Increased energy efficiency and the greater use of renewables are an important solution to the current challenges in the energy sector and a business opportunity at the same time, opening markets for new technologies, creating jobs and making Europe’s economy more competitive.
The Intelligent Energy – Europe (IEE) programme of the European Union addresses key questions: how to take advantage of these market opportunities, how to increase the uptake of new technologies and how to convert EU policy on energy efficiency and renewables into action “on the ground”.
The programme supports European projects, one-off events (e.g. conferences) and the setting up of local or regional energy agencies. The 2006 call for proposals in three fields has just been published. These are “SAVE” (energy efficiency), “ALTENER” (new and renewable energy sources) and “STEER” (energy aspects of transport).
To further explain the IEE programme, the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure, through the Malta IEE National Contact Point, will be organising an Info Day on Thursday at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.
Presentations will be made by Ms Waltraud Schmid, from the Intelligent Energy Executive Agency (IEEA) in Brussels. Ms Schmid, an economist by education, worked as a project officer with the Austrian Energy Agency for eight years before moving to the Directorate-General for Transport and Energy at the European Commission, managing the SAVE field of the IEE programme. Since February 2005, she has served as senior project officer at the IEEA, working in the Unit responsible for SAVE, STEER and Horizontal Actions. The Info Day will also be addressed by the Hon. Ninu Zammit, Minister for Resources and Infrastructure.
Registration for the Info Day may be made by sending an email to [email protected], giving the name and surname, organisation and the contact details (telephone, fax and email) of the participant/s.
Related information about the event is available on the event webpage: http://www.iee.gov.mt.
The language to be used during the Info Day will be English.