Castilla y León Regional Energy Agency

Ente Regional de la Energía de Castilla y León (EREN) was founded in 1996 by the regional government in the framework of the Save Programme. EREN is an energy management organism at the regional level, aimed at developing the most appropriate regional energy policy, always following the guidelines established by the European Union’s energy policy, on the basis of its three main principles: security of energy supply, competitiveness, and environmental protection. 

EREN was established as a tool for Castilla y León’s economic and social representatives to address questions related to the SME’s and citizens’ energy efficiency, and at the same time, promoting the use of renewable energy, energy savings, and end efficiency. The agency is also tasked with developing the region’s energy potential, always taking into consideration the environmental balance, contributing to the regional sustainable development. 

Activities 

Actions carried out by EREN in the energy field are focused on the promotion of energy saving and the exploitation of renewable energy sources, promoting regional companies’ competitiveness and citizens’ quality of life, which contributes directly to the global economic development of the region. 

This is how EREN implements activities and designs initiatives in the following areas: 

Energy Planning 

• Development of the main actions identified by the Regional Energy Plan (PERCYL); 

• Development of the Energy Saving, Substitution, Cogeneration and Renewable Energies Programme (PASCER); 

• Activities aimed to promote energy saving and efficiency in all activity sectors; 

• Dissemination activities on the importance of increasing the regional environmental conditions through optimal renewable energies. 

Energy Efficiency 

• Elaboration and implementation of a Castilla y León Energy Saving and Efficiency Plan, addressed to companies, SME, public buildings and housing owners; 

• Promotion of processes and more efficient technologies for transformation and energy usage in the industrial, residential and services sectors; 

• Energy audits: in the different sectors (industries, hospitals, hotels, schools, housing) in order to promote possible solutions implying an optimal energy saving and efficiency; 

• Elaboration and implementation of an “Energy Audits Programme in Castilla y León”; 

• Building Certifications in the different activity sectors; 

• Processes of fuel substitution in public transport using alternative fuels. 

Renewable Energies 
Activities aimed to promote the development of Castilla y Leon’s high potential of renewable energy sources in all its technical areas include: hydropower, biomass, wind energy, solar thermal energy, solar photovoltaics, and geothermal energy. EREN promotes projects all around the region, involving local and regional entities, looking for the optimal impact in the local economy, and increasing employment and quality of life in localities where the projects are implemented. 

Consulting and Advisory Actions 

• Administrative and technical reports; 

• Participating and assisting in working groups at the national or regional level dealing with energy matters; 

• Legislation proposals. 

Programmes management and co-operation 

• Promotion, assistance, management, follow-up up and participation in European Union, National and Regional energy programmes and initiatives; 

• Co-operation with international, national, regional and local institutions in the energy fields to get the best and most efficient results; 

• Collaboration in energy networks; 

• Establishment of co-operation agreements with universities and other public and private entities to develop joint actions on different energy matters. 

Information Dissemination and Training 

• Collection of energy data, elaboration and publication of a Bulletin on Energy Statistics in Castilla y León; 

• Elaboration of periodical regional energy studies about the consumption evolution in all activity sectors; 

• Public Reports and recommendations for a more rational use of energy; 

• Seminars, workshops and public courses on different aspects of saving and energy efficiency aimed at both the general public and the most specific sectors; 

• Dissemination campaign on how to better use energy at a regional level, using the media; 

• Organisation of joint dissemination activities on energy efficiency and renewable energies with other regional energy agencies, in national and international context, especially with the EREN partner in this project, the regional energy agency of Lisboa e Vale do Tejo in Portugal. 

Structure  

EREN’s organisation is composed of a Board of Administration, an Advisory Committee and a Managing Director, who conduct and report the actions developed by EREN as well as its internal functioning. The agency is also made up of highly specialised and qualified staff divided into five departments: Energy Saving and Efficiency, Renewable Energies, External Relations, Training and Education, Energy Management in public administrations, Regulation and Projects and Budget, Administration and Services Department. 

The organisation’s European partnership was established with ARELVT-Agencia Regional de Energia de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (Portugal) and Skane Energy Agency (Sweden).