100 Communities

Integration of Renewable Energies in "100 communities".

In addition to the key sectors, a stated goal of the CTO as presented in the White Paper is the identification of "100 communities" aiming at 100% of RES supply.

The "100 communities" programme as initially proposed in the WP has already aroused much interest across the EU. The "100 communities" programme could also be a benchmark for the implementation of decentralised energy supply.

To optimise the available potential of renewable energy technologies, they should be used together wherever this is productive either in integrated systems for local power supply or in dispersed schemes for regional power supply. These obviously have to be adapted to the conditions of each specific location, so as to ensure reliable power supply to the required quality and continuity standards.

As part of this "100 communities" programme, a number of pilot communities, regions, cities and islands are being identified which can reasonably aim at 100% power supply from renewables.

There exists a large variety of communities differing in terms of size, population density, living standards, climatic conditions, building styles, cultural patterns, resource availability and, of course, energy system characteristics. However, of particular interest when examining the prospects for RES integration are the following characteristics:

· - energy consumption density per area unit, compared to RES availability
· - availability and type of energy infrastructure
· - power consumption pattern
· - size

A first categorisation of communities can be based principally on the comparison of the energy consumption density with RES availability. In each such category, subdivision according to type and size of the community can also be made. Thus, we distinguish the following categories:

Urban communities: Solar input smaller than the energy consumption density. Limited availability of other RES.
Examples: blocks of buildings, neighbourhoods in residential areas, villages, towns, large cities.

Rural communities: Solar input in range of energy consumption density. Usually, significant availability of other RES (wind, biomass, hydro).
Examples: small rural areas, provinces, regions.

Isolated communities: Solar input bigger or in range of energy consumption density. Usually, significant availability of other RES. No or weak interconnection with external electric grid.
Examples: isolated areas, islands (small, medium, large), autonomous areas.

The level of RES penetration is highly influenced by the type and the degree of development of the current energy infrastructure. In newly built communities, for example, the energy infrastructure can be designed from the outset to accommodate RES. On the contrary, in existing communities, with a highly developed energy infrastructure, it may take years before renewables can play a significant role in the energy supply system.

In each of the candidate communities the path for maximising RES penetration should be specified. In order to develop the actions required and to monitor progress, a strategy including schedules, priorities and players must be defined. Local and regional authorities as well as regional energy centres have important roles to play in implementing this project.

Preference should be given to activities involving combinations of technology in such a way that such projects have the potential to cover the entire range from pre-feasibility study, through feasibility study and demonstration phase (mainly programme financed), to large-scale implementation with (mainly) commercial financing.

The individual costs of this initiative are difficult to define at this stage due to the different size and nature of each possible action. Moreover, a significant proportion of the "100 communities" programme will form part of the key sectors outlined above and as such will not require additional funding.