To help Mediterranean regions increase renewable energy use and develop local businesses, the Compose project set up 15 small-scale demonstration projects in 11 countries. These included installing energy-saving measures in public buildings and conducting awareness-raising campaigns for residents about energy efficiency. An open access web tool was developed that planners and policy makers can use to implement their own ‘green’ economy initiatives with community support.
- 30 March 2021
'Our example shows how an EU funded project, a University and a scientific team can work together with local communities and give concrete results for the best interest of all.'
Compose brought together 25 partners from universities, research organisations, local and regional authorities, development agencies, business networks, NGOs and sustainable energy associations.
A total of 558 000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year will be avoided in the participating countries until 2030 thanks to these projects. The project was widely disseminated, reaching an estimated 140 000 people. It is expected to increase the share of renewable energy use in Mediterranean rural areas by 12% and by 19% on islands such as Crete and Cyprus. A total of 250 policy- and decision-makers at local and regional planning levels from 11 countries signed the Compose memorandum of understanding.
A step-by-step process
The demonstration projects were implemented in Albania, Bosnia and Herzogovina, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. They made use of solar, wind and geothermal energy, and biomass. Energy-saving measures put in place included better insulation and installing technology to monitor energy use.
At each site, a problem was identified, a plan was developed with local authorities, partnerships were formed, citizens were involved and training and awareness-raising activities were conducted. This approach and the web tool are intended to ensure that the methodology can be replicated elsewhere.
Three projects
In the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of France, one in six inhabitants lives under the poverty line. Poor households spend a disproportionate share of their income, up to 15 %, on energy bills. Many of these houses are not properly insulated. In the cities of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, visits were conducted to 40 low-income homes to determine which energy-saving measures could be viable. The ones deemed most effective were installed, resulting in energy savings of 40 000 kWh or EUR 4 000. Energy use in 20 of these households will continue to be monitored.
In the municipality of Rethymno, on the Greek island of Crete, recycling of used cooking oil – which is used to make biodiesel – was increased with an awareness-raising campaign for residents and school children. Smart bins with integrated sensors linked to a web-based monitoring platform makes it easy to determine when the bins are full, saving fuel consumption on collection trips. The project increased recycling and safe disposal of used cooking oil and set up a biodiesel supply chain. The project aims to save 17 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year and 48.5 tonnes of oil equivalent by 2030.
In the municipalities of Zreče and Slovenska Bistrica in Slovenia, a micro district heating system was installed and sport hall renovated to make it energy efficient. The aim was to increase air quality and use of biomass and to improve local energy supply chains. Work began with a feasibility study on developing a biomass logistics centre and building a co-generation district heating system. Talks were held with local authorities, residents, energy and development agencies and Natura 2000 representatives.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Compose: Rural Communities engaged with positive energy” is EUR 2 551 244, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 1 905 580 through the “Interreg Mediterranean” Cooperation Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Environmental protection and resource efficiency”.