Archive for Countries
Bio-energy Village Jühnde – Germany
Posted by: | CommentsThe central idea of this model is a complete shift of energy sources for an entire village – away from conventional sources to the renewable and CO2 neutral biomass.
One such community is the bio-energy village in Jühnde, located in the southern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the first of its kind in Germany, and aims to completely replace its fossil energy use for heating and electricity through bio-energy. The know-how attained in Jühnde is to be transferred to other suited neighbouring villages in an upcoming process to be started in autumn 2006. The energy system in the Jühnde model is operated by a local cooperative company. Beforehand, all inhabitants were invited to participate in the planning process. Working groups dealt with concrete visions about the energy future of their community. The common decision-making and problem-solving in the process of reorientation and conversion to renewable energy sources generated a new sense of orientation and connectedness within the community. So this participatory business case guarantees a high compatibility with local needs and networks of actors, while local competence can be established. One of the formulated aims of the Jühnde model is to support the local cultural heritage, and to strengthen the community life and identity.
Furthermore, a new market for farmers focusing on biomass as a renewable energy source is generated in addition to the traditional demand for crops. Selling bio-energy crops and wood as biomass creates a new income base for local farmers, and leads to higher employment levels in this sector. Economic prosperity can thus be secured in the long-term, given the steady rise in fossil-fuel costs. Also, the overall effect on the region’s and country’s balance of trade is positive, as payments for oil and natural gas imports are reduced.
The methodology and human resources of the ESTEEM tool has been used starting in January 2007.
Energetic use of biomass – Trentino Alto Adige, Italy [ReXergy Project]
Posted by: | CommentsThe FEM with the collaboration of different partners implemented and foresaw in the medium term initiatives included in the project named “Parco dell’Energia” (ReXergy) divided in different subsets and which has the theme of sustainable energy as leitmotif. The actions and interventions programmed have the task to promote:
1) The spread of the use of sustainable energy resources (WP1);
2) Energy saving and energy efficiency of facilities and of buildings (WP2);
3) The creation of a observatory for the sustainable energy dedicated to agricultural enterprises (WP3).
The project is based on of three level of action: pointed research, to widen scientific knowledge in some sectors (anaerobic digestion; bio ethanol; cell functioning with fuel) technological transfer of innovations gauging the interventions to the specificities of local entrepreneurial situations; moments of training and spread.
European Project Create Acceptance
Posted by: | CommentsCreate Acceptance has been finalized successfully in 2008. The main outcome of the project is the ESTEEM tool (Engage stakeholders through a systematic toolbox to manage new energy projects). This tool is developed for projects managers of new energy projects who want to improve the societal acceptance of their project by stimulating the participate of stakeholders.
In principle, citizens support sustainable energy sources. Yet in practice, many projects actually face problems of acceptance. Sustainable energy projects need the support of stakeholders. In order to be successful, projects need to fit into various social contexts: they need to adapt to and shape society’s expectations.
ESTEEM is designed to help you find out how well your project fits into its social context, to learn about your stakeholders’ concerns and expectations toward the project, and to identify mutually acceptable solutions to potential difficulties. It is a structured process consisting of six steps.
The ESTEEM process is designed to be used by a consultant supporting the work of an energy project manager. As an ESTEEM consultant, you can be a business consultant, an academic or an NGO. You can also be an ‘in-house consultant’, working for the project management team.
ESTEEM provides a tool to structure your cooperation with the project manager and the stakeholders and drive the project to successful conclusion.
Ökosiedlung Gärtnerhof – Gänserdorf, Austria [Urban Requalification]
Posted by: | CommentsÖkosiedlung Gärtnerhof (“Eco-Homes”) is situated some 30 km north-east of Vienna, in the “Marchfeld“ a region characterised by intensive farming and widely strewn weekend homes.
Ökosiedlung Gärtnerhof is situated around a little farm near a small village, and has it’s own area. This makes Ökosiedlung Gärtnerhof a specific community. To save on ground area buildings are densely build, around central garden areas. To increase green areas, roofs are also used as green spaces. Site planning is made in such a way that maximum use of natural resources is made. This good for example for use of passive and active solar energy. Several areas in the settlement are used for common activities likes a bicycle room, baby carriage room, open field theatre and festivities area. The settlement is free from cars; a school bus and shuttle taxi guarantees transport.
The Solar Habitat – Grand Lyon, France
Posted by: | CommentsThe project aims to participate to the objective of 15% RES in 2010 in the energy balance of the Great Lyon. REStart concerns :
Energy efficiency and renewable energy program in the building sector;
Photovoltaic installation;
Building sector.
At urban scale, the objectives are:-
To decrease energy consumption of new buildings with low environmental impact
To decrease or even eliminate the over-cost of RES with efficient techniques for building
RESTART project concerns 200 dwellings in the social housing sector in 7 independent projects in social housing sector.
Mont-Cenis Academy – Herne Sodingen, Germany. [Building]
Posted by: | CommentsHerne is situated in the centre of the Ruhr area as at the heart of the region dedicated to the internationale BauasstellungEmscher Park (International Architecture Exhibition).
The development of the area will consist of 5 elements:
1) Construction of the education centre for the minister of the interior of Nordrhein – Westfalen which will be the generator of the transformation and the beacon project for the development of the town and region.
2) Public service buildings for the town.
3) New shops, public services and offices connected to the existing shopping centre.
4) Extension of the existing housing area by the construction of 250 housing units of different types.
5) A landscaped park associated with surrounding environment.
The only power source of the system is the sun power and the only power transformation involved is that needed to make positioning and focusing system working. The power transferred on the object is given by a geometrical reflection of incident sunlight.
The system works according to the principle of the incident ray of light being reflected on a level surface; the sunlight is reflected from outside into the tunnel, producing then a natural beam which completely eliminates sudden changes in lighting.
A photovoltaic cells battery transform a small amount of energy provided by the sun in electricity, that drives a hydraulic power centre and an electronic device in charge of focusing and moving the reflecting surface.
Mini Hydro Power – Megeve France. [Technologies Alternative]
Posted by: | CommentsAmong the renewable energy sources, hydropower is the one that is used most. In some European countries, it covers more than 30% of the national electricity needs. New, big hydropower stations will be required because of the damming up of rivers and the related environmental laws only very rarely be constructed. But there is a big potential for the mini-hydropower below 1 MW. It can be very cheaply (re)activated in those places where there are still old exploitation rights and where old installations can be reactivated in the case where dams exist. In the city of Megève, in the French Alps, since 1968 one mini hydro power system was installed in the drinking water system, this supplied the municipal sports hall with electricity. Hydropower on water system is hardly developed in France. In the absence of incentive policy on the matter, only a few facilities on the irrigation and on the drinking water systems have been carried out. Most of the time, these facilities have been developed as people became more aware of the aspects linked to the energy promotion and to benefits and/or economies that may result from those different facilities.
It was during the 60’s that the idea of promoting drinking water collected and stocked in the reservoir of the Livraz, on the plateau of the Mount Arbois, 300 m above Megève, first
appeared. Plan and action followed. When the Sports and Conference Centre opened in 1968, the hydro-electric plant (Pelton turbine and asynchronous generator of 300 kW) worked in a semi-automatic and discontinuous way, with heavy human constraint.
The Lighthouse – Glasgow, United Kingdom
Posted by: | CommentsThe Glasgow project involved the refurbishment of the Lighthouse Building, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The lighthouse building has been a landmark in Glasgow city centre since it’s construction in 1895. The building is constructed with cast iron columns, steel beams, concrete floors and stands six storeys high, including the basement level.
The building has been classed as grade 1 listed and is of significant historic value to the local area which has had a significant impact on the design options.
The aim of the project was to design a centre for art and design with exhibition and gallery space that will engage the citizens of Glasgow. The building will accommodate educational space, art and architectural exhibitions and a demonstration of embedded renewable energy.
An objective of the design was to produce a multifunctional building which will appeal to the citizens of Glasgow and not just the designers. There was also a requirement to maintain the appearance of the existing building which has a valuable presence within the city which has been reflected in the design.
