The SECURE Launch Conference, Energy efficient solutions for Smarter Energy Communities, will take place at Glenveagh Visitor's Centre on the grounds of the stunning Glenveagh National Park, County Donegal (Ireland) on 9th November 2016. This is the official launch of this exciting 3-year Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) Programme part-funded project.

The goal of SECURE is to build Smarter Energy Communities in Northern and Arctic Regions. It aims to study, transfer and pilot new solutions to improve energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources in public housing, buildings and infrastructures in the participating regions.

The project has ambitious targets to meet. Each region will establish a Smart Energy Community in a village, rural area or neighbourhood. A programme of activities will be completed in these communities to engage and empower citizens to become energy leaders. The programme will also seek to build up local authority expertise. This will be supported by transferring 15 energy solutions, increasing energy efficiency by 5% in at least 3 public buildings, and installing alternative or renewable energy solutions in public infrastructure.

The SECURE project is lead by ERNACT (Ireland). The partners are Donegal County Council and Leitrim County Council (Ireland), Derry City & Strabane District Council (Northern Ireland), Karelia University of Applied Science (Finland), Association of Local Authorities in Västernorrland (Sweden), Umhvørvisstovan (Faroe Islands) and the Ecology Action Centre (Canada).

Associate partners include the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (Ireland), Mid-Sweden University (Sweden) and the Regional Council of North Karelia (Finland).

Find out more here.