SECURE, or 'Smarter Energy Communities in Northern and Arctic Regions' project, funded by Northern Periphery and Arctic Region, is reaching its final stage. The partnership and stakeholders will come together for the final time on the 12th, 13th and 14th of March 2019, in Derry-Londonderry city (Northern Ireland), to celebrate the project’s ambitious achievements.

"Using transnational cooperation, 7 regions - with a mix of maturity levels and climatic backgrounds - were able to intensively network and cooperate over a 3-year period with the goal of fostering energy-secure communities", explains Dr Caitriona Strain, Project Manager at ERNACT and SECURE Project Leader.

Since 2016, partners and stakeholders have studied effective technologies and good practices in other regions. A programme of activities was carried out to engage and empower citizens to become energy leaders, and to develop Smart Energy Communities. "This programme also built up local authority expertise." This was supported by transferring and implementing several energy solutions that increased efficiency in housing, public buildings and infrastructure across all regions. "This would not have been possible without the support of the Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme (NPA) and ERDF", adds Dr Strain.

Interesting agenda for the closing conference

"The Final SECURE Conference and Transnational Seminar will be hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council in the iconic Guildhall on Thursday 14th March 2019", says Leo Strawbridge, Energy Manager with DCSDC and SECURE project partner. "The conference will be facilitated by a local celebrity (TBC) with an interesting line up of speakers from government agencies, Department for the Economy and Strategic Investment Board, local companies PowerON Technologies, Mabbett Consulting and Hydrogen Green Power and lobby groups, Action Renewables and the Northern Ireland Renewable Industry Group (NIRIG) discussing the challenges to current the energy policy, energy efficiency and the transition to a carbon free environment for the region."