Saare County is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It consists of Saaremaa, the largest island of Estonia and several smalle
Saare County, EE - Island Sustainable Energy Action Plan Time period: 2010-2012 Theme of collaboration: Developing sustainable energy plans
Application: Energy Efficiency/ Renewable Energy/ GHG reduction Topic: Cooperation in Regional SEAP design
Description Saare County is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It consists of Saaremaa, the largest island of Estonia and several smaller islands. In the framework of the European initiative “Isle-Pact / Pact of Islands”, Saaremaa Island developed a Island Sustainable Energy Action Plan (ISEAP), with a multilevel governance approach. Indeed, the development of the plan involved Saare County, the local municipalities, and the Isle-Pact project consultancy, starting from the description of energy trends in the business-as –usual scenario. The island formalised its commitment by signing the “Isle Pact” adhesion form. As a signatory of the Pact, it made a number of significant commitments, among which to go beyond the objectives set by the EU for 2020 and to submit an Island Sustainable Energy Action Plan (ISEAP) including a Baseline Emission Inventory which outlines how the objectives will be reached.
The island of Saaremaa
Key results The ISEAP set of actions, if implemented, are expected to generate € 130 M of investments (both public and private), and reduce CO2 emissions by 21.4% (compared to the baseline situation in 2005) by 2020.
A wide set of actions were identified in the ISEAP, ranging from urban planning, to energy efficiency in buildings, to the use of biofuels. The main challenge identified were in the transport sector (reducing dependency on fossil fuel vehicles) and in the industry sector (reducing the amount of fossil fuel used in industrial processes).
Context / Background The Pact of Islands is a binding instrument in which island authorities sign an adhesion form which enters them into a political engagement to meet the EU’s 2020 energy-climate targets.
Partners involved – Governance
This initiative is structured in the same way as the Covenant of Mayors and involves 64 islands all around the Europe.
Saare County coordinates, implements and monitors of the ISEAP. In case of significant deviations in the implementation of the actions and results obtained, it can propose a revision of the plan. Saaremaa Local governments Association is the decision making body that authorizes the ISEAP. Kuressaare municipality.
Financing & costs The ISEAP covers numerous actions that had different financing possibilities. For many actions private financing was essential both at the individual level as well as at the company level. In the case of the building of wind farms, private commercial banks made the investments. Energy efficiency and sustainable transport actions used a national fund.
Results achieved The Saaremaa ISEAP set of actions, if implemented, are expected to generate € 130 M of investments (both public and private), and reduce CO2 emissions by 21.4% (compared to the baseline situation in 2005) by 2020.
Lessons learned & Success factors The participation in the Pact of Island European initiative offered a framework within which to develop a multilevel governance collaboration: tools (links found below), visibility, political commitment, etc.
Similar Initiatives – Transferability There are currently 12 participating groups of European Islands (over 50 islands) involved. Cooperation with more islands is welcome as the ISLE-PACT process has been conceived to include all European Islands.
Download the Pact of Island Adhesion form Download the Island of Saaremaa Sustainable Energy Action Plan document Download the Island of Saaremaa Sustainable Energy Action Plan form
Contact Agne PEETERSOO Head of Development and Planning Department Saare County Government
[email protected] avalitsus.ee Website: http://islepact.eu More information: http://saare.maavalitsus.ee
