 “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 greenhouse 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 |
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 France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region: renewable energies, a priority!
In 2007, France’s Languedoc-Roussillon region spent 16.4 million Euros on developing sources of renewable energies: an increase of 240% compared to 2006.
The Languedoc-Roussillon region is one of France’s leading investors in renewable energies:
• France’s leading region for wind energy
• A leading producer of solar energy
• One of France’s largest potentials for energy generated from wood
 The region increased its expenditure sharply across all forms of renewable energy:
• solar thermal: +17%
• solar photovoltaic linked to the national grid: +150%
• wood energy: +84%
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