Good news for the municipality of Preko on Ugljan island: after a partner meeting in Potenza in Italy, project PEGASUS is officially a go, reports Morski.hr.
PEGASUS is a €1.87 million worth project aiming to promote energy efficiency, smart energy management , and using renewable energy sources in public infrastructure. It has around ten international partners, including Italy, Greece, France, Slovenia, Belgium, Spain, Malta and Cyprus; Preko is the only partner coming from Croatia. The project was applied for funding through the MED Interreg, the Mediterranean programme of cooperation 2014 – 2020, and its main goal is to contribute to the longterm growth of energy systems based on renewable energy sources by adopting new laws and regulations.
Project coordinator for Preko municipality Endi Ćuća attended the first project meeting in Potenza, together with the communications manager Anto Župan. “At the meeting, we agreed on the detailed programme of activities we’ll be implementing in the next 30 months at seven various areas on the Mediterranean”, stated Ćuća, adding this is a unique project, the first of its kind in the entire European Union.
The project is seen as a significant opportunity for both the public and the private institutions, as well as other users of the most important energy sectors in Europe. All participating parties will get the chance to be a part of research programmes on the potential of renewable energy sources to help further development of the integrated local networks with a high level of efficiency. It’s a considerably demanding feat, especially in the areas that are hard to access when it comes to installing large-scale energy distribution networks, like the rural areas and islands.
The total investment amounts to €1.87 million; 130.000 euros will be directed to activities that are to be carried out in Preko municipality in the next three years.
“Our main goal is to decrease the total cost of energy supply for the municipal buildings, and we’ll do it by integrating the local network in the municipal objects according to the existing regulations. We’re in contact with competent institutions on the state level, and they are open for cooperation even though this is a whole new story for them as well”, said Ćuća.
