Introduction

Local and regional energy agencies (LEAs) support the introduction of good energy management practices, advocate the concept of sustainability, provide information and guidance, and offer a number of other local services based on specific local energy needs. A good example of that is the Regional Energy Agency for Southwest Finland.

Objectives and target audience

What was the project trying to achieve? Who was the project targeted at (if applicable)?
The main aim of the Agency is to increase the use of renewable energy sources, energy conservation and energy efficiency. New target is to inform citizens about climate change and how to mitigate it. It aims to promote the introduction of new energy-saving technologies and methods and the exchange of experience and know-how at international, national and regional levels. The Agency also aims to promote the cooperation and exchange of information between energy producers and consumers in the province. Their aim is therefore to make changes in the decisions, purchases and lifestyles concerning the use of energy.
The target audience are communities, companies, NGOs and citizens, real estate

Financial Resources and Partners involved

Please give an overview of the budget, and an outline of the funders.
Which organisations were involved in shaping and delivering the project.
The Energy Agency for Southwest Finland was firstly funded by the SAVE II programme of the European Union which ended in 2002. Since then, the funding sources are: National Funding: 10%, Regional Funding: 30%, Local Funding: 30%, Private Funding: 20%, and in-house Funding: 10%.
There are many partners involved in the Agency at national, regional and local level.

Process

The Agency collects data on energy matters such as energy saving agreement, energy audit, biofuels, wind power, education material, etc. And then it disseminates this knowledge organising and participating in seminars, field trips and other events. The Agency does not only disseminate information, but it gets involved in local projects and plans.
Some of the initiatives that the Agency has been developing are:

• Tailor made trainings about sustainable energy solutions, energy saving, etc.
• Campaigns like energy saving week, Climate Change campaign.
• Own stand in different kinds of exhibitions.
• Once a week so called eco tip for the local media.
• Permanent exhibition about sustainable life style. Open for public and school groups.

Results

The Energy Agency is known as a neutral expert in different kind of energy issues, also by the media like radio and newspapers. The Energy Agency has build up an active network with local partners which make possible to initiate new projects in the energy field, Partners like universities and other schools, local Business development centres, SME’s, Forestry Centre, Council of Southwest Finland, and other Energy Agencies in Finland and different kind of NGO’s. New field are the parishes (church) that have their own environmental diplom and they have woken to give energy advice to their emloyees and also common members of the church.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

Employees of the agency have to be devoted to the issue and be active and innovative. Difficult is to get the financing for the dissemination, because the state of Finland don’t give any direct funding to the EA’s. There are around 10 EA’s in Finland and some more is coming in next few years. The network of EA’s in Finland is active and agencies know each other and their fields of action very well.