Solar - Structural Funds overview INFORSE-Europe

This page includes solar projects with financiation from Structural Funds, for solar heating, passive solar and solar electricity (PV)

With the goal of becoming 100% energy self-sufficient in 2025, Reunion Island, through the Société de Conversion d´Énergie has built a photovoltaic power plant covering the roofs of the municipality of Saint Piere, distributed individual solar water heaters and wind farms generating more than 40 MW of electricity. Solar panels were installed in a way to improve the insulation of buildings.

Time period: January 2007 - March 2008
EU Contribution: 623,691 EUR

More information on the European Commission regional policy website: Link

# GERMANY

A Futuristic Business Site with PV in the Ruhr Region

Based on a vision of a unique centre of business and science in the middle of the Ruhr industrial area was constructed Gelsenkirchen Science Park on the site of an old steelworks. It is one of the biggest projects of the Emscher Park International Construction Exhibition (IBA). With the help of funding from the European Union, a solar power station with a maximum rated output of 210 kW has been erected on the roof of the science park. With this - the largest rooftop solar power station in the world - the science park shows that it is possible to use solar energy even in built-up areas in the northern hemisphere.When awarding the contracts special consideration was given to companies based in the region specifically to promote know-how and expertise in the up-and-coming solar technology field.

Time frame: 2006
Total project cost: 3 Million EUR
EU contribution: 1.2 Million EUR

More information:
- European Commission regional policy website: Link
- Website of the Gelsenkirchen Science Park

Sun for the Marshy Island

On the island of Föhr (in the Wadden Sea, South East corner of the North Sea) emphasis was put on promoting renewable energy. The islanders took the initiative in 1994 to form a think tank ("Sun for Föhr"). The issue was taken up by "Fering Natüür", the body responsible for safeguarding the island's environment, and resulted in an initial project part-financed by the ERDF.
During the three-year project, implemented from 1996 to 1998, 24 solar power stations were built. The project was backed up by an intense public awareness campaign aimed at the local population with the objective to increase the use of new forms of energy, involving, among other activities, educational visits to power stations. Today, solar power supplies 24% of the island's energy requirements. Now the island has 2015 as the target date for achieving 100% renewable-energy use. The introduction of biogas (energy production from dung) on farms is currently under study. The ERDF should again be involved.

Time period: 1996-1998
Total project cost: 353,000 EUR
EU contribution (Leader II): 122,000 EUR

Old Baths Find Renewed Glory with Solar - Dresden

The Nordbad in Dresden opened back in 1894, providing a swimming pool, etc. After the political collapse of former East Germany in 1989, a citizens' action group was set up to save the Nordbad and it was restored with the European Union paying 22% of the cost of the project. Now solar panels on neighbouring buildings provide electricity for heating and warm water. The solar panels are connected to the district heat system, heat pumps and extractor fans. The heat from the sauna is subsequently piped round the pool and so used twice over. Operating costs are kept low thanks to the modern energy-saving technology, and so the entrance prices fit everyone's pocket.

Time period: 1990-2006
Total project cost: 8.1 Million EUR
EU contribution: 3.4 Million EUR

More information:
- European Commission regional policy website: Link
- Project website

Q-Cells AG, Thalheim, Saxony-Anhalt

Q-Cells AG was set up as an independent producer of poly- and monocrystalline solar cells. From the very beginning its strategy was to become the biggest independent producer of mmc by developing an advanced technology basis. Total investment in this first round was about EUR 15 Milion. The initial market entry was through the first 12 MWp facility for the production of high-performance polycrystalline solar cells. Since its inception in 1999, Q-Cells has quickly established a leading position on the global solar electricity market thanks to its leading edge manufacturing technologies. It is now among the world’s top ten cell manufacturers and is today technology pace setter in this respective industry. Q-Cells started with four people has today 220 employees, at the end of 2004 the number will be about 300.

Time Period: aprox. 1999-2004
Total project cost: 7,311,000 EUR
EU contribution: 2,727,000 EUR

More information:
- European Commission regional policy website: Link
- Q-Cells Company

2007-2013 Period:
Update: May 2010
Support for solar energy under the period of 2007-2013 period.
There are a number of projects supported, but the total amount of subsidy for the solar energy investments is still low compared to the other renewable energy investments.
Detailed information about the supported projects until May 2010

here (pdf file 128 kB).

More information and related links can be found in country page on Hungary 2007-13.

2004-2006 Period:
Support for solar energy was under "Support for more use of renewable energy for private people (NEP–2006 –2) - for Solar Thermal collectors for heating in 2004-2006.
Budget expected: 800 Million HUF (originally budgeted 183 million to 500 projects)

The number of application in 2006 exceeded all expectations, which was the result that in 2005 there were no funding announced, and in 2004 the NEP 2004 budget was 200 million HUF. There is no information about who got funding in 2004.

The support was limited to 30 % of the investment. The amount was limited to maximum 300 thousand HUF. The own source had to be minimum 30%.

With the help of the EU funding, the city of Szeged has renovated the old energy system of its hospital improving its efficiency and leading to savings. Heating is now provided by 800 m2 of solar panels, the steam boilers and external pipes have been replaced, and all the system is computer controlled. A 20% energy saving was expected and it has served as a model for population. A broader campaign for rational energy use has been triggered and the impact of the project has extended far beyond the city.

Time period: 2004-2005
Total project cost: 1,460,000 EUR
EU contribution: 566,000 EUR

More information:
- European Commission regional policy website: Link
- Website of the city of Szeged

Forest and Sun as Alternative Energy Sources
A project in the municipality of Putscheid combine wood and solar for heating of an eco-housing development with 17 smaller houses and four larger houses.

Total project cost: 246,839 EUR (Enscherange) - 152,554 EUR (Putscheid)
EU contribution: 25% FEOGA fund for both projects.

A Boon to Parents and the Environment
A green building has been built in the Sanem municipality to host children in the age of primary education when they are not in school hours benefiting the children and their parents. The building has solar panels and a controlled ventilation system that recover around 80% of the heat.

Time period: 2000-2008
EU contribution: 321,138 EUR

More information:
- European Commission regional policy website: Link
- School website

Solar Dried Sludge Energy in Southern Luxembourg

The wastewater sludge in Bettemburg is now being dried using solar energy, thus not only reducing disposal and transportation costs but also being more economically favourable than the conventional drying process. The resulting dried sludge is neutral in odour, biologically stable and easy to store, it is compressed into bricks and is burnt to produce energy in a CO2 neutral process. The project results in annual CO2 reduction of 1000 tonnes and it has been awarded with the first prize in the category “Communes et villes” in the Eurosolar 2010 competition.

Time period: 2007-2013
Total project cost: 3,500,000 EUR
EU contribution: 875,000 EUR

More information on the European Commission regional policy website: Link

Making the Most of Solar Power in Castilla La Mancha

The Institute for Concentration Photovoltaic System ISFOC is helping to develop this technologies, to bring them mature to the market ensuring its competitiveness and quality. It is close to universities to identify areas of research to develop projects. It has become a reference point in Spain for the commercial use of solar technologies.

Time period: 2007-2013
EU Contribution: 5,600,000 EUR

More information on the European Commission regional policy website and in the ISFOC.

2000-2006

PROCASOL – Programme for Promoting Solar Installations in the Canary Islands. (Programa de Promoción de Instalaciones Solares en Canarias)

The PROCASOL programme is a system for promoting and financing solar thermal energy systems for hot water production. The programme, which is promoted by the Canary Islands Government and managed by the Technical Institute of the Canary Islands (Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias, ITC), is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

This programme subsidises installations of flat solar collectors intended for the production of hot water, up to a limit of 50% of the total cost of the investment. The beneficiaries can be companies, institutions, social organisations and households and the systems eligible for the programme must have an effective surface of 50 m2 or below.

In 2005, 985 projects were subsidized, which means an installed surface of 5,357 m2 and the amount of 1,088,376 EUR.
The budget for 2006 is 1,100,000 EUR, which is co-financed by ERDF in 65% for companies and 55% for the rest.

More information at the Canary Island website: Link (in Spanish)

PROSOL- Andalusian Programme for the Promotion of Installations of Renewable Energy Sources. (Programa Andaluz de promoción de instalaciones de energías renovables)

The program is managed by SODEAN and financed by the European Funds for Regional Development EDFR Programme and the Andalusian Regional Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Enterprise.It is aimed mainly at the diffusion of solar thermal energy for domestic users.

The Prosol-programme subsidizes investments made in the following installations: solar thermal for hot water production, solar photovoltaic isolated from the electricity grid, solar photovoltaic connected to the grid, wind as electricity supply and a mix of two or more of the previous kinds, and covers the following aspects:
- Financing and subsidies
- Setting-up of new installation companies
- Technology transfer
- Advice on quality and integration of installations

More information at the programme website:Link (in Spanish)
CIESOL- Center of Investigations in Solar Energy. (Centro de Investigaciones en Energía Solar)

To demonstrate solar energy’s potential contribution in buildings, Spain has initiated the Bioclimatic Architecture and Solar Cooling project. The project’s objective is to achieve energy savings of up to 80% in 5 office buildings using a combination of passive solar strategies and active solar systems.
The project began in May 2005 and will be completed at the end of 2009.

One of these buildings, CIESOL, placed in the University of Almeria and finished in December 2005, was co-financed by ERDF.

More information at the CIESOL website: Link (in Spanish)

The Regional Program for Castilla y Leon (Programa Operativo Integrado de Castilla y León 2000-2006) subsidizes solar energy projects such as solar thermal, solar photovoltaic isolated from the electricity grid or wind-photovoltaic isolated from the electricity grid. These subsidies are co-financed in 60% by Structural Funds (ERDF).

In 2005, some subsidized projects were the following:

Project description: Installation of solar thermal energy system for hot water production.
Beneficiary: Promociones Frade Consultil, S.L (Company)
Province: LEÓN

Project description: Installation of solar thermal energy system for hot water production, heating and indoor pool in a school.
Beneficiary: “Asunción de Nuestra Señora” School
Province: AVILA

Project description: Installation of solar thermal energy system for hot water production in an old people's home.
Beneficiary: Excma. Diputación de Burgos (Administration)
Province: BURGOS

Project description: Installation of solar photovoltaic system as electricity supply in a country house. Beneficiary: D. Pablo Jesús Ramos Sánchez (Private person)
Province: VALLADOLID

Project description: Installation of solar photovoltaic system as electricity supply in a building.
Beneficiary: Bulnes Ingeniería y Servicios Inmobiliarios, S.L.(Company)
Province: VALLADOLID

More information on the website of Castilla y Leon Regional Government: Link (

pdf file 0.5 MB) (in Spanish) as well as from the European Comission: Link