The general idea of the project is to focus on regional ambitions and demand in the first level, with national priorities taken into account, extending the work to the international level where appropriate. The work will be stimulated through networking and clustering activities, making the actions taken at the local/regional level important and essential for the follow up activities at the international level.

 

The key issue addressed is the fact that most market actors in the solar thermal and biomass sector are small and/or medium sized enterprises. The situation for small companies is often flexibility and entrepreneurship, but also lack of resources and limited knowledge of support schemes, export markets and other companies in the same situation. By bringing several companies together, joint efforts will increase the possibilities for visibility towards the customers as well as possibilities for increased knowledge.

 

The clusters shall serve as engines and coordinators for the member's initiative to increase the deployment of renewable energy in the regions. Each cluster will set is own strategy and action plan for the deployment of Green Energy in their region and other market areas.

 

This project will through the establishment of Regional Green Energy Clusters initiate several actions that will strengthen the SME’s such as:

• Training of cluster members in entrepreneurship, management, marketing, export activities etc.

• Development of information tools

• Facilitate the exchange of experience and knowledge amongst the members

• Facilitate joint resources for marketing, business intelligence and development, export activities etc.

• Possible new business contacts and co-operation with cluster members in the other participating regions.

The establishment of the Green Energy Clusters and their achievements will be presented in a booklet. The booklet will serve as a set of good examples and a guide for the formation of similar clusters within other European regions.

 

The direct outcome of this project will be the establishment or strengthening of 5 Green Energy Clusters, one per region involved. Each newly established cluster in Sweden, Norway, UK and France will set is own strategy and action plan, with assistance of the experiences from Upper Austria, for the deployment of RES HEAT in their region and other market areas. In addition, the deliverables given in the list below will be a direct outcome of the project.

 

The potential impact of the project will be increased sale, new partnerships between companies in respective country, as well as between companies from different countries (synergy effects). This will be supported through:

• The raised knowledge, new contacts and utilisation of joint resources.

• Information dissemination activities for raised awareness amongst end-users.

• The potential import/export of products between the members of the different clusters which will broaden the range of RES technologies and products on the regional markets.

In total more than 200 companies/organisations will be involved in the clusters and 40 cluster activities implemented.

 

The information dissemination activities and booklet shall stimulate other regions to create Green Energy Clusters to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy technologies and strengthen the participating SMEs.