The Dissemination Conference of the SUPPORT project "Sustainable Energy Planning at Regional Level" organized by Alba Local Energy Agency, was held in Alba Julia, on the 11th June, 2019.
The dissemination conference aimed to bring together the SUPPORT stakeholders but other interested parties as well in order to disseminate the results of the activities foreseen in the SUPPORT project in Romania.
There was high interest shown, the event being attended by 40 representatives from the stakeholders involved in the SUPPORT project, but other local and regional sustainability organizations were present as well. The conference brought together representatives from 12 Transylvanian authorities, mainly from Alba County, local institutions with attributions in the implementation of energy efficiency projects, suppliers of energy efficiency solutions, 2 universities in the region, energy agencies and associations of cities in Romania, and last but not least, the general public interested in this field. One of the main notable achievements was the presence of important municipalities from Transylvania, such as Baia Mare, Bistrita, Tg. Mures, Sighisoara and Zalau which were interested in the approach of the project and the way in which it can support the improvement of a regional policy. Also, interest was shown by universities and local institutions to the topic of the available energy data at regional level, for the energy planning of local and regional authorities (the ANERGO practice case) and the envisaged capacity extension of this useful tool for supporting sustainable development plans at local level.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the SUPPORT Action Plan whose actions integrate some of the lessons learned from the exchange of experience events of the SUPPORT project into the policy tool approached. The representative of Alba County Council gave a presentation on the Alba County Energy Strategy 2018-2023, a strategic document that was based on the Alba County Energy Master Plan ensuring that after the procedural analyses and approval of the SUPPORT Action Plan by Alba County Council, the measures will be taken up in order to improve the Energy Strategy.
The conference also presented the status at regional level of energy efficiency projects funded under the ROP, a few good practice cases of energy management at local authority level and national support programs for the installation of photovoltaic panels.
The debates that took place at the end of this event focused in particular on access by public authorities to European funding for the implementation of sustainable energy policies at local level, the process of developing energy action plans and access to energy databases necessary for consistent energy planning of the substance.
