In the second part of the summer, Priit visited South-German region of Freiburg. The information I collected is useful for everybody of us. Therefore I will give a summary about the topics and information gathered during the meeting.
100% energy independent regions and regional development
Raphael Mutter, the specialist of regional development has written a 100% renewable energy development plan to Tahiiti island.
We discussed a lot about different possibilities in various regions and also what regions have already achieved concerning 100% independency of fossile fuels. The main results were that
- Regions have to agree ourselves what they want to become in the future. All the actors in a region like energy producers, consumers, municipality people have to agree what kind of future they wish and have to move together direction to defined target.
- Secondly, we discussed that it is quite useful to make different energy production test and pilot plants, but what matters is real usage of produced energy and optimizing the investments into a real production system. Therefore it is needed to combine the optimizing and usage period and get better output from the production and usage of energy earlier.
- Third point we considered is the investments into renewable energy sytems. While, some regions wish to increase the amount of energy coming from renewable resources and some investors are willing to invest into new technologies, then we should take the investors and local regions together and lower the investment costs into renewable energy systems.
More detailed results about the meetings and the thoughts which came up during the discussion and landed on the paper.
I.1. RE and regional sustainable development do not always go together, but at the moment world is largely changing and, RE is a tool for possible sustainable regional development
I.2. RE should be anyway, because resources will run out, and are concentrated in certain regions. RE can reduce emissions, reducing the cost of the systems will remain independent and in addition to the same level with older technologies.
I.3. RE switch means structural changes.
There are always winners and losers in the changes to renewable energy, but changes must be oraganized the way, that there would be minimal amount of losses.
Structural changes and resources use must be arranged so that the local area should also be able to work and produce technology.
The changes do not affect not only the politicians and power producers, but also skilled workers, buildings and industries energy efficiency, consumers must also accept a higher and better energy price for produced energy. As well as the parties, institutions should adjust their study plans.
After all, the changes should be implemented so, as to minimize the losers, the climate and environment-friendly, high-payback, not only economically, but also the quantity and the solutions must be secure.
I.4. Regional development thinking at the starting point
Regional, sustainable development is a continuous communication among consumers, producers, officials, churches and others. It is important to find a smooth transition as possible. Finding solutions is both an economic and a social side to side a crucial consideration.
II.1. Preparation – 1 to 6. months
II.1.1. Project success
Depends on the developers, local government representatives, energy producers, as another, through the receipt. Also in the region and the wider public awareness of the public as well as half of the representatives of the people communicating kaasamispiirkond.
II.1.2. Defining the action radius
It is necessary to determine how much of the region dealing with the development. You can set the proper boundaries (eg, 3 municipalities, Setumaa district, one of the city, etc..). The spatial definition of action, it is important that all project partners clearly understand the region and to observe the limits imposed in the future. Defining the region is good to note that
• The area is large enough to include a variety of renewable energy sources (eg, forest, water, solar, wind, biomass, etc.)
• the need to include the area next to the regions to expand the sources of the existence of TE
• Ensure that the area would not be very vague, and that would not be too difficult to make communication and transport of energy (energy transport is already expensive when the distance is over 50km)
• It could also be monitored by specialists in the region and will also be involved in their activities by region
II.1.3. Extension Team
Means that we must begin to involve more people, a team of specialists to create a larger group of active involvement, the team included people from both the local government as well as heat and electricity producers, NGO representatives and, where appropriate, schools, churches and other organizations. A larger team will have a greater influence generally, and the critical mass of people in the media center.Extension Team can not be infinite, because the increase in the proportion of communications and meetings is becoming increasingly difficult to carry out. Most of the group, however, provides an opportunity to raise awareness of a wider variety of interest groups as well as future projects tekeks.
II.1.4. Team creation:
• only the immediate parties to supply relevant information,
• Get a prominent supporters
• agree to meet by telephone,
• interviewing prospective team members to draw up the plan during an interview, and traces of the plan,
• Create a database of contacts at the outset.
II.1.5. Team Development:
• Raising awareness of awareness or non-elimination,
• Required actions include the promoter, who will “not want” to get over the problems.There should be a very good communicator
• developers of the process – helping to overcome the administrative hurdles
II.2. The strategy, vision development, validation – Defining the key objectives and activities in accordance with the objectives of strategic planning. Not necessary strategy for large, but simple and understandable kõigeile drafting a resolution to be jointly pursued. Makes no sense to talk about a resolution on the impact of the various major groups in isolation, but hold conversation with representatives of the groups get together and the effect of presenting questions like “What do we want to achieve?”, “How do we reach the desired results?”. The resolution consists of:
• The main objective of long-term (eg 2020.a Year 100% TE)
• How to achieve this (eg, lower energy usage, we will update the art, the present resource),
• what else to do to achieve the objective (eg, Making the competence of all people and seek support from both the industry as a church, …)
• What will we do so the better (eg, quality of life, sustainable development, economic stabilization, etc.),
• where, kunas, who drafted resolution.
II.3. Lighthouse Project – a large public impact of the Project, the group confirmed that the ability to accomplish something.
• The location and visibility – a high-trafficked public locations are best to present the technologies to be introduced to the public (eg, PV stadium, the market on the beach, the village center of the roof, passive visitor, etc.)
• prompt action and the creation of a positive image will also increase the confidence of the team’s future, and is easier to deal with,
• future is easier to win new partners, if such a project has already been carried out. It is also possible that in future it is easier to find interested in financial models.
An example is a simple solar-car fridge, which can be transported anywhere, and on a warm summer day, ice cream just to be able to keep the cold
II.4. Large and small regions, setting the spatial boundaries.
Already, small regions are able to achieve 100% independence. Thanks to the success of small regions is also possible to study larger regions and small regions by using the results of its development plan.
III. Regional Development Plan for Building – 6th-14th months
III.1. Important analysis of the content
There will always be a deeper and more sophisticated strategies, but the region is needed to find appropriate and justified by the scope of the strategy. It is important to include strategies:
• situational analysis, based on the partner’s needs assessment and analysis,
• Analysis of objectives and strategies established during the presentation of
• A comprehensive list of projects and scope of the strategy to achieve its objectives,
• a list of possible structures for which the strategy has been developed,
• monitor and control the system overview, which examines the progress ofdevelopment.
• Objectives – Mapping of existing resources and qualitative targets consumers
• Output – analysis of available data and the creation of scenarios
• Results – Energy and emission balance, instruments and operating the programdirectory, changes to cost estimates
III.2. Analysis of fundamental research, ie
In order to give a correct analysis of the responses must ask the right questions such as:
• What is a resource in your region, we can easily (cheaply) adopt (PV, bio, your fuel,etc.)
• How much energy we need at all
• Are there areas where the region is already better than the other regions with similarlooking part of the technological and energetic.
• Does the region have been aware of some new technology. Do any of thesetechnologies is the main focus of the place?
• Who are you by the (partner) and who is against? Who would you progress to disable it?
NB! Analysis of the success of the region as well as possible to feel that the main areas of difficulty and action points identified.
Usually, this must always make compromises between what is desired to do the analysis, which does not exist in the human and financial resources possible. It is not always possible to count the roof PV mounting surfaces.
Analysis of the cradle itself, however, minimally:
• Current energy consumption and production
• Realistic targets for the region’s potential
• Describe how to reconcile the changes in social and economic side.
Experience shows that the region is mostly people who want to immediately start hitting, and just do that to a certain extent is not wrong. If, however, to achieve full energyindependence, it is a necessary strategy, which draws attention to the seriousness ofthe points from the outset and will resolve the difficulty.
See also www.aee-intec.at
III.2.2. Going forward, the analysis
III.2.2.1. Analysis of the precise definition of the objective
Have an interest in the whole region or only in certain respects (eg, heat production).Can be prepared based on the analysis of the existing situation, or based on an analysis of potentials.
III.2.2.2. Dataset preparation
Area of existing data already compiled by assembling and exploitation of data collected from trials. The region should always be some kind of statistics collection agency.
III.2.2.3. Selection of research methods and the sharing of responsibilities
Normal is to collect data from several people, and someone just puts them together
If the data is certainly a need to collect, it can be possible to involve students in the framework of a course or thesis.
III.2.3. Evaluating the results of the study
The most important is always correctly assess the results of the study:
• Is the average amount of solar radiation, y is a good or bad, how we are compared to other regions,
• Is the installer a number of available technologies to the region, is in the strength or weakness of the region. On the one hand, it is good if the company is not such as to create jobs. Should they manage to persuade the company or is it difficult to persuasion, and we should leave at the end of the project, because there are other better and faster results possible.
Certain data can be evaluated using the experience as positive or negative, partly because there will be another to say, whether it is economically viable or not, but others must be evaluated on the basis of satiety
Information gathered and assessments, you can create a SWOT (Strength-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threat analysis
As the SWOT analysis prepared by an expert it is rather a subjective analysis of the objective. In order to establish common goals, players have a good time to organize hindamiskoosolek certain limitations and subject matter, topics that remain.
III.2.4. Defining goals
The analysis, based on estimates and vision is that YOU in mind in moving towards the goals. Objectives formulated reasonable and just, that all subsequent players can understand them clearly.
It is good to keep in mind certain objectives in formulating the rules. One of the objectives of preparing a suitable simple acronym is the acronym SMART (Smart, measureable, Achievable, Relevant, Time), a smart, measurable, achievable, important, time.
III.2.5. Defining and strategic center of gravity of the decisions.
One goal of the movement can occur in several ways. For example, 100 watts of solar energy per capita of the region can be achieved if every homeowner installs itself some of the panels or the panels are built one big park somewhere for free.
To the common understanding to move forward in the way of achieving the agreed objectives. For example:
• Do we focus on lowering energy use at the beginning of another, or to something
• whether to perform a lot of goals or a clearly visible for a greater goal, and we are looking for more partners and doing more with partners.
• Will focus on existing capital, or let’s go looking for capital from outside the region to fulfill its objectives.
• Can we keep the rate rather than the consumer side (rather than reduce consumption), or to support assistance to producers (rajatatavad new buildings, clusters)
• Does the media present in the project will carry out a large party or just a lot of smaller projects to achieve media coverage.
Following the discussion must take into account those items which may prove to be feasible in the future, and those guilty should be rather more attention. The projects and their scope must also be adjusted in accordance with the gravity of the points. If necessary, expand the network of supporters.
III.2.6. Sharing of responsibilities in preparing the energy strategy – Strategic preparation is not one person or small group work. This will require local expertise / interest group and its solutions is a clear need to argue about. NB! An energy strategy for the region’s various interests in the agreement. Content of the workshops:
• Evaluation and analysis of developments in the corner stone warehouse is a very arduous and strenuous work, because the parties need to reach an agreement and jointly continue to think about. (2 days)
• After the cornerstones paikasättimist can be created by the working group to take over the work that???
• Evaluation and priotiseerimine is a grouping of work (0.5 days)
• Supporter of the network agrees to meet ülevaatamisperioodi to set priorities and their progress could be overestimated. It also brings new ideas and thoughts about the inspection group of the task force.
III.3.1. Carrying out the projects, the Making
III.3.2. Wider public awareness projects, and any other forms of PR
III.4. Monitoring and Verification
III.4.1. Evaluating the results of which and how?
We need to find out whether we are on track
Points necessary to note that:
• Projects must be submitted kriteeriiumid, which can currently be evaluated anddeducted lihsalt noted. It is necessary to create a routine evaluation process.
• Feedback at harvest to be seen whether the feedback from project managers to givesomething?
• References to further process makes sense. For example, a survey organization to help raise awareness of the project. (some do not know that something like this was inany case, and some people got it all wrong.
• Progress reports have been PRle material.
• Good website design is a direct result of that, how much energy the system producesone or the other. Then there are the investors, huvitatel a good overview of the number ofreal systems produce.
Assessment, there is no feedback from experts, but by local people, by the players.
III.4.2. A typical course of the evaluation process
• If you made a broad assessment practices.
• Preparation of assessment team. Local or subscribed to. All information must bepicked up, as people say.
• objectives, criteria set point. If it is working on projects at the pre-done, then there is noneed to bother with this point.
• What are the sources of information, assessment
• Information and Data Collection
• Data Visualization – Graphics, the comparisons.
About future targets set in regions
It is crucial to set clear targets in region to become more independent on fossile fuels, one energy source, etc. The target that the amount of renewable energy resources must increase is not a really good one. Better is to make a target, that 70% of the heat energy should come from renewable energy resources by the end of 2015. While, giving a clear target You already solve many problems. municipality knows where are the priorities, investors know what municipality or region is willing to invest, local people know how and what field they can contribute, etc.Additionally, there are several people coming out from somewhere who announce, that they already some time ago had the same target in mind. Again You have won some peoples interest and have more strong members in group of interested people.
Visit to Fraunhofer Institute
There are around 1000 workers continuously working in the complex of Fraunhofer Institute in Freiburg. The main topic scientists, workers, students are investigating about are different solar systems, like – PV, collector, biosolar systems, etc. Althought the main interest is solar field, they are also working intensively together with hydrogen, biomass and light simulation technologies. Also for example desalination plants wat they create are one of the best in the world. With a one word all technologies, what are connected with solar, are also interesting for Institute.
Recent work concerning the solar collectors is concerning collectors stability and reliability. For example some cheaper companies have problem with vacum tubes falling out from the frame or air gets into the tubes, althought the tubes are produced in factories and tested later on. Plate collectors do not have these problems, but plate collectors are not so suitable into cold climate, because they cannot increase the water temperature enough.
Integrated renewable energy systems
Different univesrsities, like Kassel and Stuttgart university have already created integrated renewable energy systems and are testing the work of different renewable energy technologies together for a longer time. There could be a place to ask for the knowledge for integrating renewable energy systems.Praktikum B.A.U.M Group firmas
B.A.U.M is very active in composing regional energy strategies and have also published a book concerning the regional renewable energy development plans and many other strategies.
The book of B.A.U.M group :”Auf dem Weg zur 100% Region” is ful of good examples how to compose a good energy strategy for a smaller region and gives very good example how to overcome the obstacles in the planning and implementing phase.