University of Strathclyde
Founded in 1796, the University of Strathclyde was the first establishment in the UK to become a technological university and now has over 25,000 students, making it Scotland’s third largest university. With particular strengths in engineering, business, economics and commerce, the University has strong links with industry including the energy sector. The University of Strathclyde has particular strengths in engineering, business, economics and commerce and has strong links with industry including the energy sector. As well as being home to one of Europe’s largest energy research departments, the University has recently launched its new Institute for Future Cities (IFC). Future cities research at the University of Strathclyde focuses on improving the quality of the city experience and quality of life, through developing a better approach to use of city assets. The IFC is located in the University’s Technology and Innovation Centre – a £89 million project where 850 researchers, engineers, and project managers work side-by-side in the heart of Glasgow.
ÄlvstrandenUtveckling AB
ÄlvstrandenUtveckling AB is a wholly-owned municipal company, commissioned by the City of Gothenburg. ÄlvstrandenUtveckling AB was founded with the mission to develop the old shipyard and industrial areas into districts for sustainable growth. The vision of the Friendly City forms the basis for the work. ÄlvstrandenUtveckling is a proactive organisation concerned with energy performance and environmental standards. Through pilot projects we have been able to demonstrate that it is possible to build energy efficient buildings and save money, when compared to the conventional building methods. One example is Hamnhuset, the largest passive house in Sweden, which energy performance now sets the energy standard for all new residential buildings in Gothenburg.
Eandis
Eandis shareholders are the seven Flemish mixed distribution system operators for electricity and natural gas: Gaselwest, Imea, Iveka, Imewo, Intergem, Iverlek and Sibelgas (contracted associations, intermunicipal cooperation). 70% of the shares of these distribution system operators are owned by the municipalities, 30% of the shares belong to Electrabel NV/SA. Eandis performs the tasks of the distribution system operators at cost, on the basis of an operating assignment awarded by these distribution system operators. Eandis operations are therefore funded by the cost of this management, which is passed on via the energy suppliers to the final energy consumer at a fixed tariff. Eandis acts as an operating company of the distribution system operators which are supervised by the CREG (Commission for the Regulation of Electricity and Gas - federal regulator), the VREG (Flemish Regulation Entity for the Electricity and Gas Market) and the Agency for Internal Administration (Government Commissioner Inter-municipal Cooperation). Belgium, Flanders, the local entities operating on the territory of the municipalities which are partners of the Flemish mixed distribution system operators.
Glasgow City Council
Glasgow City Council is the largest of Scotland’s 32 local authorities with seven Service Departments and 11 Arms-Length External Organisations (ALEO’s), it delivers all local authority services to Glasgow’s 600,000 residents, while managing a gross annual budget of over £2.4 billion.
Ghent City
The city of Ghent as an organisation employs over 5,000 people. Social, economic, spatial and ecological sustainability are crucial values in the city’s internal and external policy.
The City of Ghent signed the European Covenant of Mayors committing it to curb its CO2-emissions by 20% by the EU 2020 target. Ghent is defining a long-term vision with short-term milestones on whether and how CO2-neutrality can be attained, and is developing a suitable approach, framework and tools. In order to define this vision and associated measures, Ghent has started a dialogue with all stakeholders in the city (e.g. residents, businesses, industry, university, etc). This “Climate Alliance” of all sectors wants to reach the CO2 reduction targets.
Ghent is also a member of the Executive Committee of Eurocities, a European network of over 140 major cities in approximately 30 European countries, which tries to enhance the attention for local policy in European legislation. Ghent is also an active participant in the Eurocities Environment Forum. For more information, please go to: http://www.visitgent.be/
Contact person:
Krist Poffyn
Krist.poffyn@gent.be
+32 9 266 82 22
Gothenburg City
The City of Gothenburg is situated on the west coast of Sweden at the mouth of GotaAlv River and its port is the largest of the sea ports in the Nordic countries. As a Scandinavian transportation hub, it is the industry and tourist centre of Sweden and the heart of Sweden’s growing business sector. City of Gothenburg is Sweden's second largest city and forms the core of the VästraGötaland region. Just over half a million people live in the city and there is a large daily inflow of commuters from surrounding municipal districts. City of Gothenburg owns the energy company, the waste company (including the waste incineration land) and several housing companies. The companies in Gothenburg, especially the housing companies have a broad commission including the social and economic dimension.
Riga City
Riga City Council is a local public authority influencing local and regional activities. Riga City Council is a very active player in a range of EU projects and established the independent non-profit entity "Riga Energy Agency" (REA) with the support of the European Union, which is the first local energy agency in Latvia. The agency is the key player in promoting renewable energy sources and rational use of energy, consulting and advising local decision makers, inhabitants and ensuring of public awareness. The Advisory Board of Energy Supply Experts is a consultative body set up by Riga City Council to advise on REA’s areas of responsibility.
RTU
Riga Technical University is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Eastern Europe founded in 1862. The University’s Institute of Heat, Gas and Water Technology is one of the structural divisions of Construction Faculty. The Department of Sanitation Technology was established in 1958. More than 2000 students have graduated from the Institute. The study program "Heat, Gas and Water technology" is one of the three study programs available at the Construction Faculty of RTU. The Institute of heat, gas and water technology has been working actively for more than six years on the implementation of energy efficiency measures in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and on optimizing the use of renewable energy sources in the building sector. The staff of the RTU has developed various methods and solutions for construction of low energy buildings as well as technical solutions for improving energy efficiency at existing multi-storey dwelling buildings.
Scottish Power
Scottish Power has been at the heart of energy generation & distribution in the UK for over 100 years. ScottishPower is one of the UK’s largest energy companies employing more than nine thousand people across our Generation; Transmission; Distribution and Retail sectors in Scotland, England and Wales.
Scottish Power’s Generation business produces circa 26k GWh (Giga Watt hours) of electricity per annum; their Transmission and Distribution business owns and operates their transmission network in Scotland and distribution network in Scotland, England and Wales, with around 3.3 million customers, whilst their Retail business supplies gas and electricity to over 5 million customers across the UK. ScottishPower’s sister company ScottishPower Renewables, is the UK's largest developer of onshore wind farms with over 30 wind farms fully operational, under construction or in planning. Scottish Power is part of the Iberdrola Group, the 5th largest Energy Company in the world. As a major energy corporation Iberdrola SA has a clear green energy and low carbon agenda, leading the energy sector towards the target driven low carbon future.
SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut AB
SP SverigesTekniskaForskningsinstitut AB (SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden AB) is owned by RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Holding AB, under the Ministry of Finance. SP is the national institute for technical research, evaluation, testing, certification and calibration and is works closely with large and small companies, universities, institutes of technology and other organisations. The SP Group consists of eight technical units and six subsidiary companies covering a wide technical range. SP, the parent company has over 700 employees and bases its services on competence, efficiency, impartiality and international acceptance.
Swedbank
Swedbank is the leading bank in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and is listed as a large cap company on the OMX Nordic Exchange, Stockholm. Swedbank is a full-service bank for both private individuals and companies. Swedbank’s history stretches back to 1820, when Sweden’s first savings bank opened. Swedbank promotes a sound and sustainable financial situation for the many households and businesses; the company enables people, businesses and society to grow whilst maintaining a focus on customers’ needs and wishes. Swedbank have 9.8 million private customers and 631 000 corporate customers with about 319 branches in Sweden and 215 branches in the Baltic countries. The group is also present in Copenhagen, Helsinki, Kaliningrad, Luxembourg, Marbella, Moscow, New York, Oslo, Shanghai, St. Petersburg and Ukraine. As of 30 September 2011, the balance sheet amounted to SEK 1 886 billion and the number of employees totalled about 17 000.
VITO
VITO is an independent, results-driven research organisation in the Flemish region of Belgium. VITO conducts customer oriented contract research and develops innovative products and processes in the fields of energy, environment and materials, for both the public and the private sector. Central to all projects is the aim to protect the environment and encourage the sustainable use of energy and raw materials.
From 2011 onwards, VITO -in interaction with VVSG and VLEVA- has brought together the Flemish Cities that have signed the Covenant of Mayors in the Flemish Smart Cities platform. This ad hoc platform will now be redesigned towards the activities of the learning network of Flemish cities within STEP-UP. VITO and the KU Leuven are furthermore jointly involved in EnergyVille which forms an integral part of the KIC Inno Energy Co-Location Center focusing on intelligent and energy-efficient buildings and cities (funded by the European Institute for Innovation and Technology - EIT). EnergyVille will in the short term evolve towards a unique European hub for practice-oriented research on energy in cities.
Contact person: Dieter Cuypersdieter.cuypers@vito.be +32 14 33 59 57