P2 : Energy transition

P2 : Energy transition

Priority 2 – Smart and just energy transition for NWE territories refers to Policy objective 2 ‘A Greener, low-carbon Europe’. It aims to promote a smart and just energy transition in the NWE area.

The NWE territories are committed to contributing to the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal(COM (2019) 640 final). It will enable Europe to be the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 by prioritising energy efficiency, developing a power sector largely based on renewable resources, securing an affordable EU energy supply and striving for a fully integrated, interconnected digitised EU energy market. The contribution of the NWE Programme is also in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all” and 12 “Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns''. Although the NWE regions show stable partnerships, networks and new institutions supporting this transition, there are still shortcomings. There are several needs to develop the energy demand and supply compatibility, as well as to promote appropriate multi-level governance systems which take into account many dimensions involved in the process towards a low carbon economy.

SO 2.1 : Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions


Due to its high energy consumption, the North-West Europe (NWE) region is key to reach the EU’s target of an increased overall energy efficiency of 32,5% until 2030. Various fields show a high potential for improvement. Energy performance levels in buildings and in transport are still too low. Furthermore, the deployment of decentralised energy production and smart energy systems such as smart grids and smart meters needs to be improved. The Programme seeks to increase the capacity of NWE communities to improve energy efficiency and to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

SO 2.1 : Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

SO 2.2 : Promoting renewable energy in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2001, including the sustainability criteria set out therein

The North-West Europe (NWE) region is one of the highest energy-consuming regions in the EU. While most countries in the Programme area are on track to achieve EU targets for deployment of Renewable Energy Sources (RES), there is an unexploited potential to improve the mix and consumption of renewable energy. Barriers must be broken down through cooperation projects to maximise this potential mix to contribute to climate change mitigation.

SO 2.2 : Promoting renewable energy in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2001, including the sustainability criteria set out therein

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Decarbonise public procurement in NWE – account for the future

DeCarb-Pro aims to reduce carbon emissions resulting from procurement by local authorities in Northwest Europe. Because public procurement has a key impact on carbon emissions. We want to achieve this

Status : ongoing

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Aquathermal Heating and Cooling for Energy Communities

Aquathermal energy technologies enable the extraction of heat or cold from water – surface water from rivers, canals, lakes, etc – and subsequent processing, through heat pumps, to support local or di

Status : ongoing

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Scaling Up the Energy Poverty Approach

Energy poverty has been deemed a major challenge by the European Commission and “lifting vulnerable citizens out of it is an urgent task for the EU”. EU-surveys in 2021 found that energy poverty appli

Status : ongoing

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REinforce Going for REnewable Energy in North-West Europe greenHOUSEs 

RE-Greenhouse aims to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy production in greenhouses.The project focuses on the Interreg NWE region, which has the highest density of heated

Status : ongoing

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Maintenance, Overhaul, Repair & Engineering for Sustainability

The North-West Europe (NWE) region is key to reach the EU’s target of an increased overall energy efficiency of 32,5% until 2030. The industry in NWE is the largest consumer of fossil energy and needs

Status : ongoing

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