EU Annual SET Plan Conference - Strategic Energy Technology
Keynote speech by the CoR 1st VP, the key message: the CoR has therefore stressed in its opinion the need to configure energy policy in tight synergy with the European Union's research and innovation policy. The CoR considers that innovation in the sphere of renewable forms of energy, sustainable mobility, updating of existing energy infrastructure, the building of smart power stations, carbon binding and energy storage must be further supported at local level. The CoR has issued a number of important opinions on smart cities and related energy solutions. Our members are active participants in the Covenant of Mayors – a world-wide network of sustainable cities that unites more than 6,500 cities around the globe. This is heralded as the "world's biggest urban climate and energy network".
There are indeed many EU-funded projects that look at advanced energy solutions applied at local and regional level. I welcome in particular the realisation of FP7 or H2020 projects, which do not limit their activities to pure research and demonstration, but also involve urban communities and city administrations.
29 Nov