What is an IEE project?

This year Intelligent Energy Europe 2 (IEE) has €49 million to spend on around 65 projects. To be chosen for funding, teams must put together a minimum of three partners from different EU countries, with some EFTA countries and Croatia also expected to join the scheme.

In practice, project consortia have been much larger than the minimum, typically with seven to nine partners and sometimes as many as 20. The average project budget is expected to be around €1m, of which the programme will pay up to 75%.To be successful, projects must demonstrate added value at the European level - it is not enough to carry out similar activities in parallel in different countries. Projects can be strategic studies; the creation, enlargement or re-organisation of market structures; the promotion of sustainable energy systems and equipment; or the development of information, education and training.

Priorities in energy-efficiency fall under the broad headings of buildings, industrial energy use and energy-efficient products. For renewable energy, the priorities are electricity generation, biofuels, heating and cooling, and domestic and other small-scale applications. And in transport the priorities are energy-efficiency, and clean vehicles and motor fuels.

IEE 2 also aims to develop leadership at the local level, establishing a European network for local action and an initiative on sustainable communities. In addition there are to be special initiatives on bio-business, energy services, education, combined heat and power and support for the buildings directive.

IEE 2 has €3 million to spend this year creating 12 new local and regional energy agencies. Local authorities do not need partners to apply for this money, although some international co-operation is expected when they are established. All proposals must be submitted by 28 September.

This year Intelligent Energy Europe 2 (IEE) has €49 million to spend on around 65 projects. To be chosen for funding, teams must put together a minimum of three partners from different EU countries, with some EFTA countries and Croatia also expected to join the scheme.