What is the OPET Network?

OPET stands for ‘Organisation for the Promotion of Energy Technologies’. There are 39 OPETs in the European Union and associated states of Norway, Iceland and Israel, plus 14 FEMOPETs (Fellow Members of the OPET Network) in the applicant countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Cyprus. The OPETs and FEMOPETs may be public or private sector organisations, but they all have a public mandate to work in the energy field, promoting new technologies in the renewable energy, rational use of energy or fossil fuel sectors.

The OPET initiative was first launched under the THERMIE programme (1990-1994). At that time, the role of the OPETs was to help the European Commission to disseminate information and to promote the uptake of new energy technologies through publications, events, training programmes and other market-orientated initiatives.

In November 1996 the OPET Network was re-launched under the 4^th Framework Programme, but this time as a joint initiative between the INNOVATION Programme and the JOULE-THERMIE Programme. While the role of the Network continues to be one of technology promotion and information dissemination, it now places much greater emphasis on working closely with local market actors to address specific local energy needs. The use of Performance Indicators as a means of measuring results has also improved the targeting of resources and placed greater emphasis on the follow-up of activities.

What do OPETs actually do?

OPETs and FEMOPETs develop their own annual Work Programmes in collaboration with local stakeholders and with the European Commission. In order to gain the support of local co-financiers (mostly public bodies or trade associations), they have to tailor the activities to match national/regional energy policies and/or industry requirements. The activities also have to relate to European energy policy in terms of improved efficiency and savings, of increased diversity of supply or of the wider use of renewable energy sources. An important component of the OPET activities continues to be the promotion of results from previous EC-supported energy R&D and demonstration programmes, and the encouragement of the participation of local companies and research organisations in EU programmes.

The range of activities carried out by OPETs is extremely broad, but typically includes :

• Networking and Assisting Market Actors : linking with local networks, one-to-one meetings with SMEs and industry, open days and technology transfer days, site visits, training etc.;
• Evaluating Technology and Markets : studies, preparation of technical fiches etc.;
• Events: seminars, workshops, conferences, exhibitions etc.;
• Publications : newsletters, reports, brochures, CD-ROMs etc.

OPETs may be generalists or specialists. Some work only on the promotion of renewable energy sources (EC BREC-LEI in Poland and Lithuania or CLER in France, for example) or just on new hydrocarbon technologies (CMPT in the UK). However, the majority of OPETs and FEMOPETs work across the different technology fields of Renewable Energy Sources (RES), Rational Use of Energy (RUE) and Fossil Fuels (FF).

Why have a transnational network?

The organisations involved in the OPET Network already have a public mandate to promote new energy technologies. They also have the local market knowledge and technical expertise to allow them to do this. So why set up a transnational network, with all its associated costs ?

The rationale behind a transnational Network for the promotion of new energy technologies is firmly rooted in the European policies relating to competitiveness, cohesion and market transparency. By being members of the Network, the OPETs and FEMOPETs immediately have access to a much broader base of technologies and markets. Furthermore, when advising on technology selection they can draw on Best Practice across the EU (and Central and Eastern Europe), so ensuring that their clients use the most cost-effective and/or environmentally-favourable option. Finally, the transnationality of the Network also helps them to identify and open up new markets for their local suppliers in technology areas where they have particular strengths.

An example of the transnationality of the OPET Network working in practice is technology procurement, which involves OPETs (and FEMOPETs) catalysing innovation and market deployment by bringing together manufacturers and technology users. This 'speeding up' of the innovation process has worked with impressive results in Sweden, particularly in the area of high efficiency refrigerators. By broadening the scope of the procurement activities across national boundaries, the manufacturers have access to a much wider potential market and can benefit from economies of scale. This in turn reduces the cost of the relevant technology to the consumer/user.

What has the Network as a whole achieved?

The OPET Network measures its impact on the local market in terms of real technology transfer commitments, the number of new project opportunities identified or EC proposals submitted, or energy savings achieved/output from renewable energy sources.

These are just some of the OPET Network after its first two years of operation under the 4^th FWP :-

• Over 200 events have been organised;
• Over 5000 specific queries or requests for further information have been handled;
• OPETs have advised on the preparation of around 300 proposals for EC funding;
• Almost 2000 potential energy savings projects have been identified;
• Over 250 energy audits or feasibility studies have been carried out.

However, the results and outputs are perhaps more tangible when we look at particular case studies based on the work of individual OPETS. The EC recently produced a brochure of OPET Network Success Stories featuring 13 examples of OPET actions which have had a real impact on the market. This can be downloaded from the OPET Web site: http://www.cordis.lu/opet/home.html.

To give a brief flavour of the results so far demonstrated:-

• Institut Wallon in Belgium has focused on the identification and training of Energy Managers in public organisations. These 'EMs' take over responsibility for all issues of energy management, thereby raising the profile of energy use and ensuring measures are taken to reduce consumption. The Energy Manager at the hospital of Montigny-le-Tilleul has shown how this can work in practice. After training he was able to ensure a comprehensive review of heating distribution and control, improved ventilation in the laundry room and installation of a co-generation unit.
• Cross-Border OPET Bavaria and Austria has set up an advice centre for SMEs on how to access and use the results of EC supported energy research programmes. Some eleven innovative energy projects have been initiated with the support of this OPET.

• IDAE (Spain) has been helping manufacturers of innovative ice production technologies to increase market uptake. They organised a technology presentation and have produced articles. As a result, IDAE has passed some 25 enquiries to the relevant companies.

What about the future?

The current OPET Network completes its Work Programmes towards the end of 1999. However, the OPET Network will continue within the energy, environment and sustainable development component of the new 5^th Framework Programme (1998-2002). The first call for proposals under this programme was launched on 20^th March 1999, and this included a call for organisations wishing to become OPETs: the deadline for submission is 15^th June 1999, and the new OPETs are expected to start work by 1^st January 1999.

Within the 5^th FWP the OPET Network is expected to build on what has been achieved and to add new features and objectives. It is expected that the use of Performance Indicators and an emphasis on results-oriented activities will continue to feature strongly in the new Network. Stronger transnational collaboration on specific themes is also likely to be encouraged.

There are also new ideas for increasing the impact of the OPET Network under the 5^th FWP. In line with the new approach, a special attention will be given to the integration of efficient energy solutions in order to solve problems of the society. Another novelty is the use of associated organisations in countries outside regions covered by the OPET Network itself, as noted above: they will both identify local needs and help to promote relevant European technologies into the markets that they cover.

The OPET Network has been active ins several islands: Cyprus, Réunion, Guadaloupe, Martinique, Islay. We recognise that the specific problems of the islands must most often be addressed with integrated approaches, and we hope that the new approach for the OPET tasks within 5FP will allow for more actions in and for the European islands.

More information on the current OPET Network is available on the Network’s Web Site : http://www.cordis.lu/opet/home.html

More information on energy under the Fifth Framework Programme is available on the 5^th FWP Web Site : http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/src/t-4.htm