Enhancing the energy transition in Central Europe with the support of renewable energy communities
Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central EuropeDescription
Engaging Partners and Associated Strategic Partners to enhance the contribution of RECs to the energy transition in CE(EN)
PA1 - testing innovative approaches to improve RECs' energy performance and business models(EN)
PA2 - to monitor RECs' contribution to reduce the environmental impact and energy poverty(EN)
PILOT N.3 - testing innovative approaches to establish new RECs(EN)
SOLUTION N.1 concerning the improvement energy performance and the sustainability of REC(EN)
SOLUTION N.2 to reduce environmental impact and increase the contribution to the energy poverty by RECs(EN)
SOLUTION N.3 for new approaches to establish Renewable Energy Communities(EN)
HERCULES-CE Action Plan(EN)
Thematic information
Priority: (VI-B_CE_2) Cooperating for a greener central Europe
Priority specific objective: RSO2.1. Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility
Type of intervention: 044 Energy efficiency renovation or energy efficiency measures regarding public infrastructure, demonstration projects and supporting measures
Partners (12)
Lead Partner: Regione Emilia-Romagna
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999482375
Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT80062590379
Department: Directorate General - Knowledge, Research, Labour, Enterprises Sustainable innovation, Enterprises, Industrial chains Energy and Green Economy area
Address: Viale Aldo Moro, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Department address: Viale Aldo Moro, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Regional public authority
Website: http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it
Total budget: EUR 266 082.75
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 212 866.20
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 53 216.55
- Hradecký venkov o.p.s.
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Name: Hradecký venkov o.p.s.
Partner’s ID if not PIC: 27517730 | Registration number from the Business Registry (EN)
Address: Husovo náměstí, 503 15 Nechanice, Czech Republic
Department address: Husovo náměstí, 50315 Nechanice, Czech Republic
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Other
Total budget: EUR 90 840.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 72 672.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 18 168.00
- ENVIROS, s.r.o.
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Name: ENVIROS, s.r.o.
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 997911169
Partner’s ID if not PIC: CZ61503240
Address: Dykova, 10100 Praha, Czech Republic
Department address: Dykova, 10100 Praha, Czech Republic
Legal status: private
Organisation type: Enterprise, except SME
Website: http://www.enviros.cz
Total budget: EUR 164 319.20
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 131 455.36
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 32 863.84
- IRENA - Istarska Regionalna Energetska Agencija d.o.o.
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Name: IRENA - Istarska Regionalna Energetska Agencija d.o.o.
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 950650926
Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR15317120721
Address: Rudarska, 52220 Labin, Croatia
Department address: Rudarska, 52220 Labin, Croatia
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Sectoral agency
Website: http://www.irena-istra.hr
Total budget: EUR 133 426.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 106 740.80
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 26 685.20
- Mazovia Energy Agency
-
Name: Mazovia Energy Agency
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 972351863
Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL1132760903
Address: Nowogrodzka, 00-511 Warsaw, Poland
Department address: Nowogrodzka, 00-511 Warsaw, Poland
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Sectoral agency
Website: http://www.mae.com.pl
Total budget: EUR 145 760.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 116 608.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 29 152.00
- Województwo Lubelskie
-
Name: Województwo Lubelskie
Department: Department of Strategy and Development
Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL7122904545
Address: Artura Grottgera, 20-029 Lublin, Poland
Department address: Artura Grottgera, 20-029 Lublin, Poland
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Regional public authority
Website: http://www.lubelskie.pl
Total budget: EUR 168 494.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 134 795.20
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 33 698.80
- DGRV - Deutscher Genossenschafts- und Raiffeisenverband e.V.
-
Name: DGRV - Deutscher Genossenschafts- und Raiffeisenverband e.V.
Department: National Office for Energy Cooperatives
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 916227081
Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE220435880
Address: Linkstrasse, D-10785 Berlin, Germany
Department address: Linkstrasse, D-10785 Berlin, Germany
Legal status: private
Organisation type: Business support organisation
Website: http://www.dgrv.de
Total budget: EUR 249 220.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 199 376.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 49 844.00
- Thüringer Energie- und GreenTech-Agentur GmbH
-
Name: Thüringer Energie- und GreenTech-Agentur GmbH
Department: Energy and District Strategies
Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE304810126
Address: Mainzerhofstraße, 99084 Erfurt, Germany
Department address: Mainzerhofstraße, 99084 Erfurt, Germany
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Sectoral agency
Website: http://www.thega.de
Total budget: EUR 212 199.99
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 169 759.99
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 42 440.00
- ECIPA
-
Name: ECIPA
Department: Business Innovation Unit
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 947546538
Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT02289210276
Address: Via della Pila, 30175 Venezia Marghera, Italy
Department address: Via della Pila, 30175 Venezia , Italy
Legal status: public
Organisation type: SME
Website: http://ecipahub.eu
Total budget: EUR 258 894.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 207 115.20
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 51 778.80
Contractors:
-
Name: Sandrini Roberto
VAT registration or tax identification number: 03625360288 -
Name: E-Stream Srl
VAT registration or tax identification number: 03968030274 -
Name: Isabella Boselli
VAT registration or tax identification number: 02123561207
-
Name: Sandrini Roberto
- Politecnico di Milano – Dipartimento di Design
-
Name: Politecnico di Milano – Dipartimento di Design
Department: Department of Design
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999879881
Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT04376620151
Address: Via Durando, 20158 Milan, Italy
Department address: Via Durando, 20158 Milan, Italy
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: http://www.dipartimentodesign.polimi.it/en/
Total budget: EUR 189 825.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 151 860.00
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 37 965.00
- Forschung Burgenland GmbH.
-
Name: Forschung Burgenland GmbH.
Department: Sustainable Innovation
Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU56954228 | NA | FN218656d (EN)
Address: Campus, 7000 Eisenstadt, Austria
Department address: Steinamangerstraße , 7423 Pinkafeld, Austria
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations
Website: https://www.forschung-burgenland.at
Total budget: EUR 241 912.00
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 193 529.60
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 48 382.40
- DDRIÜ Dél-Dunántúli Regionális Innovációs Ügynökség Nonprofit Kft
-
Name: DDRIÜ Dél-Dunántúli Regionális Innovációs Ügynökség Nonprofit Kft
Department: Not applicable.
PIC (Participant Identification Code): 954379994
Partner’s ID if not PIC: HU14194799 | Not applicable. | Not applicable. (EN)
Address: Mária utca, 7621 Pécs, Hungary
Department address: Mária utca, 7621 Pecs, Hungary
Legal status: public
Organisation type: Sectoral agency
Website: https://ddriu.hu/en/home/
Total budget: EUR 155 125.50
Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 124 100.40
Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%
Partner contribution: EUR 31 025.10
Partners map
Lead partner
Project partner
Summary
Project acronym: HERCULES-CE
Project ID: CE0200727
Project start date: 2024-06-01
Project end date: 2026-11-30
Project status: ongoing
Relevant linked projects:
- EIT Climate-KIC - GECO INITIATIVE (EN) | GECO INITIATIVE increases sustainability, reduce energy poverty and generate a low carbon economy cycle in the district of Pilastro-Roveri (Bologna, Italy). It aims to: build a district energy community; increase the renewable energy production, storage and self-consumption; build a system that permits users to exchange energy; promote activities to establish a sustainable community related to the engagement, training, dissemination and promotion of behavioral changes among the community. LP01-RER is participating and will capitalise the experience and the tools developed, particularly those concerning the energy poverty. Additionally, the REC established will be involved during the WP1 to gain knowledge on the limits they met for its working and learn from their experience for drafting the HERCULES-CE Strategy.
- (EN), EIT Climate-KIC-LANDSCAPE METROPOLIS (EN) | The key concept of this initiative is that – with a view to environmental, social and economic sustainability – the landscape must become an infrastructure at the service of selected metropolis and hence the idea of developing an effective land-water intermodal mobility network (cycle paths, electric buses but also boats on the waterways) at the service of the citizens of the province. RER is participating and will transfer tools and methods, particularly for the elaboration of the HERCULES-CE tool and the section concerning the environmental impact. (EN), COME RES - H22020 (EN) | This research project aims to increase the share of renewable energy in the electricity sector. To do so, the project focusses on advancing renewable energy communities in nine European countries learning from regions with advanced community energy development and supporting target regions with the potential to further develop energy communities. PP07-DGRV is involved and will assure necessary coordination and synergies, particularly during the first step of the project (WP1) and the elaboration of the Strategy and the data-driven tool. (EN), POTEnT - Interreg Europe (EN) | The project will be concluded in July 2023 and has supported communities to develop/or improve energy services locally-owned to make their transition to a low-carbon economy quicker and deeper and among activies there are energy communities established whose experience can be capitalized within HERCULES-CE. The Municipality of Parma (within RER area) has set-up a REC, as well as the cities of Pamplona and Navarra that can be considered and shared for the implementation of WP1 and WP2 within HERCULES-CE, capitaliasing their experience but also favoiring their improvement in terms of energy and environmental performances thanks to the strategy and tool that will be developped in HERCULRES-CE. The sinergy among the projects will be done by the setting-up of the regional strategic stakeholder WG that RER will launch in HERCULES-CE. (EN), Life LOOP - LIFE-2021-CET-ENERCOM (EN) | The project (2022-2025) is leaded by Energy Cities - AP of RER and aims at supporting cities and citizens in creating their energy community. The focus of the project considers that both citizen energy cooperatives and local authorities even if are the front-runners of energy transition, still many are the obstacles to community-led renewable energy transition. Due to different internal and external factors many municipalities do not yet give priority to clean community energy. Consequently they lag behind in developping renewable infrastructure, capacities, and support. In addition, the community approach is not always valued by citizens, especially in the regions of the project. Considering the workplane of HERCULES-CE, both project can share knowledge and experience enriching their onw activities. (EN), LEEWAY - Interreg Europe (EN) | The project (3/2023- 3/2026) just started and involving RER as PP, aims to foster the adoption of energy policies to set-up RECs through the sharing and exchange of experiences between public
- authorities and regions. Local and regional authorities are involved (ITA, BE, PL, D, HR) Through Study Tour, workshops and conferences at regional and interregional level, there will be a mutual exchange of experiences, good practices and new ideas, and considering the rule and policies of RER, the outcomes of LEEWAY will be shared and considered during the development and implementatin of HERCULES-CE activities with possible joint dissemination event (within WP2 and WP3). (EN)
Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 276 098.44
Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 820 878.75
Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%
Co-financing sources:
- ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 820 878.75. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.
Investments, deliverables, policy contributions
(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)
Deliverables:
- Report on CE existing REC and their contribution to the energy saving and RES in CE
- SWOT analysis for the establishment of Renewable Energy Communities(REC) in CE
- Report on the methods of engagement to involve the target users to establish RECs
- Transnational peer-to-peer activity report
- Report on data available to monitor contribution of REC to energy transition in EU
- HERCULES-CE Strategy
- Data-driven tool to support new RECs and monitor their performance
- Communication start-up activities
- Development of digital tools to support the communication activities
- Report on the establishment of relationships with relevant online REC networks
- Communication campaigns
- Pilot Action Report to improve energy savings and the business model in one REC in Poland
- Pilot Action Report to improve energy savings and the business model in one REC in Hungary
- Pilot action to improve business models for RECs supporting heating districts in Germany
- PA1 Report - testing innovative approaches to improve RECs' energy performance and business models
- Pilot Action to improvve the environmental impact of REC in Austria
- Pilot Action concerning REC and energy poverty in Germany
- PA2report - to monitor RECs' contribution to reduce the environmental impact and energy poverty
- Pilot action report for the establishment of the REC in RER
- Pilot action report for the establishment of the REC by ThEGA
- Pilot action report for the establishment of the REC by MAE
- Pilot action report for the establishment of the REC by IRENA
- Pilot action report for the establishment of the REC by ECIPA
- Pilot action report for the establishment of the REC by HRADEKY VENKOV
- PA 3 Report - Triggering the establishment of new Renewable Energy Communities
- Communication materials
- Local communication events to promote the participation in the pilot actions
- Elaboration of media/multimedia material during the pilot implementation
- Solution concerning the improvement energy performance and the sustainability of REC
- Solution to reduce environmental impact and contribution to the energy poverty by REC
- Solution for the establishment of sustainable Renewable energy Communities
- Report on national workshop with policy makers
- Report on info-days concerning the dissemination of project outputs to the local stakeholders
- HERCULES-CE Action Plan
- Best practice brochure/Multimedia materials
- Transferring event
- Final event
Contribution to wider strategies and policies:
- EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion By encouraging the establishment of energy communities and increasing the share of renewable energy sources, HERCULES-CE contributes to the Strategies Pillar 2: Connecting the Region - subgroup energy networks (flagship: power networks and market for a green Adriatic region) and achieving the development of an integrated power system and electricity market in the Adriatic-Ionian with the goal at expanding and interconnecting national power systems, creating power market coupling while exploring opportunities for large-scale deployment of low-carbon energy sources and grid digitalization.
- EUStrategyAlpineRegion HERCULES-CE contributes to the 3rd Thematic Policy Area: Environment and Energy, that has the
- following objective: A more inclusive environmental framework for all and renewable and reliable energy solutions for the future.
- The objective is: ensuring sustainability in the Alps and preserving the Alpine heritage and promoting a sustainable use of natural and cultural resources. According to this objective, the use of natural resources (like water or biomass), and exploitation of their potential (such as energy sufficiency or regional capacity for energy storage) need to be carried out in an environmentally friendly way.
- In this Thematic Policy Area two priorities are particularly connected with HERCULES-CE: a) reinforcing Alpine natural and cultural resources as assets of a high quality living area; b) building further on the position of the Alpine Region as world-class in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable production of renewable energy.
- EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion HERCULES-CE fits with one of the policy of the MicroStrategy dealing with Energy: PA ‘Energy’ focuses on ensuring competitive, secure and sustainable energy in the Baltic Sea region. The aim of the PA Energy is to improve the implementation of the EUSBSR Action Plan and Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP). These two action plans have been merged together since 2015. Regional cooperation in the energy sector is conducted within the framework of the BEMIP plan, whose actions are to be implemented mainly in the areas of energy infrastructure, gas and electricity markets, power generation, security of energy supply, energy efficiency and renewable energy. Regarding electricity and gas markets the focus in on achieving open, competitive and fully integrated regional energy market in the Baltic Sea region
- EUStrategyDanubeRegion HERCULES-CE directly contribute to the Energy Priority Area 2. In particular: a) action n.2 that aims to promote energy efficiency and use of renewable energy in buildings and heating systems including district heating and cooling and combined heat and power facilities with a concrete goal of 5 updated/new district heating supported by REC (HERCULES-CE will develop one district heating in Germany - PP06);
- EuropeanGreenDeal By development of renewable energy communities, the project will contribute to the European Green Deal goals, in particular its main objective of reaching Europe's climate neutrality by 2050. HERCULES-CE will contribute to development of renewable energy, decrease of carbon emissions and reduction of external energy dependency; Art. 6 related to the energy poverty: HERCULES-CE will increase the contribution of RECs to the energy poverty;
- TerritorialAgenda2030 Both key objectives of TA 2030, Just Europe and Green Europe, are addressed by the project. It stimulates cooperation among local communities‘ players, including municipalities, citizens, local entrepreneurs and other local stakeholders, in the area of local (regional) strategic planning leading to sustainable development of the territory
- Other Recovery and Resilience Plan in Italy. The plan allocated 2.2 Billion Euros for the establishment of REC in Italy and encourage their strengthening. HERCULES-CE won't overlap this initiative, but will support its implementation, providing solutions for a durability for the RECs, for reducing their environmental impact and to contribute to reduce the energy poverty in Italy.
- Other HERCULES-CE will contribute to Central and South Eastern European Energy Connectivity (CESEC) contributing on its objectives, particularly to: specific actions to boost renewables and investment in energy efficiency in a region with vast growth potential in these areas. RECs will enlarge the initiatives aiming at enhancing the energy transition, encourage the (private and public) investments to promote RES, energy efficiency and innovative approaches.
- Other Development strategy of Istrian Region 2021-2027
- The project with its activities and by promoting the establishment of energy communities will contribute to the activity “Encouraging the installation of photovoltaic systems, especially within existing facilities” listed under the policy priority I. Green and connected region - Specific objective 1.1. Energy transition and dealing with the consequences of climate changes.
Programme Common Output Indicator:
-
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
-
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
-
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
-
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
Programme Common Result Indicator:
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RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
-
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
-
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:
Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR
EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:
EUSBSR Degree of compliance:
Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP
EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:
EUSALP Degree of compliance:
Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR
Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR
EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:
EUSAIR Degree of compliance:
Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project
Financing programme
2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe
Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme
2025-03-31
No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)
100 / 100 (100%)
No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)
1 017 / 1 018 (99.9%)
Notes on the data
Programme's webpage last visited on 2025-03-17.