Monday, July 18, 2011

European Commission invests additional EUR 19 million into Green for Growth Fund

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

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European Commission invests additional EUR 19 million into Green for Growth Fund

Proceeds to be used to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy investments
in Croatia and Turkey

Frankfurt am Main, July 18, 2011 – The European Commission announced today that it has invested EUR 19 million in the first-loss tranche of the Green for Growth Fund, Southeast Europe (“GGF” or “Fund”) to finance the Fund’s energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in Croatia and Turkey. This is the second investment agreement the European Commission has signed with the GGF, following a EUR 20 million contribution on the occasion of the Fund’s 1st closing in December 2009 (1). In addition, The European Commission has contributed EUR 5 million for technical assistance by the GGF to help investments. The European Commission’s current investment increases the GGF’s total volume of investor commitments to EUR 147 million.

The GGF – initiated in December 2009 by the KfW Entwicklungsbank (The German Development Bank) and European Investment Bank (EIB) with the financial support of the European Commission and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) – will use the proceeds to provide dedicated financing to small and medium-sized enterprises and private households in Croatia and Turkey via local financial institutions. The Fund will also direct part of the financing to local energy service companies, renewable energy companies or projects and energy efficiency service and supply companies.

The investment made by the European Commission, significantly increases the GGF’s potential to achieve significant development impact by helping private households and businesses in Croatia and Turkey reduce their energy costs and consumption, increase companies’ competitiveness, reduce CO2 emissions and increase energy security in these countries.

Given the growth that the markets of Croatia and Turkey will undergo as they converge with the European Union, there will be an increasing demand for energy. Croatia and Turkey are net energy importers, depending on gas and electricity supplies from neighboring regions. In view of global warming and constrained supplies of fossil fuels, the mission of the GGF is to promote increased energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources by providing the necessary funding as against conventional, carbon-intensive energy sources.

“The investment made by the European Commission signals its confidence in the GGF and testifies to the value of the Fund’s public-private partnership model as a catalyst for energy efficiency and renewable energy finance”, said Monika Beck, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the GGF. “Croatia and Turkey constitute a substantial market for investment opportunities in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The GGF is very pleased to have the European Commission as a partner in this effort”

“The European Union is leading the way in promoting sustainable development worldwide, and even more can be achieved on our doorstep" said Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler, Director at DG Enlargement (European Commission)."The Green for Growth Fund is one of the EU's initiatives to support the Western Balkans and Turkey in their efforts to fight against climate change and meet their energy efficiency targets. The European Commission is pleased to be part of this partnership.

1 "The EU is participating in the GGF on behalf of the Beneficiaries* to support the stabilisation of financial markets and economies. The C- shares are invested in GGF under the IPA (Instrument of Pre-Accession) Multi-Beneficiary Programme for Western Balkans and Turkey".

* potential candidates and candidate countries to EU accession: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, as well as Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99, and Turkey

ABOUT THE GREEN FOR GROWTH FUND, SOUTHEAST EUROPE (GGF)
Initiated by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and KfW Entwicklungsbank (The German Development Bank), the Green for Growth Fund, Southeast Europe (GGF) is dedicated to enhance energy efficiency and foster renewable energies in Southeast Europe, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244/99), Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey. The GGF provides refinancing to financial institutions for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises and private households for financing energy efficiency projects. The Fund also makes direct investments in specialist energy service companies (ESCOs), energy efficiency service and supply companies and renewable energy projects and public entities. The activities of GGF are supported by a Technical Assistance Facility. The Fund is a Public-Private Partnership. Its investor base comprises donor agencies, international financial institutions and institutional private investors, including the European Commission (with the European Investment Fund as Trustee), the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW Entwicklungsbank, EIB, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Sal. Oppenheim. The Fund is registered under Luxembourg law as a Variable Capital Investment Company (SICAV). GGF is privately managed by Oppenheim Asset Management Services S.à r.l., Luxembourg, in consortium with the investment advisor Finance in Motion GmbH, Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and technical advisor MACS Management & Consulting Services GmbH, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

MEDIA CONTACT
Green for Growth Fund, Southeast Europe Mr. Samir Djikić Tel: +49 (0)69 9778 7650-26 E-mail: press@ggf.lu More info about CCRES on : solarserdar@gmail.com CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES (CCRES)

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Zeljko Serdar

	Meet a fearless child, a revolutionary teen, an irreverent youth, father of 2, entrepreneur, blogger, investor, humanitarian, president and CEO at CCRES Dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.Working to harvest this knowledge. The pioneering experience of corporations, governments and financiers will be captured, analyzed and made available for others to learn from. HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE
	HCOIE

	Edukacija i savjetovanje o korištenju obnovljivih izvora energije organiziranjem tečajeva, radionica, tribina, seminara, kongresa i drugih skupova te putem medija; suradnja s domaćim i međunarodnim institucijama u svezi obnovljenih izvora energije; povezivanje gospodarstvenika, znanstveno-istraživačkih institucija, lokalnih zajednica, tijela državne uprave i ostalih subjekata na projektima koji koriste obnovljive izvore energije.

Project CCRES AQUAPONICS

Course Overview: Whether you are a beginner, a backyard hobbyist, a homesteader or a skilled professional wanting to start a career in Aquaponics this course has something to offer. This course is intended to provide people with the best all inclusive training, hands-on experience and cutting edge methods of Permaculture based Aquaponics available anywhere! Wether you want to grow food for you and your family, a small business or a fully commercial operation this course will be sure to give you the tools, information and experience you will need to be successful in what ever Aquaponic endeavor you are interested in. At a time of global climate change, depletion of resources, pollution of water and huge losses of top soil worldwide, there has never been a more important time to learn about CCRES Aquaponics!“Imagine a technology that produces healthy organic food, clean water, and renewable energy all at the same time. We call it CCRES AQUAPONICS,”

PROJECT CCRES SPIRULINA

The ongoing support from the private investment community speaks to how strongly they believe in the development of Green Crude as an alternative fuel resource, especially ability to commercialize it,” CCRES. Few consider seaweeds as a viable source of energy and protein for terrestrial animals (at least until their cost becomes more attractive). Macro-algae have been shown, however, to possess several functional properties, including those of a functional fiber, with immune-stimulating and prebiotic effects. Today, marine algal extracts are used as an additive in pig and poultry diets with promising results. Furthermore, micro-algae have been shown to contain high levels of beneficial lipids that can be used in layer and sow diets as a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Finally, both types of algae are used as an active component in clay-based anti-mycotoxin agents. For example, the treatment of clay with a macro-algal extract has been shown to increase the reactive surface of clay up to eight times. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES) offers several solutions that support the nutritional part of the production system. CCRES solutions combine algae feed additive products with their services, e.g. gut quality scoring, product application systems and customised dosing advice.

PROJECT CCRES ALGAE BIOFUEL

Given the right conditions, algae can double its volume overnight. Microalgae are the earth’s most productive plants –– 10 to 15 times more prolific in biomass than the fastest growing land plant exploited for biofuel production. While soy produces some 50 gallons of oil per acre per year; canola, 150 gallons; and palm, 650 gallons, algae can produce up to 15,000 gallons per acre per year. In addition, up to 50 percent (or more) of algae biomass (dry weight) is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees—currently the most efficient large-scale source of feedstock oil to make biofuels—yield approximately 20 percent of their weight in oil.

CCRES Research facility, Sveti Rok, Croatia

Project Type Rural, Intentional Communities, Community, Demonstration, Educational Project Summary At the CCRES Research Facility, we are working with farmers who are converting their working farmland into agroforestry operations. The CCRES Program addresses the need to better understand and implement agroforestry practices on a commercial scale. As these operations grow, so too will the need for industrial infrastructure and support. Project Description The apprentice roles at CCRES Research facility, in Sveti Rok, Croatia are suited to folks who are dedicating their lives to a career in regenerative agriculture. Whilst this farm is a bustling hub for learning and practice, we expect high standards in both work ethic and your ability to work as a beneficial team member. We work, live, learn and play together in quite close quarters during the season, and your attitude and aptitude are the most important qualities behind getting the most from this experience. People that get the most from their time with us tend to have the “get it done” attitude, are self-starting, communicative, teachable, positive solutions focused, dependable and take-responsibility for what they are managing. We are looking for very pragmatic folks that are good with their hands and tools, who are situationally aware and ready to get their hands dirty wherever needed on the farm. Environmental impact Less human influence means natural processes have a chance to help improve the natural environment and restore nature. Wildlife species can come back and experience less conflict with humans, and food chains can restore. Dynamic, mosaic landscapes can develop driven by large herbivores and large carnivores, supporting species of a wide range of open/semi-open habitats. Socio-economic impact New businesses can be developed based on wilder landscapes and wildlife comeback, offering new and different products. Provision of new job and income opportunities. Social coherence and local society can be enhanced if new local businesses build networks and generate multiplier effects. Reduced dependency on subsidies. Cultural impact Younger people and families returning to the countryside looking for new opportunities, bringing new life into rural communities. Local/regional branding of areas and products providing new identities and local pride that are nature/wildlife related. Cultural heritage and traditional skills reinvigorated and in a different setting.

Interview with Mr Zeljko Serdar, CCRES

PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR PROTÉGÉ A Protégé receives a wide range of business development help from their Mentor, including: Technical, financial management, and developmental assistance to gain the knowledge, skills, and capabilities Advice and mentorship on program and project management, information technology, business equipment, and workspaces; Long-term relationships with small and/or large businesses to form teaming arrangements and/or joint ventures. PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR MENTOR There are many benefits for a Mentor helping a Protégé develop their business, including: Helping small businesses and minority institutions of higher learning expand their capacity through developmental and technical assistance; Utilizing the unique/specialized skills of the Protégé and shortening the learning curve of bringing on a new subcontractor; Identifying subcontractors and streamlining the procurement process. page 62-63

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

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Monday, July 18, 2011

European Commission invests additional EUR 19 million into Green for Growth Fund

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

European Commission invests additional EUR 19 million into Green for Growth Fund

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