The EU Commission published last week the 2009 call for project proposals which contribute to a wider spread of energy efficiency practices and to a greater use of renewable energy sources under the Intelligent Energy – Europe funding programme. Overall € 65 million will be available to fund projects which can help deliver a cleaner, more secure and sustainable energyThe ability to perform work, mainly kinetic, potential, thermal energy, but also in forms of gravitational, sound, elastic and electromagnetic energy. future for Europe while fighting climate changeClimate change is a lasting change in weather patterns over long periods of time. It can be a natural phenomena and and has occurred on Earth even before people inhabited it. Quite different is a current situation that is also referred to as climate change, anthropogenic climate change, or ....

The projects funded under the Intelligent Energy – Europe programme are designed to help achieve the key climateClimate is typically defined as the average weather (or more rigorously a statistical description of the average in terms of the mean and variability) over a period of time, usually 30 years. These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. Climate ... change and energy targets that the EU has set for itself by 2020. Running for two to three years, each project should involve at least three partners from three different countries and may receive funding covering up to 75% of its eligible costs.

The call is open to any public or private organisation established in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Croatia. Hardware-type investments and research and development projects are not supported under this funding scheme.

The main funding areas of the 2009 call are:

• Energy efficiencyUsing less energy/electricity to perform the same function. Programs designed to use electricity more efficiently - doing the same with less. and the rational use of energy: Including the implementation of long-lasting training schemes for the building workforce, and actions aimed at making residential buildings more efficient and transforming the market for energy-efficient products.
• New and renewable energy sourcesRenewable energy harnesses energy that is available to us infinitely, from sources like wind or lunar energy.: Including the use of renewable energiesRenewable energy is power generated from infinite sources, such as wind or solar power. Conventional energy is generated from finite sources, such as natural gas or fossil oil. for electricity generationElectricity generation includes all technologies that turn some form of energy into useful electric energy., heating and cooling, bio-fuels, and the deployment of renewable energies in buildings.
• Energy use in transportTransport includes all kinds of mobility, like cars, buses and airplanes.: Including the use of alternative fuelsMaterials or substances other than conventional fossil fuels or nuclear materials which may be burned in order to generate energy. and clean vehicles, the wider spread of energy-efficient transportOften efficient transport will be interlinked with e-mobility; another aspect is sufficient public transport. practices and the build up of know-how in local and regional agencies in the area of sustainable mobility.
• Integrated initiatives: Including the creation of sustainable energy communities, the support of bio-business (e.g. bio-mass, bioenergyEnergy from sustainable sources such as forests and agriculture (like wood and energy crops), but also manure and other biodegradable wastes. Includes biogas, biofuels and solid biomass.), the development of energy services, and the provision of intelligent energy education.

The call opens on 31.3.2009 with a deadline for submission on 25th June, 2009, at 17:00. The full call text including information on how to apply is available on the Intelligent Energy – Europe website at: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/call_for_proposals/index_en.htm

A memo with information on the projects selected for funding under the previous call for proposals may be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/doc/2009_IEE_memo.pdf