Waddenfonds steunt proefproject voor aardgasvrije warmteoplossing

Het CAIWO-project (Compacte Aardgasvrije Integrale Warmteoplossing) dat we in samenwerking met de drie bedrijven Caloratech, Pluss en Smeding uitvoeren ontvangt een bijdrage van € 975.765,- van het Waddenfonds. De totale kosten van het innovatieve project bedragen € 1.684.927,-. Het fonds laat hiermee zien dat de energietransitie in het Waddengebied hoog op de prioriteitenlijst staat.

De bedreiging van dit gebied door CO2 en andere broeikasgassen is slechts één van de vele die ontstaan
door schadelijke energievoorzieningen. De aardgasschade in Groningen en de beschadiging van het
Waddengebied door geplande invasieve ingrepen voor wind- en zonneparken (die onvoldoende stabiele
energie opleveren en meer energie infarcten gaan veroorzaken) zijn hier maar twee voorbeelden van.
Volgens Het Kan Wel! en de drie betrokken bedrijven kan het anders en dat willen we de komende
anderhalf jaar laten zien met dit proefproject.
Het proefproject


De proef moet laten zien dat het mogelijk is om op redelijk korte termijn bestaande en nieuwe woningen
aardgasvrij te verwarmen. De CAIWO zal op een aantal testlocaties in Groningen worden doorontwikkeld
en getest. Het systeem moet kunnen schakelen tussen verschillende bronsystemen, waaronder
zonnepanelen, aardwarmte en aquathermie.


Binnen deze proef gaat het om twaalf woningen in Loppersum, ’t Zandt, Zijldijk en mogelijk de stad
Groningen die aardgasvrij verwarmd zullen worden. Hiervoor is een betaalbaar, integraal en praktisch
(plug and play) systeem in ontwikkeling dat wordt geïnstalleerd in bestaande woningen. De warmte
wordt opgewekt met zonthermie, aardwarmte en/of een waterringleiding. Hoewel het systeem zeer
geschikt is voor individuele woningen, zal dit project zich vooral richten op collectieve toepassingen.
In het project wordt samengewerkt met gemeenten, woningcoöperaties en energiecoöperaties. Aan het
eind van het project zullen kennisbijeenkomsten worden georganiseerd om de introductie van het
systeem bij installateurs, woningcoöperaties, energiecoöperaties en burgers te stimuleren en te
versnellen. Het is in ons allerbelang dat het gebruik van aardgas voor het verwarmen van woningen
wordt teruggedrongen.


Resultaat
Het resultaat moet zijn een compacte unit die kan worden geïnstalleerd in bestaande en nieuwe
woningen, bijvoorbeeld in de meterkast of op de plek waar nu de cv-ketel zich bevindt. Het slagen van
dit project heeft grote gevolgen voor het Waddengebied en met name voor de provincie Groningen. De
werking van het systeem is op kleine schaal al aangetoond. Dit project zal het CAIWO-systeem verder
testen en perfectioneren. Ook zal er een testlijn worden gebouwd voor de assemblage van de systemen.
Het is de bedoeling om na het project de productie van deze innovatie snel op te schalen, zodat zo snel
als mogelijk veel woningen aardgasvrij verwarmd kunnen worden.
Bij het opschalen van de productie wordt gekeken naar de mogelijkheid om lokaal te produceren,
mensen die op de arbeidsmarkt weinig kans krijgen een goede baan te bieden en het systeem door
aanpassing van grondstoffen zo toekomstbestendig mogelijk te maken.

Environment and climate

Today, the Commission is launching negotiations on the association to the LIFE programme for environment and climateSearch for available translations of the preceding link••• with seven non-EU countries: Albania, Andorra, Faroe Islands, Israel, Moldova, North Macedonia and Turkey. Joining LIFE will help these countries spread innovative environment and climate techniques, approaches and best practices that contribute to a climate-neutral, circular and resilient economy, and which protect and restore nature.

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said:

Environment and climate challenges have no borders. We can only tackle the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution by acting together. By increasing substantially the number of countries participating in the LIFE programme, we put in action concrete cooperation and exchange of solutions beyond the EU for a healthy planet.

Through this partnership, public and private organisations of these countries will be able to receive financial support for projects to:

  • Develop and demonstrate eco-innovative techniques and approaches
  • Promote best practices and behavioural changes
  • Support the development, monitoring and enforcement of laws similar to the ones in EU as well as plans and strategies that can contribute to implement these laws
  • Catalyse the large-scale deployment of successful solutions

Next steps

Applicants of these third countries can already submit proposals under the 2022 LIFE calls for proposalsSearch for available translations of the preceding link•••. In order for a project to receive funding, the relevant third country will have to ratify the association agreement.

Background

The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action running since 1992. It has co-financed more than 5,500 projects across the EU and beyond and has a funding of €5.4 billion. It occupies a niche between EU programmes for research and innovation and large-scale financing programmes. As such, LIFE bridges the gap between research and policy implementation, addressing the external factors related to environmental and climate innovations by testing and demonstrating practical solutions. The new LIFE Programme 2021-2027 allows non-European countries to join the program through bilaterally negotiated association agreements.

Under the new strengthened LIFE RegulationSearch for available translations of the preceding link•••, and in view of strengthening international cooperation on planetary challenges, the EU’s Environment and Climate programme is open to third countries in accordance with specific agreements between the Union and those countries establishing the conditions for their participation. Iceland joined the LIFE programme in September 2021, and last week, Ukraine signed an agreement to access the programme.

Details

Ukraine joins the LIFE programme for environment and climate

oday, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries VirginijusSinkevičiusand theMinister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ruslan Strilets jointly signed an agreement on Ukraine’s accession to the LIFE programmeSearch for available translations of the preceding link••• for environment and climate. Ukraine is the first non-EU country to join the programme. By joining the LIFE programme, Ukraine could benefit from LIFE’s support to help restore its environment after the destruction brought about by the Russian invasion, be it pollution, destruction of ecosystems, or other long-term effects.

Commissioner Sinkevičius said:

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing a substantial immediate damage to water supply and sewerage systems, sea, land and air pollution which will have a long-lasting environmental impact. Repercussions on human health can last for a very long time. Through this partnership, Ukrainian public and private organisations will be able to receive financial support for projects to clean polluted areas, rebuild after the destruction in a way that protects and restores nature and is in harmony with a circular and zero emission economy.

In the short term, the LIFE programme could support Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts through a needs analysis and the mobilisation and capacity building of different actors to tackle soil and water decontamination through nature-based solutions. In the medium and long term, as in other countries participating in LIFE, projects can aim to:

  • Develop and demonstrate eco-innovative techniques and approaches
  • Promote best practices and behavioural changes
  • Support the development, monitoring and enforcement of laws similar to the ones in EU as well as plans and strategies that can contribute to implement these laws
  • Catalyse the large-scale deployment of successful solutions

Commission consults citizens and stakeholders on possible EU Soil Health Law

The European Commission has launched an online public consultationSearch for available translations of the preceding link on the development of a possible EU Soil Health Law.

Soils are the foundation of our food security, providing 95% of the food we eat. Healthy soils are vital for life on Earth. They deliver many essential services, and are crucial to achieve key objectives of the European Green DealSearch for available translations of the preceding link such as climate neutrality, biodiversity restoration, zero pollution, healthy and sustainable food systems and a resilient environment.

The EU Soil Strategy for 2030Search for available translations of the preceding link, adopted on 17 November 2021, sets the vision to have all soils in healthy condition by 2050 and to make protection, sustainable use and restoration of soils the norm. It also announces that the Commission will table a new legislative proposal on soil health providing a comprehensive legal framework for soil protection granting it the same level of protection that exists for water, the marine environment and air in the EU. This proposal will complement the Nature Restoration Law and, ensure synergies with climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.

Sustainable soil management and restoration requires the involvement of a wide range of economic and societal actors. Therefore, from farmers to foresters, from land planners to industry, from national governments to local authorities, from NGOs to citizens, all stakeholders are invited to share their views on this initiative on soil health via an online consultation that runs until 24 October 2022.

Water scarcity

Today, the Commission published guidelines to help Member States and stakeholders apply the rules on the safe reuse of treated urban waste water for agricultural irrigation.

Urban sustainability

The Commission announced today the finalists for the European Green City Awards. The European Green Capital and Green Leaf Awards recognise the remarkable efforts of cities and towns to improve their living environment. Based on 12 environmental indicators for the Green Capital, and on six environmental topic areasSearch for available translations of the preceding link••• for the Green Leaf awards, the following European cities have been selected as finalists.

The finalists for the European Green Capital Award 2024 are:

Valencia (Spain) and Cagliari (Italy).

The finalists for the European Green Leaf Award 2024 are:

Elsinore (Denmark)Velenje (Slovenia) and Bistrița (Romania).

Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries,Virginijus Sinkevičius, said:

“Cities are at the heart of our fight against the climate, pollution and biodiversity crises. It’s about tackling air pollution, advancing clean mobility, reducing energy consumption in buildings, greening urban spaces, and looking in a completely different way at waste management. You are showing Europe the way and leading efforts to deliver the systemic and long-term changes the European Green Deal calls for. I wish this year’s European Green Capital and Green Leaf finalists the best of luck on this path.”

What’s next?

In October, the finalists will present their cities to the Jury Panel chaired by the European Commission. The finalists will outline their communication strategy along with an action plan showing how the city will fulfil their European Green Capital year, if they win. The winners will be announced on 27 October 2022 at the Awards Ceremony in this year’s Green Capital, Grenoble in France.

The European Green Capital winner will receive a financial prize of €600,000 to implement their strategy and engage and mobilise their citizens and stakeholders. The title of European Green Leaf is awarded to one or two cities. Each winner is granted a financial prize of €200,000 to help organise their year and spark further transformational activities.

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