The LOWCAP cluster developed a process for the exchange of knowledge and experiences in carbon reduction and energy efficiency projects in the North Sea Region. This process brought together key results and identified the synergies between the partner projects and related North Sea Region Programme projects.

The findings were consolidated and discussed with other stakeholders in the North Sea Region drawn from decision makers and implementers in the public sector and end users from business and communities. In combination with a review of EU programmes and the most recent literature, LOWCAP produced and disseminated policy advice.

Aim

The LOWCAP cluster brought together the results of existing North Sea Region Programme projects together with non-partner projects, which shared carbon reduction and energy efficiency as themes. 

The cluster project enhanced and extended the outputs of these results through the identification of synergies and ‘high impact’ projects, which offered the potential to be transferred. By creating a 'programme perspective' on key aspects carbon reduction and energy efficiency, LOWCAP demonstrated where tangible progress had been made and where it had proved difficult to progress.

Background

The EU2020 targets identify three main areas of activity: a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, increase in 20% of energy from renewables and 20% increase in energy efficiency. Translating EU wide targets into practical initiatives which deliver real change is a major challenge for policy makers. Delivering carbon reduction requires a balance between what is technically possible and what is politically, socially and economically feasible.
 

Related projects:

• CARE-North
• North Sea – SEP
• Build with CaRe
• E-Harbours
• Green Sustainable Airports (GSA)
• ANSWER

• Establishment of online resource to support the exchange of results and to encourage debate on carbon reduction and energy efficiency policy
• Visualization of regional knowledge and interaction via interactive mapping
• Strategic overview of strategies, policies and practice in relation to CREE in the North Sea Region and EU
• Policy advice