Official title

SAVE II Programme.

Legal References

Decision of the Council of 16.12.96 concerning a multiannual programme for the promotion of energy efficiency in the Community.

• Call for proposals for the promotion of energy efficiency in the European Community (1999), Official Journal C 381 of 8.12.1998, p. 22.

Objective

SAVE II is the European Community non-technical programme aimed at promoting the rational use of energy within the Community.

SAVE II has been designed to complement the efforts of the Member States in improving energy efficiency.

The SAVE II programme wants to reinforce the existing actions of SAVE I in the field of labeling and standardization in the area of energy using equipment, to support pilot actions and to disseminate information.

The programme will develop several new actions like the monitoring of energy efficiency programme and the promotion of a greater cohesion between the Member States policies aimed at improving energy management.

The subject of regional and urban energy management has been included as a specific activity in the SAVE II programme with the objective to improve energy efficiency, to make the most of local energy resources and to seek optimum energy supply conditions for regions and urban areas (see separate sheet on this action P.11.1.1.).

Target public / beneficiaries

All legal entities, regional and local authorities, organisations, individuals, public and private enterprises as well as existing Community-wide networks or temporary groupings of organisations and/or enterprises formed to accomplish the projects.

In fact there has been no typical SAVE contractor (only for the action aimed at the creation of regional and local energy centres).

Legal entities in associated non-member countries in central and eastern Europe and Cyprus have the possibility to submit proposals and to participate on terms similar to those of Member States and EEA countries. Decisions to this effect are now being drafted and adopted. Before preparing and submitting proposals involving these countries it is better to contact the European Commission.

Calendar

The SAVE II programme will run until 31 December 2000.

For 1999 the deadline for the submission of project proposals is 31.3.1999. There will be a yearly call for project proposals.

There is no real time limit for the projects: there is a minimum of three months, but it can go to several years, with an average of 18 months.

Eligible measures / nature of activities

The SAVE call for tender 1999 includes ten areas:

• 1. Rational use of energy in buildings
  This includes the rehabilitation of old buildings, the replacement of building components, the improvement of the energy management of multi-occupancy buildings etc.

• 2. Rational use of energy in equipment, including energy using equipment incorporated in buildings (heating, cooling and water heating equipment).

• 3. Rational use of energy in transport
  This is related to different topics like the urban traffic control systems, the improvement of the public transport, the services for commuters and the connection between different modes of transport. Topics like the vehicle fleet management, management systems related to freight transport are also considered as priorities.

• 4. Rational use of energy in industry

• 5. Demand side management and integrated resource planning
  This will include pilot DSM programmes, the improvement in electricity end use and the energy behaviour in households.

• 6. Promotion of combined heat and power

• 7. Studies aimed at the implementation of Community-wide measures

• 8. Monitoring of the energy efficiency progress

• 9. Information and dissemination activities
  Candidates have at least four years of experience in organising events for the promotion of energy efficiency. The activity must be of a transnational nature.

• 10. Creation of regional and local energy agencies (see separate sheet P.11.1.1.).

The selection criteria are the following:

• the projects should attack a generally recognised energy efficiency problem and the solutions developed should be easily transferable. The projects should represent a new approach to the problem.

• The transnational component is very important, projects should involve partners at least from 2 different Member States of the European Union or EEA (European Economic Area).

Nature and amount of financial support

The Community contribution for actions 1-6 will be up to a maximum of 50 % of the total cost of the project. Actions 7-9 may be funded up to 100 %. Action 10 may be funded up to 40 %.

A maximum amount is not fixed. The average support given by the EU is 150,000 to 200,000 euros.

European Union financial support

The budget for 1999 will be approximately 7.5 million euros.

Implementation

Proposals will be evaluated during April and May of 1999 and a decision will be made after consultation with the SAVE Committee before the end of July. Successful proposers will be informed at that time and contracts will be concluded by October 1999.

Communication support

The following are available on the website http://europa.eu.int/en/comm/dg17/save2.htm:

• a brochure « Actions for the Promotion of Energy Efficiency»
• the documents concerning the 1999 call for proposals
• the information brochure on the action « Creation of Regional and Local Energy Agencies »

Information Offices or Additional Sources of Information

• European Commission
  Mr. R. Harbison
  Directorate General for Energy
  DG XVII, Unit C2
  226-236, avenue de Tervuren
  B-1150 Brussels
  F.: +32 2 296 62 83
  e-mail: ronan.harbison@bxl.dg17.cec.be