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THE CO2FREE PROJECT
IS CO-FINANCED BY:

European Union Interreg IVC The Interregional cooperation Programme INTERREG IVC, financed by the European Union’s Regional Development Fund, helps Regions of Europe work together to share experience and good practice in the area of innovation, the knowledge economy, the environment and risk prevention. EUR 302 million is available for project funding but, more than that, a wealth of knowledge and potential solutions are also on hand for regional policymakers.

Past events - Seminars

NOVEMBER 2011

9 nov, Green ICT - Study visit to Västernorrland, Sweden

Green ICT, Örnsköldsvik
PROGRAM 8 November

You can find the presentations below the program

Welcome to Örnsköldsvik - the city in the
World Heritage Area High coast of Sweden

Creating a Sustainable Municipality,
Jan Nyman, Municipality of Örnsköldsvik


ePower for the people and the environment,

Torbjörn Johansson, Innovation Impact, has been in charge of the project Citizen Centric Public Service in Sparsely Populated Areas. A project focusing on empowering people thru smart use of ICT and as an effect saving our environment by less needs of travels and transports.

Open sustainability

Thomas Mejtoft, researcher at Umeå University, will illustrate how open source and the ideas behind the open source movement can be used to enhance sustainable behavior.

Green ICT - turning problems into solutions

Håkan Nordin, co-founder of Greenpeace Sweden, entrepreneur with green focus and writer of the book Green ICT say’s: The emission of Co2 in the world needs to be reduced with 80%. Green ICT is one of the solutions. He is going to tell us how.

Do it like this - when you want to go green

Göran Nilsson, Canon Print Solutions and Sture Andersson, Örnsköldsvik municipality, is going to get hands on and give us tools and tips to use back home to reduce the use of paper and energy. Since Örnsköldsvik started to implement these new routines they have reduced print-outs by 4 million per year and thereby saved 500 trees and reduced the emission of CO2 with 280 ton. We will also hear about; Transfer of excess heat, e-meetings and e-learning, Automatic shutdown and Eco-labelled computers.

PROGRAM 9th November Study Visits on site

El-Forest

Energy efficient and environmentally sound forestry machinery of the future . El-forest AB was established 2006 by the inventors of the El-forest forwarder, the first forestry machine in the world that uses highly efficient electric hybrid technology. El-Forest represents the latest in forest hybrid technology and combines a high degree of utilization with the latest environmental technology and driver comfort.

Övik Energi

Övik Energi are using cold water from the bottom of the fjord next to the city to produce something called free cooling. This new plant provides residential blocks, industrial premises and shopping malls with cooling during warm summer days.


Presentations

8 nov, Seminar 3: Green ICT

Västernorrland, Sweden
PROGRAM
Welcome to Örnsköldsvik - the city in the
World Heritage Area High coast of Sweden

Creating a Sustainable Municipality,
Jan Nyman, Municipality of Örnsköldsvik

ePower for the people and the environment,

Torbjörn Johansson, Innovation Impact, has been in charge of the project Citizen Centric Public Service in Sparsely Populated Areas. A project focusing on empowering people thru smart use of ICT and as an effect saving our environment by less needs of travels and transports.

Coffee break and discussions

Open sustainability

Thomas Mejtoft, researcher at Umeå University, will illustrate how open source and the ideas behind the open source movement can be used to enhance sustainable behavior.

Lunch

Green ICT - turning problems into solutions

Håkan Nordin, co-founder of Greenpeace Sweden, entrepreneur with green focus and writer of the book Green ICT say’s: The emission of Co2 in the world needs to be reduced with 80%. Green ICT is one of the solutions. He is going to tell us how.

Do it like this - when you want to go green

Sture Andersson, Örnsköldsvik municipality and Göran Nilsson, Print Solutions, is going to get hands on and give us tools and tips to use back home to reduce the use of paper and energy. Since Örnsköldsvik started to implement these new routines they have reduced print-outs by 4 million per year and thereby saved 500 trees and reduced the emission of CO2 with 280 ton. We will also hear about; Transfer of excess heat, e-meetings and e-learning, Automatic shutdown and Eco-labelled computers.

Closing of conference with coffee and discussions

For further information contact charlie.wallin@y.komforb.se

The seminar is a part of the Study Visit to Västernorrland.

Presentations

JUNE 2011

Seminar 2: Renewable energies

Joensuu, Northern Karelia, Finland
Welcome to North Karelia, European region of forests
Dr Pentti Hyttinen, Region Mayor, Regional Council of North Karelia

Cluster based regional development - role of strategies and development programmes in North Karelia
Dr Eira Varis, Region development manager, Regional Council of North Karelia

Coffee & networking

Forest Energy Potential in Europe
Professor Antti Asikainen, Finnish Forest Research Institute Metla

Future Trends and Applications in Renewable Energy Technologies (e.g. photovoltaic, solar thermal, geothermal, fuel cells)
Professor Ilkka Savolainen, VTT - Technical Research Centre of Finland

Renewable Energy in Transportation
Chairman Ari Lampinen, Finnish Biogas Accociation

Lunch & Networking

Strategies in practise:
North Karelia Bioenergy Programme and Climate and Energy Programmes
Mr Pasi Pitkänen, Regional planner, Regional Council of North Karelia

WENET - Finnish network for sustainable energy solutions
Mr Jouko Parviainen, Project Manager, Joensuu Regional Development Agency

Eno Energy Co-operative - heat entrepreneurship in Eno
Mr. Urpo Hassinen, Forestry Centre of North Karelia

Conclusions
Mr Pasi Pitkänen, Regional planner, Regional Council of North Karelia

MAY 2011

12 may, Launching conference

San Sebastian, Spain
Successful study cases in Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies.
Legislation, Research and Implementation.


Welcome.
Euken Sesé, General Manager FOMENTO SAN SEBASTIAN

Conference opening session: European Initiatives support in
energy efficiency and Renewable Energies

Maud Skäringer , Policy Analyst , European Commission,
DG Regional Policy

Presentation of CO2FREE project.
Colm McColgan, ERNACT - European Regions Network for the Application of Communications Technology

Coffee break & Networking

European Legislation in Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energies.

CENER, National Renewable Energy Center

The role of regional authorities as promoters of Renewable
Energy and energy efficiency.

Olatz Ajuria, International and Research Area, EVE,
Basque Energy Agency

The future trends: New and emerging energy sources.
Dr. Michael HEIDENREICH, Greennovate! Europe

Lunch

Case Studies: successful Best Practices.
- Renewable energies. - Speaker: Donegal County (Ireland)
- Energy Efficiency and ICT- Speaker: Derry region (Northern Ireland)
- Green ICT- Speaker: Västernorrland region (Sweden)
- Sustainable transportation- Speaker: Carinthia Region (Austria)

See pictures from the Launching conference!

The launching conference was combined with a study visit in San Sebastián.

DECEMBER 2010

Seminar 1: ICT and Energy Efficiency >

Derry, Northen Ireland
Cooperating to Foster Renewables and Energy Efficiency – ‘The Role of Smart Energy’

Venue: Intelligent Systems Research Centre, Magee Campus, University of Ulster, Derry, N. Ireland

Time and date: December 2nd 10am – 2pm

Aim of the Seminar
ICT has a vital role to play leading the fight against climate change by supporting smart, efficient energy use throughout the economy. From ‘Smart Buildings’ to ‘Smart Grids’ through to integration of renewable energies,ICT has potential to make a significant impact. However, current best practice is limited and Europe faces a challenge to exploit this area fully.

This seminar will consider innovative concepts, emerging practice and European Commission perspectives on the goal to put smart energy policy into practice.

Private sector, public sector and European Commission speakers will share their differing perspectives with the aim of transferring findings into an action planning process for practical delivery at a local and regional level.

The CO2Free partnership has formed to address these interrelated issues at inter-regional level. The project brings together partners from all over Europe including regions of Ireland, UK, Spain, Sweden, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria and Finland.

Speakers include

• Michael Doran – Executive Director, Action Renewables
• Michael Smith – Smart Grid Ireland
• Maud Skaringer - Policy Analyst, EC DG Regional Policy
• Tom Brennan – Rural Generation
• Jillian Ferris – EAGA
• Patrick Keatley, Centre of Sustainable Technologies, University of Ulster


All the presentations from the seminar.