Hydropower, biomass, and wind dominate the regional energy profile in Middle Norrland. Regional specialisation in energy is mirrored by the presence of locally-owned utilities, which provide the Middle Norrland economy with cheap energy and ancillary services.
The report has three main findings: i) Local communities can benefit from renewable energy when it is strategically linked to rural industries. ii) Local utilities owned by municipalities play a key role in renewable energy deployment, linking local resources to the energy business and reducing the cost of electricity. iii) There is a limited need for subsidies in the local energy system mainly thanks to the effective and profitable role of intermediate institutions such as co-operatives. iv) Ensuring that renewable energy provides local communities with tangible benefits improves social acceptance.
Troms County is experimenting with different renewable energy technologies instead of picking a single “winner”. There have been several demonstration projects linked to different renewable energy technologies in the county.
Abruzzo’s municipalities show high degree of participation in the Covenant of Mayors, the European network which aims to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives at the municipal level.
The energy sector is a pillar of Québec’s regional competitiveness, and the province is also making investments to improve its specialisation in renewable energy.
Renewable energy offers Prince Edward Island (PEI) a local source of power that is competitive with imported power. Because the island has no fossil fuel reserves and no opportunities for hydroelectric power, electricity has always been expensive.