PÁL SÁGVÁRI Priority Area Coordinator 15th SG MEETING OF PA2 PERMANENT REPRESENTATION OF CZECH REPUBLIC TO THE EU Brussels, 4 December 2017 Progress report PÁL SÁGVÁRI Priority Area Coordinator

Table of content Activities in 2nd half of 2017 Summary of year 2017 Plans for 2018

Studies and publications Project generation and management Activities in Q2 2017 Events Studies and publications Project generation and management Communication and promotion 3

Events Participation and organization of the 6th Annual Forum of the Danube Region – 18-19 October, Budapest – to be presented later by Mr Felix Moldovan Organization of the 15th Steering Group meeting in Brussels Organization of 4th Stakeholder Seminar – 5 December, Brussels 4

Studies and publications Finalization of the 3 studies presented at the 14th SG meeting in Budapest Clean connectivity by Századvég Economic Research Institute MUNI study for the stakeholder seminar titled „Challenges and opportunities of natural gas sector in the Danube Region” REKK study for the stakeholder seminar titled „Risks and opportunities in the Danube Region’s natural gas sector” Thematic overview publication on the topics of the Annual Forum – connectivity in traditional energy, transport, clean transport 5

Project development activity Seed Money Facility call – issuance of 7 letters of recommendation Danube Geothermal Education - Danube Geo-Ed Lead partner: Romanian Geoexchange Society Description of the project:  An analysis of the state-of-play/state-of-the-art regarding the use of geothermal energy in the regional countries, and an analysis of the education level of the human resources needed to implement the necessary measures for increasing the weight of geothermal energy in the overall energy supply in the regional countries under survey. RuGeoHeat - Analysis of the geothermal energy exploitation potential and its' use in heating of rural and semirural area Lead partner: Medjimurje Energy Agency Ltd. (Croatia) Description of the project: to analyze the geothermal potential for heating in the partner regions, raise awareness of the local government in potentials and possibilities of using geothermal energy in their regions as well as to include scientific institutions and companies providing innovations in the field of geothermal energy in the development of innovative geothermal pilot solutions. Development of Small Hydropower Station Generating Electric Energy Lead partner: not defined yet Description of the project: a laboratory size copy of a small hydro power station generating electric energy was prepared the project aims to prepare the manufacturing and market impact assessment of the machine and its feasibility plan. 6

Project development activity RESDrive – Renewable energy sources as a drive for local development Lead partner: Business support center Kranj Description of the project: improving the effectiveness of regional development policies and removing institutional, regulatory and legal obstacles that will enable better energy integration and balance the level of development of use of RES and overall energy efficiency in the Danube region. RESDrive focuses on smart RES technologies – intelligent grids, storage system and electric vehicles (EVs) as key solutions for ensuring energy supply. DHswitch – Switching to district heating systems for diversification of supply, reducing gas dependency and increasing the use of locally available renewable sources Lead partner: University of Zagreb Description of the project: to help the uptake of renewable district heating systems based on biomass and solar in the South-east part of Danube region. DRiSET – Enhancing the effectiveness of the power grid and the integration of prosumers in the Danube region (DR) by incorporating smart edge technologies Lead partner: Associations of the Bulgarian Energy Agencies Description of the project: practical promotion of smart systems, affordable to end-users, and facilitating partnerships establishment and regulation.

Project development activity Green and Smart Danube Community Energy Lead partner: Jedi Mannaenergy Description of the project: building of active, environment friendly floating houses on the Danube, which are capable of electricity production, and organization of climate change and energy efficiency awareness events on the houses in the cities next to the Danube. NEW PROJECT PROPOSAL Partners: Hungarian and German Electromobility Associations Description of the project: to conceptualize then later develop and jointly provide web services for Citizens as Commuters or Travelers along Danube River between Ulm, Vienna and Budapest (and later beyond) when using Electric Vehicles and Services (of any kind, like Public Transport or Private Transport means including, Pedelecs, E-Bikes, E-Cars, E-Bus, E-Boats, E-Ferries, etc.). The concept is to create the opportunity for intermodal travel with a wide range of user friendly offers based on an interactive/real time/dynamic platform and to raise the awareness and interest for zero emission mobility. Targeted funding instrument: H2020 Opinion: as the project is in line with the objectives of PA2, especially with our focus topics next year, we suggest to issue a declaration of alignment, event if the project idea was submitted after deadline.

Project development activity Danube Strategic Project Fund Launched in January 2017 by PA10 2 project proposals were sent by PA2, none of them was financed Problems: Belated selection of projects Not clear selection procedure No information about final assessments Lack of information during the whole program Project partners loose confidence in Danube Transnational Programmes

Project management activity Participation in DARLINGe project (Danube Region Leading Geothermal Energy) Preparation of communication materials (leaflet, roll-up, promotional materials) Organization of first international stakeholder forum Participation at the 6th Annual Forum of the Strategy

Communication and promotion Homepage management Regular articles and updates Participation in the preparation of the EUSDR newsletter Preparation of promotional materials for the annual forum Notebook Booth Business card holder

Results in 2017 WP1 - Management, publicity, communication Strategic meetings 2 14 July Budapest, 27 November Budapest SG meetings 15 July Budapest, 4 December Brussels Publications (study, report, discussion paper) 3 Thematic overview for the Annual Forum, bioenergy report, Antal József Knowledge Center interviw with Pál Ságvári Website updates 8 DONE Newsletter 4 1 in September, 1 in December (to decrease to 2/year) Promotional materials Booth, notepad, business card holder WP2 - Policy development Studies, policy papers, policy reports 5 Clean connectivity study, REKK study + MUNI study for Stakeholder Seminar, REKK study of Annual Forum, LNG policy paper WP3 - Cooperation and coordination Joint events 1 Bioenergy in mountain areas with the Carpathian Convention Presentations PA2 presentation at Centrope Steering Group meeting Stakeholder seminar 5 December in Brussels Project seminar 15 May in Budapest

GAS MARKET INTEGRATION ELECTRICITY MARKET, DECARBONIZATION Medium-term plan 2017 GAS MARKET INTEGRATION 2018 2019 ELECTRICITY MARKET, DECARBONIZATION Electricity market Decarbonization of the Danube Region Bioenergy/bio-economy Clean transportation Activities: Studies/reports, expert seminars, project seminar on the focus topics Project generation ENERGY POVERTY Energy poverty Financing (post 2020) Studies, workshops, seminars on energy poverty 13

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