GOOD PRACTICE EXAMPLE
| Country: | Italy | |
|---|---|---|
| Product group: | green power | |
| Name of the Institution: |
Varese Ligure |
Overview
Varese Ligure is a small rural village in the region of Liguria, 95% of the land of the rural local authority has not been built on and is covered by forests. A decade ago, Varese Ligure found itself in difficulties due to a weakening economy, decaying settlements and people moving away. This prompted the mayor to try to reverse the trend by investing in its main resources within the framework of sustainable development.
Type of implemented measures: good practice in PA for the procurement of green electricity and the promotion of energy efficiency.
Success: the local authority of Varese Ligure is close to its target which is to become 100% renewable and 100% organic. In January 2004, at the European conference on RES in Berlin, the local authority of Varese Ligure received the award of “Best rural EU-local authority for the promotion of renewable energy”.
Specifications of the Institution
| Address: | Agenzia Regionale per l'Energia della Liguria (ARE Liguria) Via Peschiera 16, 16122 Genova, Italy |
|---|---|
| Number of inhabitants: | 2.400 |
| Contact person: | Ms Roberta Casapietra |
| Position: | |
| Telephone: | +39 010 840 33 43 |
| Telefax: | +39 010 814 919 |
| E-Mail: | |
| Website: | www.are.it |
| Number of employees (management): |
Organisation of the procurement
A comprehensive programme of sustainable development was put in place to achieve self-sufficiency through the promotion of renewable energy sources and through energy efficiency. The strategy is managed by the City Council under the direct supervision of its mayor, who is supported, as far as the environmental certification aspects are concerned (periodical audits), by an ad hoc committee.
The wind farm was financed by EU and regional funds (30%) as well as by private investments (60%) for a total of 1.800,00 €. The PV installation was funded by regional and local funds (155.000 €). In particular:
|
Sources of financing |
Allocation (€) |
|---|---|
|
Urban renovation of main centre - EU, national and regional funds |
4,600,000 |
|
Urban renovation 2nd main centre - national, regional, local funds |
600,000 |
|
ISO 14001/EMAS registration - local funds |
51,000 |
|
Wind farm - EU and regional funds (30%)+ private investments (60%) |
1,800,000 |
|
PV installation - regional and local funds |
155,000 |
|
Organic farming promotion - EU and Mountain Community funds |
n.a. |
|
Waste management (municipal landfill site and separate collection) - local, Mountain Community and provincial funds |
320,000 |
|
Hydro system - regional and local funds |
1,000,000 |
Measures
Promotion of renewable energy sources: the focus is on wind (two wind-power generators with a capacity of 2 millions kWh/year installed and other 2 generators will soon be installed), solar (two photovoltaic plants installed and a third installation on the public wastewater treatment station is scheduled) and biomass technologies.
Promotion of energy efficiency: focus on biomass: the authorities are promoting the use of pellet boilers by encouraging local production of pellets as a means of generating income and contributing to forestry maintenance.
Awareness-raising: one of the main actions is the participation in the EU project for schools called FEE (Force Energetique par les Enfantes), to raise the awareness of pupils, families and local stakeholders on energy issues (energy saving and renewable sources) and to the environment in general.
Success
The investment in renovation of the urban centre, in organic farming and renewable energies boosted the environmental quality of the village, which eventually allowed it to become the first ISO 14001 certified Italian local authority in October 1999, and the first European EMAS-registered local authority in November 1999. All these actions have resulted in important synergies that support each other towards the final aim of being 100% renewable and 100% organic.
The local authority is now completely self-sustainable as far as electricity is concerned thanks to the two wind-power generators able to produce 4 million kWh/year and two photovoltaic plants with a capacity of 23.000 kWh/year and meets 98% of the municipal building needs. In addition, 39 PV panels have been installed on a school that produces 4.600 kWh. Other two wind-power generators with a capacity of 2 million kWh/year will soon be installed. The establishment of these plants brings also about a considerable CO2 reduction (approximately 9.600 kg/year).
The strategy results in an improvement of the environment and health protection, more security, comfortable lives and higher standards of living. The ISO 14001 and EMAS certifications have been key to raise the village's environmental awareness and to promoting it outside its boundaries.
Further publicly available info about the concrete project
- Best Practice: Varese Ligure promuove le fonti energetiche rinnovabili, Legambiente per le Energie Rinnovabili, October 2005, http://www.fonti-rinnovabili.it/best.php
- Varese Ligure, L’Europa nel cuore, Official website of the local authority of Varese Ligure, October 2005, http://www.comune.vareseligure.sp.it
- Varese Ligure 100% sustainable, Renewable Energy for Europe – Campaign for Take-Off, Awards 2003.
