EPRC has won a new three-year project, TRACER, which is funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme for research and innovation.
TRACER is led by WIP Renewable Energies in Munich. Other partners include universities and research organisations, energy consultancy companies and an economic interest group in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Poland, Serbia, Romania and the Ukraine, as well as Welsh Government in the UK.
The project aims to support a number of coal-intensive regions around Europe to design (or re-design) their research and innovation strategies in order to facilitate their transition towards a sustainable energy system.
Core activities include:
- bringing together a wide range of stakeholders in each target region to discuss and agree on a shared vision and priorities for coal transition
- joint development of R&I strategies, industrial roadmaps and decision support tools
- identification and analysis of best practice examples of successful and ambitious transition processes in coal intensive regions
- assessment of social, environmental and technological challenges
- the elaboration of guidelines on how to mobilise investment
- activities to stimulate R&I cooperation among coal intensive regions in Europe and beyond.
TRACER focuses on nine regions. Seven are located in EU Member States - South East Bulgaria, North West Bohemia (CZ), Lusatian Lignite District (DE), West Macedonia (GR), Upper Silesian Coalfield (PL), West Romania and Wales (UK). Two are located in countries outside the EU – Kolubara (Serbia) and Donetsk (Ukraine).
