07/01/2003

Actions aiming at analysing and presenting Renewable Energy Source (RES) systems, installed principally in insular regions of the EU, are being carried out by the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES) as part of the "PV-INGRID" project.

PV-INGRID is a project partially funded by the European Commission (5th Framework Programme) and implemented in collaboration with the "Total Energie" and "Transenergie" companies from France and LIFE from Italy. This project's goal is to raise confidence and increase awareness of the value of RES electricity, to encourage means for energy saving and to create a supportive environment for obtaining local subsidies for sustainable development. Within this framework, CRES envisages two main tasks:

a) Setting up a European Association of RES users and installing the ENERGRID metering system, which will show the results for the generation and consumption of energy of each RES plant on a special site on the ?nternet.

The Internet site created for this purpose (www.pv-ingrid.org) offers two levels of access. The first level provides protected access to partners, donors, user's association and electricity syndicates in order to obtain information (on a daily basis and at a distance) on RES generation and consumption, environmental aspects, financial and technical data, etc. The second level offers free access to the general public and provides updates on opportunities for RES use, the legal framework, the performance of the systems, the rational use of energy, etc.

Participation in the European Association is at present free, while the cost of the ENERGRID system (purchase of recorder with modem and software) amounts to EUR 1,000 for a limited number of meters.

b) The award of a "Green Certificate" which will commend rational use of electrical energy from RES. The certificate will be awarded by the Association on the basis of success in combining generation with a reduction in electricity consumption.

Source: Centre for Renewable Energy Sources