The Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena), German Energy Agency, is calling for participants in the Best Community Award. Prizes are awarded for wind energy projects in the European Union, which involve significant input from residents, or which have a positive effect on the local community. The closing date for entries is 31st July 2016. The award is being presented jointly by dena, along with the European wind energy association, WindEurope, and partners of the WISE Power project.

Plans that have been implemented since 2010, or which are currently being implemented or are in the planning phase, are being sought. All participants, including project developers, local communities, cooperatives and residents, can apply at http://wisepower-project.eu/news/best-community-award. The winners will be announced at the WindEurope Summit from 27th to 29th September 2016 in Hamburg.

WISE Power: acceptance of wind energy is increasing – with the participation of residents

The aim of the WISE Power project is to increase social acceptance of wind energy projects, thereby ensuring that more are planned. Strategies that are designed to involve residents play a central role in this. WISE Power is being co-financed as part of the European Union's Intelligent Energy Europe programme, and is being implemented from May 2014 to October 2016. At the end of the project, the Best Community Award will recognise examples of best practice, thereby promoting successful strategies.

Besides dena, the WISE Power project’s partners are municipal and regional planning authorities, along with representatives from industry, politics and research. Among these are the Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung, ISI, (Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research), the Scottish Government and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.

More information on the WISE Power project can be found at www.wisepower-project.eu.