1 August 2014: The recharge.green project has published the summary report from its ‘International Conference on Balancing Renewable Energy and Nature in the Alps,’ which highlighted the need for local residents to be involved in every stage of renewable energy development, and for decisions not to be made hastily, but instead be part of a forward-looking strategy.

The Conference report further indicates the need for integrating decisions into a broad-based, regional strategy rather than making decisions at an individual project level. It argues that the selection of locations for projects should thus be at the supra-regional level. The recharge.green decision support system and toolkit are intended to assist decision makers in the region take this broad-based approach.

The conference, which took place from 12-13 November 2013, took place 14 months after the genesis of the recharge.green project in October 2012. The project brings together 15 partners from nature conservation organizations, the energy industry, administration and science to examine the effects developing renewable energy in the Alps to mitigate climate change will have on nature in the region and to design strategies for balancing those trade-offs.

Co-financed by the EU within the framework of the European Territorial Cooperation Alpine Space Programme and by the European Regional Development Fund, recharge.green is expected to conclude in June 2015. [recharge.green International Conference Webpage] [Mountain Partnership Press Release] [Publication: International Conference on Balancing Renewable Energy and Nature in the Alps: Mid-Term Conference of recharge.green Conference Report]