This is an invitation to Local Action Groups (LAGs), local authorities, organisations and institutions involved in development, production or exploitation of renewable energy in rural areas to join the ELREN project (European Leader+ Renewable Energy Network). The objective of the ELREN project is to build a network of partners who will exchange the practical experience and technical know-how and in that way facilitate economic opportunities related to energy efficiency and renewable energy among LEADER+ groups throughout the EU.

The core partners of the project are GAL Vastese Inn form Italy, Carlow Leader from Ireland, Leader+ Kop van Noord Holland plus Texel (KNH+T) from the Netherlands and Aderco from Spain. KNH+T is the lead partner.

On 15^th and 16^th of May the Opening Conference of the ELREN project took place in Egmond aan Zee, Netherlands. 107 visitors from 11 European countries have attended the conference. During the conference, there were 20 presentations from 10 European countries. The presentations are available on the website of the ELREN project: www.elren.net. 

The project continues until the end of 2007. The main activities within the project will be: establishing the ELREN website and the associate database (knowledgebase), developing the training manual and training courses, field trips and conferences. The knowledgebase is intended to be a supporting vehicle helping target groups to find their way in the field of renewable energy. The training manual and courses will more specifically enable the target groups to work in the field with renewable energy. We are committed to be as specific as possible, and provide directly applicable tools, such as quick scans for solar, wind or biomass projects and step-by-step plans for starting a project. During the field trips and conferences, the partners can learn about the practical experiences with energy efficiency and renewable energy and establish direct contacts with other project participants.

The ELREN project has the ambition to establish more lasting cooperation among different Leader regions and, that would remain also in place after the project is finished.   

The cooperation with the Support Partner is formalized in the Statement of Agreement for Support Partners. The signing party can mandate third parties or other LAGs to represent them in dealings agreed within this Statement. You can find the Statement of Agreement for Support Partners in the attachment to this email.

If you are interested to become a Support Partner please sign the Statement of Agreement available inside the Elren web site (Section: Documents) and send it to:

Projectbureau LEADER+KVNH+T

Attn. J. Cace

Willemsoord 30

1781 AS Den Helder

Netherlands

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the project coordinator by email: jadranka@elren.net or by phone: +31-20-4720135. You can also contact any other core partner: aderco@elren.net, carlow@elren.net, vastese@elren.net or tecnopiani@elren.net.

Thank you in advance for your support to the ELREN project.

Project coordinator

Jadranka Cace

T: +31-20-4720135

F: +31-20-4967720

M: +31-6-41519867

jadranka@rencom.nl

www.rencom.nl