ECOTECH-ENERy-50 (E-E-50)

1. ENERGY-50-PROJECT foundation

The Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, the Provincial State Office of Oulu Region and the Murmansk Regional Administration launched a joint project in 1994 with the aim of starting energy-saving investments in the Kola Peninsula. As a result of the project general surveys on the possibilities regarding energy conservation in the following cities were prepared:

Teriberka, Kola
Murmansk, Kola
Lovozero, Kola
Olenegorsk, Kola
Sneznogorsk, Kola
Apatity, Kola

During numerous negotiations held within the framework of the Project, special attention was given to the requirements for updating of energy saving system, and also the opportunities provided by these changes. It has been noticed, that attraction of investments to the energy sphere in the Kola Peninsula is the first-priority issue, and the correct implementation of the investments will help to:

reduce the consumption of fuel by 50%,
reduce energy production emissions to the environment by 50% and
increase residential comfort by 50%.

In accordance with the above-mentioned purpose the project is called ENERGY-50-PROJECT.

Energy-50-Project has expanded and deepened so that its geographical influence covers, in addition to the Murmansk region, the Republic of Karelia. In spring of 1995 extensive study of Energy development potential in seven Karelian settlements began within the framework of the Energy-50-Project:

Impilahti,
Sortavala,
Medvezhjegorsk,
Pudosh,
Kalevala,
Lahdenpohja
Belomorsk

In 1996 Energy-50-Project has expanded to the whole North West region of Russian Federation. Today the main tasks of Energy-50-Project are well known throughout the territory of the Russian Federation.

The First Energy and Environment Forum of the Nordic Regions was organised within the framework of the Energy-50-Project in Oulu on 12th-14th of December 1995. During the preparation for the meeting, the term ECOTECH-50 and the idea that it represents was created.

ECOTECH-50

Ecotech-50 comprises the following:

Energy saving (Energy-50-Project),
Water supply and waste water treatment,
Solid waste utilization and environment,
Arctic construction aimed for living comfort.

As the time of return of investments into energy sphere is shorter in comparison with investments into other sectors, and investments into energy are, in effect, investments in an environment as well, there is a necessity to emphasize importance of the investments that are carried out in energy sector. For this reason the complex of measures named ECOTECH ENERGY-50 has been accepted.

ECOTECH ENERGY-50

In accordance with the ENERGY-50 PROJECT, the aim of starting energy-saving investments in the North West part of Russian Federation was set. The aim of these investments is to:

Reduce the consumption of fuel by 50%,
Reduce energy production emissions to the environment by 50%
Increase residential comfort by 50%.

2. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT FORUM OF THE NORDIC REGIONS

The First Energy and Environment Forum of the Nordic Regions was organised within the framework of the Energy-50-Project in Oulu on 12th-14th of December 1995. The term E-E-50 (ECOTECH ENERGY-50) and E-E-50 working group were established there. Working group consists of representatives from Finland and Russia.

Energy and Environment Forums of the Nordic Regions have been organised as follows with the support of E-E-50 Association:

1995 Oulu / Finland
1996 Archangelsk / Russia
1998 St. Petersburg / Russia
1999 Petrozavodsk /The Republic of Karelia, Russia
2000 Murmansk / Russia
2004 St. Petersburg, Russia

At the Forum in Oulu the Province State Office of Oulu, the Council of Northern Ostrobothnia, the Archangels Regional Administration, the Republic of Karelia, the Council of Kainuu, the Murmansk Regional Administration and the University of Oulu signed an agreement on the commencement of ecotechnology projects between the areas and on the establishment of a management group which will promote the development of both Eco and Energy technology as well as the promotion of foreign investments in these regions.

The Second Energy and Environment Forum of the Nordic Regions was held in Archangelsk on the 10th-11th of October 1996. Second Forum has given a new stimulus for the fruitful cooperation between Finland and North West Russia.

The third Energy and Environment Forum of the Nordic Regions, was held in St. Petersburg on 25-26 February 1998. This Forum has shown that importance of energy saving measures and ways of its implementation stated by E-E-50 was of great interest for all the Northern districts. Many representatives from all the Nordic countries took part in the Forum.

At the third Forum the meaning of the ECOTECH ENERGY-50 has got a new extended meaning. Cooperation of Northern Finnish and North West Russian territories has turned to wider collaboration between North European countries and Russia.

The fourth Energy and Environment forum of the Nordic Regions, was held in Petrozavodsk, Republic of Karelia on 2nd–3rd of June 1999. The principle themes of the forum were the promotion of energy efficiency and environmental awareness, development of the ESCO concept and a strategy for Joint Implementation. The main interest of the Forum was paid to the questions of investment attraction, financing models, heat and water supply and waste disposal service, development of telecommunications, complementing construction, international co-operation, implementation of energy saving measures and local biofuel usage projects within the Tacis programme. That is why new targets were set up for the E-E-50 Association:

Reduce the consumption of fuel by 50%,
Reduce energy production emissions to the environment by 50% and
Increase residential comfort by 50%.
Increase usage of local biofuels by 50%

The Fifth Energy and Environment Forum of the Nordic Regions, which was the Sapphire Anniversary Forum was held in Murmansk on the 26-28 of September 2000. In the Forum the present situation and future prospects on going Tacis and Barents region projects started by the Ecotech-Energy-50 association were reviewed:

Implemented in the Republic of Karelia Project -- Local Sustainable Heating Strategies for Border Communities in the Republic of Karelia
Implemented in the Murmansk region Project -- Sneznogorsk District Heating Improvements

E-E-50 activities were of decisive importance for the implementation of the above mentioned projects:

The Sixth Energy and Environment Forum of Nordic Regions was held in St. Petersburg 16 -18.03.2004. The main discussion issue at the Forum was Baltic region and North West part of Russia. Investment potential of the Northern territories and cooperation possibilities were also examined at the Forum.

E-E-50 is operating in the Barents region and North West part of Russia for 10 years. This activity will be widely discussed at the Jubilee Forum in Oulu.

OULU, 05 - 07.04.2005

The main items to discuss at the 10th Jubilee Forum will be:

Improvement of the economical situation in Russia,
Importance of Kyoto Protocol for cooperation between Russia and Finland
New possibilities provided by the Interreg and Tacis programmes

3. Activities of ECOTECH ENERGY-50 in 2005

3.1 E-E-50 Association

ECOTECH ENERGY-50 activity has been decelerated after the Murmansk Forum in 2000. But last year, after the Sixth Forum has received a good stimulus for making new attempts in all the sectors of its activity.

The main principals of E-E-50 Association are:

To be a unifying structure between the companies operating in the energy and environmental sphere,
Distribute and share important information and organize Energy and Environment Forums,
Technical and economic assessments,
Attract investments on the basis of obtained data,
Create general and detailed investment models,
Monitor all types of investment projects.

Oulu Forum in 2005 will set up new directions for the E-E-50 Association activity.

3.2 E-E-50 Group

E-E-50 Service Shop – concentrates on the newest technologies in energy and environmental spheres including industrial planning, project management and consulting activities. It operates in compliance with goals, objectives and principles of E-E-50 Association. E-E-50 Service Shop is supported by E-E-50 Association and E-E-50 Group.

3.3 E-E-50 Internet Service Shop

E-E-50 Internet Service shop - is acting in accordance with the principles of the E–E–50 Association. E-E-50 Service Shop gradually enlarges list of it's services.