl) is based in Perugia (a city located in middle-south part of Italy), which is pretty close to Puglia and that enabled developers to monitor projects in a very careful way. |
| Type of benefit sharing mechanism | Benefits in kind Local contracting Local employment Indirect social benefits |
| Renewable energy source | Solar energy |
| Application of BSM | Benefits in kind: due to carelessness this land had dried up showing many emerging rocks and thus it was considered unusable for modern agriculture. Moreover plenty of rubbish was present on the land. Thanks to the PV plant construction an old street has been brought back into use to access the site allowing fruition by everyone of an area of more than 200 hectares of which nowadays 30% is cultivated while another 30% has been destined to the PV power plant. Secondly, since technical rooms are prefabricated and internal streets are made of clay and gravel a minimum environmental impact has been guaranteed together with an easy restoring of the site at the end of production cycle. Local contracting: to build the photovoltaic plant temporary employment has been used to a mean of 15 local people for a period of three months. Local employment: once the plant started to be operative a stable opportunity of work for 4 people has been guaranteed for the maintenance of the land and the photovoltaic plant as well as for the area surveillance. Indirect social benefits: thanks to restoration of viability some typical agricultural buildings became available to everyone and that has increased the local tourism. Moreover, many people are used to come in this area for biking and playing battles with soft air weapons. |
| Factors which contributed to the success of the project | Legislative simplification of Puglia region regarding the installation of photovoltaic panels has been the guideline for the Italian national legislation. Moreover, the support from political side together with the local community involvement has been crucial. |
| Difficulties which had to be overcome | This type of plants are very well accepted in industrialized areas and hardly accepted in tourist areas. |
| Planned production of MW by your project | 1'340 MW per year (planned) |
| Website | www.energiasviluppo.it |