EnerGAIN

Project Name: Promoting Decentralized Renewable Energy Generation

Project Partners: Union of Producers of Ecological Energy – BG (SPEE-BG), Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Implementation Period: 17/10/2016 – 17/01/2018

Programme: Interreg – IPA Cross-Border Cooperation Bulgaria – Macedonia, 2014–2020

Project Objective: Raise awareness and build capacity/knowledge for decentralized electricity generation from renewable energy sources (RES) and introduce innovative energy-efficiency solutions at all levels (households, businesses, public sector).

Target Groups:
Private owners/managers of family residential buildings; independent professionals in EE and RES installation; SMEs in the cross-border region working in EE/RES; business-support organizations, chambers, regional development agencies, clusters; R&D centers and academic institutions active in RES/EE innovation; secondary schools in the region; local and regional authorities (incl. economic/energy boards) as policy actors.

Activities:

• Create a stakeholder database and identify best local practices in decentralized RES electricity generation.
• Info workshops “Solar Roof” in BG and MK.
• Edit/print and distribute “Solar DER – A–Z Investment Guide”.
• Launch EnerGain web portal.
• Specialized RES trainings for technicians and engineers in BG and MK.
• E-learning seminars via the EnerGAIN – Distributed Electricity Generation from RES training programme.
• Energy-independent house models in BG and MK.
• Forum in Macedonia: “Decentralized Energy Generation – Challenges and Opportunities”.
• Final conference in Bulgaria: “Partnership for Energy Development Based on Decentralization, Independence and Sustainability”.

Results Achieved:

• Promotion of successful projects and good practices in distributed energy resources (DER).
• Increased awareness and interest among key target groups in decentralized solutions to harness RES and their benefits (environmental; economic—lower costs and energy independence; efficiency—power quality and resilience; resource conservation; safety/security).
• Improved knowledge and technical expertise of professionals working with RES-powered DER.
• Greater awareness among younger generations about RES options for energy-independent house models in the near future, through a free, engaging concept delivered by education, research, and business institutions.
• Stimulated exchange of experiences and best practices among stakeholders to promote adoption of RES-powered DER and raise awareness at all levels related to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Project site: http://energain.eu/