Responsible Energy for European Regions (REFER) is an initiative that aims to support the role Europe’s regions can play in climate protection by helping them develop and implement energy policies, which are based, among others, on a profound knowledge of the diverse smarter, cleaner and more efficient energy solutions that are available today.
Contents
Supporting the EU’s environmental and energy strategies, REFER creates a communication link between recognized energy industry experts and regional decision makers, sharing information on successful regional energy solutions across Europe. REFER is the brainchild of Frank Farnel, Director Global Communications & Public Affairs Europe (EMEA) - GE Energy. The initiative was formally launched in May 2009 by Michèle Sabban, President of the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and Ricardo Cordoba, President of General Electric Energy (GE Energy) for Western Europe and Northern Africa.
Rationale
The UN Development Programme estimates that in order to reduce the threat of climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the problems of a warmer planet, about 50% to 70% will have to be carried out at a regional level. The International Energy Agency has argued that “leaders of towns and cities around the world” who support and promote local renewable energy projects can blaze a trail towards greenhouse gas mitigation, energy security, sustainable development and social benefits”.
This is due to an anticipated shift in energy production towards renewable energy sources, away from traditional power plants, which amounts to a decentralization of power with a higher number of smaller power plants in different regions across Europe. Therefore, it is up to the various European regions to find concrete technological solutions adapted to regional environments and needs and which ensure a sustainable energy supply.
Sharing information among each other, but also with companies that offer a variety of different approaches to energy production, storage and distribution (e.g. in this case GE Energy) can provide regional authorities with a more complete picture of their choices when it comes to devising and implementing regional energy policies.