The production and use of energy account for more than 75 % of the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is a focus of the European Green Deal, a blueprint for the EU’s clean energy transition.
European funding is a key driver in this area. Direct and indirect funding from the EU provides support for innovative, sustainable solutions. It also fosters even better cooperation among territories, regions and countries. Through such funding valuable ideas aligned with the EU’s priorities are implemented in line with local needs and shared with neighbouring countries.
The EU’s approach focuses on promoting a secure, sustainable and affordable energy supply. Improving energy efficiency and developing a fully integrated market are top priorities.
Funding for local, sustainable solutions
For example, this approach is part of the post-Brexit UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and carried through via the ERDF-funded Interreg France (Channel) England programme 2014-2020.
The programme has supported several projects delivering innovation in the renewable energy sector for the Channel area and beyond. Such targeted, local actions are helping both the UK and France advance their national decarbonisation strategies.
One of these, SunPeople, tested the use of solar technologies with heat pumps to provide households in Plymouth, UK and Lorient, France with a fully decarbonised heat energy system.
The EUR 500 000 micro-project is tackling the most impactful source of CO2 in the EU and the UK. Heating and cooling systems for buildings and industry account for half of the EU’s energy consumption, making it the biggest energy end-use sector ahead of both transport and electricity.
The residential and commercial sector consumes two-thirds of energy used in the France and England Channel area. More than 80 % of this is produced through non-renewable sources and/or carbon-emitting energy sources.
Seawater for cooling, air conditioning
The Interreg programme also funded EuroSwac, an EUR 3.9 million project working to adapt existing Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC) technology to use the Channel’s seawater. The technology has only been used so far at a few sites in tropical areas and in the Mediterranean Sea.
This technology is used to provide cooling and air-conditioning for coastal buildings directly from seawater, cutting CO2 emissions, creating new green jobs and attracting investment to the area.
Taming the tide
Meanwhile, TIGER – a EUR 45 million project, the biggest ever Interreg allocation – is testing and developing the area’s tidal energy sector. The technology transforms energy from tides into green electricity to power houses and commercial activities in coastal areas.
The high costs of this technology has been an obstacle to its development and commercialisation. TIGER is making a cost-effective case for tidal energy, in line with EU’s strategy for maintaining leadership in marine renewable energy. European countries hold around 23 % of all ocean energy patents globally.
The Channel area, already home to a pioneering tidal power station located on Brittany’s Rance River, will host new demonstration sites that could deliver game-changing results to boost the use of tidal energy.
Beyond renewable energy to energy efficiency
Radical changes and innovation are also needed to introduce energy efficiency technologies and to reduce the carbon emitted during the making of any product or activity.
A key example is ERDF-funded CobBauge, which is bringing about a revolution in the building sector through the modernisation of a traditional technique used for construction. CobBauge is developing new cob – an economical, insulating construction material made of earth, fibre and water – and is working to make it more environment-friendly and affordable.
The project will open the way to renovate existing cob houses, preserving the typical landscapes of the Channel area and make this traditional technique more modern, sustainable and competitive in the market.
While EU regional funding is important, national policy is also crucial as highlighted in an interview with SunPeople's project partners. National, regional and local decisions on taxes and incentives for the energy sector have a significant impact on boosting the take-up of renewable energy technologies. Not by chance, cutting emissions is the top goal set for the COP26 agenda, where substantial international commitments are needed.
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