In line with the central European strategy for ‘smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’, Greek islands are making use of key financing instruments to invest in clean, secure and competitive energy at the local and regional level.

A public consultation has been launched to gather input on the form, extent and content of policy interventions at EU and national levels in the field of renewable energy sources after the year 2020.

ManagEnergy’s annual call for case studies is open as of 21 November 2011 and will close on 29 February 2012. Send us your success story, share your experience and be in with a chance of winning the 2012 ManagEnergy Local Energy Action Award!

As in previous years, representatives of local authorities have gathered in Brussels to confirm their commitment to the Covenant of Mayors at the initiative's annual ceremony. ManagEnergy was present at the ceremony to promote and propose its tools and services that have already proven to be of great added value to Covenant cities.

54 promising projects have been selected for funding under the 2011 IEE Call for Proposals. The projects are committed to contribute towards the further uptake of sustainable energy in Europe. A number of them is aiming particularly at supporting local energy leadership and mobilising local energy investment.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed on 24 November 2011 an agreement establishing an Urban Development Fund (UDF) with the Consortium of Pancretan Cooperative Bank and TT Hellenic Postbank (Consortium) to invest in Urban Projects in the Region of Crete. Initiatives for energy networks and energy efficiency are included in the UDF.

The 2011 PV Status Report, published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), indicates that the photovoltaic industry production more than doubled in 2010, thus reaching a world-wide production volume of 23.5 gigawatts (GW) of photovoltaic modules.

A special report has been recently published assessing the potential of renewable energy sources against climate change.

The authorities of the city of Wroclaw, Poland have announced that they are ready to begin the process of building a network of electric car charging stations.

The U4energy European Award Ceremony will take place on 22 November, under the patronage of the European Commissioner for Energy, Mr Günther OETTINGER.

On 28 October 2011, 32 European Regions and Municipalities expressed their determination to work jointly to accelerate the deployment of electric battery and electric fuel cell vehicles and their required infrastructure in local transport systems.

The EU Sustainable Energy Week 2012 will take place all over Europe and in Brussels from 18 to 22 June 2012!

Germany has been the third country to set up its own National Covenant of Mayors Club. The Club aims to foster networking and ideas-exchange among Covenant signatory cities in Germany.

The European Commission has tabled a plan which will fund €50 billion worth of investment to improve Europe's transport, energy and digital networks. The energy sector, in particular, can look forward to €9.1 billion being invested in trans-European infrastructure, helping to meet the EU 2020 energy and climate objectives.