“In a world economy where the requirement for sustainable development means a need to combine growth with stringent energy efficiency measures, the development of green buildings and renewable energy sources is opening up a large, dynamic and innovative market which is a major engine for employment.

The considerable increase in awareness of such concepts as energy efficiency and renewable energy in Europe and worldwide, highlights the major role played by regional and local governments. Regional and local authorities around the world have become the major players for building a new decentralised approach to energy.

All the European political bodies have become aware of the importance of fighting against the development of green house gasses. On 23rd January the European Commission launched a project entitled Climate Action ‘Energy for a Changing World’ which laid the foundation of an ambitious programme for improved energy efficiency and the development of renewable energies and which, for the first time, imposed objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The population of the Euro-Mediterranean zone is expected to grow from 200 million people today to 400 million people come 2025 and its energy consumption is set to increase three-fold. In order to face up to this energy challenge, Euro-Mediterranean programmes are being drawn up by the European Union and various UN agencies, and a number of bilateral agreements have been signed so far with South and East Mediterranean countries.

The first edition of the ENERGAÏA trade exhibition was a tremendous success and established European regional authorities as leading players in the development of energy efficiency and renewable energies, and established the Languedoc-Roussillon Region as a key player in this field, resolutely turned towards the Mediterranean, at the cutting edge of these new markets.

The Languedoc-Roussillon Region has decided to reinforce its backing to the ENERGAÏA trade exhibition, a key forum for meetings and innovation aimed at the industries’ professionals, designed to foster a long-lasting, state-of-the-art development of the market for green buildings and renewable energies.”

Georges Frêche
President - Languedoc-Roussillon Region
President - Montpellier Agglomération

"Together, let’s federate tomorrow’s energies, both through massive development of renewable energy systems and also by making energy savings wherever possible. We must all work together on these subjects to achieve the European 3x20 objectives which were also integrated into the Grenelle Conference on the Environment.

A significant number of tools have already been developed to accompany the deployment involved towards these objectives: these include the Territorial Energy-Climate Plan which is supported by the ADEME and which could be generalised through State/Region planning contracts which cover the 2007-2013 period.

ENERGAÏA is being staged at an absolutely ideal time. The targets have been set. The tools for implementing them must now be deployed by all the players, everywhere. We are working towards these targets at the ADEME with any other parties who wish to join us. Long live ENERGAÏA !”

Michèle PAPPALARDO
Former President - ADEME (Excerpt from the inaugural conference speech at ENERGAÏA 2007)

“ALMEE is delighted with the contacts which it made during its participation at the ENERGAÏA 2007 trade exhibition, as well as with the new technologies which were showcased...”

Said CHEHAB
Chairman - ALMEE (Association Nationale pour la Maîtrise de l’Energie), Lebanon

"The increased development and use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are amongst the energy policy priorities announced this week by the European Commission to respond to the growing energy related challenges facing the European Union. The policies currently being launched by the EU though are frequently extensions of what is already being at a Regional level. Indeed, Regional Councils took a very early grasp of the economic and environmental interest of RES. Locally produced energy offers a significant potential in terms of decentralization of energy production and job creation, notably in rural zones. Energy produced from the biomass, for example from forestry or agricultural waste, opens new revenue perspectives and new sectors of activities, which could prove vital in the current context where the CAP is considerably limiting financial support to farming activities. Over and above the economic interest, RES provide a sustainable response to pollution and climate change problems.

On the basis of the high potential of RES for Europe’s regions, the Assembly of European Regions (representing 260 European regions from 33 countries and 10 inter-regional bodies), which I preside, has decided to launch its own energy strategy in order to promote the exchange of good regional practices and support the deployment of new projects. We are therefore delighted to renew our support for ENERGAÏA, a key event which enables Regions to find partners and solutions for their future projects."

Riccardo ILLY
Chairman - The Assembly of European Regions
President - Friuli Venezia Giulia regional authority (Italy)

“CAPEB’s involvement in this trade exhibition bears witness to the commitment of all the members of the building industry towards reaching sustainable development. The members of the building trades are proud to be contributing once again to the success of ENERGAÏA.”

Jean LARDIN
Chairman - CAPEB

"Congratulations to the organisers for this first ENERGAÏA event, which has been a resounding success. Professionals from all over France were present and Capeb Languedoc Roussillon and Capeb National were highly satisfied with their participation. A highlight for us was the Conference on the evolution of the construction market during which the Capeb National President, Jean Marie CARTON gave a speech to a filled room, underlining the significant interest shown by the sector’s professionals for renewable energies. Now, looking towards the future, the CAPEB will certainly be taking part in the next edition because we must keep up the momentum. The theme selected for the next edition is training and this will be a further opportunity to communicate and exchange on this theme and take our respective businesses even further, together. We look forward to seeing you there! "

Patrick ISSALY
Chairman - CAPEB Languedoc Roussillon

"The entire Moroccan delegation present at ENERGAÏA was highly satisfied with its participation at this key event which represents a veritable focal point for all stakeholders in the sectors of renewable energies, sustainable development and local, Regional development. ENERGAÏA represented an opportunity for the Moroccan participants (public and private operators), concerned by the questions of renewable energies and sustainable development, to inform the public present at the exhibition about the current situation in Morocco, the country’s energy situation and its potential in terms of renewable energies and energy efficiency in particular. This event also enabled us to make contact with investors, developers and promoters and establish links between European and Mediterranean regions and Moroccan regions on the basis of the common ground shared at ENERGAÏA. We can therefore consider that the Moroccan delegation duly fulfilled its objectives and that this opportunity enabled us to strengthen cooperation links and identify potential partnerships with French and European companies in several areas such as Habitat, Research and Development, the Environment and Regional Development."

Amal HADDOUCHE
Chief Executive Officer - CDER (Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables), Morocco

“For our cluster and our members, this trade exhibition represents a major opportunity to present our technology and our know-how to a domestic and international audience.”

André JOFFRE
Chairman - DERBI (Développement des Énergies Renouvelables dans le Bâtiment et l’Industrie)

"Renewable energies represent an important pillar in the future energy mix for the European Union. The undertaking made by our Heads of State to ensure that 20% of our energy comes from renewable sources by 2020 underlines the significant advantages that renewable energies offer in the fight against climate change, energy supply security and the creation of new jobs. Given that they work very closely with the end consumer, Regional Councils play a crucial role in the development of renewable energies! Regions, through their exchange with the various institutional, economic and associative partners are key actors in the development of sustainable energy policies. In addition, they actively contribute towards the deployment of national or European policies. The European professional federations are enthusiastic about the perspectives offered by ENERGAÏA. The next edition, held while France occupies the presidency of the European Union, will offer a further opportunity to embrace the various technologies relative to renewable energies for the production of electricity, heat, cold and bio-fuels."

Christine LINS
General Secretary - EREC (European Renewable Energies Council)

"All new constructions will be supplied by an energy mix which will include a renewable element (solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wood energy and also thermal energy from outside air or the earth…). Energy optimization for new or old buildings will necessarily combine the need to control energy requirements and the use of renewable energies. Given this energy related context, the French Construction Federation (FFB) whole heartedly and actively supports an event such as ENERGAÏA, which is quite simply essential!"

Christian BAFFY
Chairman – FFB (Fédération Française du Bâtiment)

“MEDENER, the Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Conservation, created in 1997, is aiming at implementing or animating policies on the rational use of energy, renewable energy sources development and/or environmental protection, related to the production or consumption of energy. MEDENER welcomes events such as ENERGAÏA to promote renewable energy development and energy efficiency actions as the most accessible measures for a real sustainable growth in the Mediterranean Basin. Such a regional approach will surely reinforce climate change concerns, energy security, job creation and sustainable economic development. MEDENER will be more than happy to contribute to the success of ENERGAÏA in 2008."

Rino ROMANI
Head of Unit - ENEA Environment Department
Secretary - MEDENER