A new project named "Towards 100% RES rural communities" has started on April 2012 and will run till March 2015. 10 European countries will participate on this project and it will be coordinated by CLER Company from France. Project has been funded by Intelligent Energy Europe Programme. Objectives of this programme are: promoting energy efficiency and encouraging the rational use of energy sources; increasing the use of new and renewable energy sources as well as encouraging energy diversification and Stimulating energy efficiency and renewables in the field of transport.
One of the aims of this project is the extension of range of the signatories of the Covenant of Mayors and RURENER Program as well as initiation and fulfillment of Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP) in chosen region. By this, especially by decrement of CO2 emissions by more than 20 % till the year 2020 shall bring small municipalities and microregions in the path of 100 % exploitation of renewable energy sources (RES) by covering their energetic demands.
On behalf of Czech Republic at the national level except of AF-CITYPLAN Company participate on the project Ecological Alternatives League (LEA), BioCIT Agency, Association for Recovery of the Countryside of Zlin Region, Veronica Institute and Hostetin Municipality. By all-purposes exchange of experience among countries in RES assertion project shall contribute among other things increase public awareness. Especially at the representatives of municipalities about other cities or regions which have their energetic demands fully jointed just with the RES use already. Partner country for Czech Republic to obtain experience is Austria. Inspiration shall be model energetic region Waldviertler Kernland in Lower Austria in particular where municipalities have SEAP already and they fulfill it.
Within the frame of new project a previous RES Champions League linked to national solar and biomass leagues follows. Best European municipalities using green energy were awarded in the building of Italian senate in Rome on July 5th 2012. From 3 Czech representatives nominated by LEA (organizer of Czech Solar League and Biomass League) succeeded regional city of Zlin with a 3rd place in category “Medium cities and towns: from 20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants”.