Provincial Agency for Water and Energy Resources

Trentino’s special Statute of Autonomy, in force since 1948 – grants the autonomous province direct legislative, administrative and financial jurisdiction in fundamental areas, including energy issues, taxes and financial legislation and allows it to administrate 90% of direct and indirect income collected within the province. The financial resources and wealth produced remain within Trentino and are administered by the provincial government.

Financial and legislative autonomy has allowed the planning of investment and strategic projects related to the main competitive resources for the province. Accordingly, and specifically on energy issues, Trentino is a leader in energy efficiency – sustainable building and renewable energy in Italy thanks to local professional and academic expertises and precious natural resources.

The main competences of the Provincial Agency for Water and Energy Resources (APRIE) are related to the energy planning and management of the situation as above mentioned, also in terms of legislative proposals and regional authority.

The Agency is managing the development of the local energy system and is working with international, national and local partners to apply regulations, supporting the energy efficiency initiatives and promoting the development of RES to realize the provision of the energy-environmental provincial plan.

Mission

APRIE – Agency for Water Resources and Energy – is a Technical Department of the Autonomous Province of Trento, which provides technical assistance in the design of energy policies, programs, outreach, funding sources and the dissemination of energy awareness. APRIE has three main focus areas concerning energy topics: regional energy planning, policies and actions for the promotion of renewable sources, water included, and the improvement of energy efficiency at the local and regional level.

APRIE works with a broad range of groups, stakeholder, energy utilities, professional associations, committees and advisory bodies, some of which includes representatives from the private sector.

Areas of Intervention

Main areas of intervention of Aprie are:

• funding programmes for retrofitting of existing buildings;

• training and education of energy users and energy producers and prosumers;

• energy efficiency of SMEs;

• optimisation of energy production from district heating to biomass;

• adaptation to the climate change in the building sector;

• writing and implementing the Energy and Environmental Provincial Plan ;

• smart grid- integrating power grids with sustainable energy sources.

European Project concluded:

• ILETE – Intelligent Energy Europe Programme

• ENERBUILD – Alpine Space Programme

• BIO-EN-AREA – Interreg IV Programme.

• FINERPOL – Interreg Europe Programme (2016-2020).

• IMEAS – Alpine Space Programme (2016-2019)

Ongoing European projects:

• AMETHyst – AlpineSpace

• Life+ Ecoempower – Life Programme

• PREPAIR – Life Integrated Project Programme (2017-2024).