EN / FR
The final conference of the RegEnergy project, labelled as an event organised under the French Presidency of the European Union, took place in Brest, France, on 18 May 2022.
More than 110 actors of the energy transition in France and in Europe - partners and representatives of the European institutions, local elected members, territorial agents, representatives of energy unions, renewable energy professionals, academics, etc. - gathered on Wednesday 18 May 2022 at Océanopolis (Brest, France) to discuss the strengthening of territorial cooperation for a successful energy transition.
The final conference allowed on the one hand, to make an assessment of the experiments implemented within the framework of the project and their impacts, both at the local and North-West European levels. On the other hand, the conference was an excellent opportunity to discuss the issues and strategies implemented by European, national, regional and local authorities and the perspectives offered by cooperation between urban and rural areas.
The day was punctuated by different moments of exchange such as the “poster session” during which the RegEnergy partners were able to present their results in small groups, the insight into Océanopolis’ energy retrofitting works and photovoltaic self-consumption or the visit of a part of the Océanopolis aquarium.
Three round tables brought together different actors, allowing their voices and points of view to be heard.
The Round Table 1: “Urban-rural cooperation, a necessity to achieve European renewable energy targets" was an opportunity to present the European regulatory framework on renewable energies and its evolution perspectives as well as to detail its transposition at national level and their declinations at regional and local levels.
The Round Table 2: "Renewable energy partnerships - put into practice" brought together the partners of the RegEnergy project who presented together the solutions they have each adapted to the local context. The partners from Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands presented their approaches and lessons learned after overcoming legal obstacles and finding solutions to reconcile locally produced energy from renewable resources (biogas, solar, waste heat) with local demand. The Joint Secretariat presented the new upcoming Interreg North-West Europe Programme and gave a glowing review of the RegEnergy partnership and the actions implemented by the partners.
During Round Table 3: "Involve local authorities and engage citizens for the energy transition and the benefit of the territories” were presented the examples deployed within the Kreiz Breizh Community of Municipalities on public governance of wind farms, as well as the example of the City of Plymouth on solar renewable energy communities.
The day ended with concluding remarks in which the notions of partnership, energy community, shared governance and social acceptance were mentioned as necessary bases for successful cooperation in the development of renewable energy. The anticipation of each project in order to create a dialogue between the actors from the very beginning was designated as essential.
