Renewable energy sources such as biomass, biogas, landfill gas, wind, and geothermal energy constitute cost-effective and environmentally sound ways to meet energy demands. Many regions, however, are not yet fully exploiting their renewable energy potential due -for the most part- to tight budgets and associated difficulties in developing economically viable solutions. To develop viable solutions, local and regional authorities need ready-to-use concepts to assess, design, and implement renewable energy projects and to connect producers of renewables (e.g., farmers, communal waste management companies) to consumers (e.g., businesses, industry, greenhouses) in an effective and sustainable manner. Overall objective / Objectif général RECORA - Renewable Energy Cooperation of Rural Areas focuses on the development of practical guidelines and tools to assess, plan, and implement viable renewable energy projects. RECORA partners unite regional key players (e.g., farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, and regional policy makers) in order to promote renewable energy, share information on legal, administrative, financial and economic requirements, and identify the key parameters for successful renewable energy projects. Expected results / Résultats attendus RECORA communicates state-of-the-art organisational, financial and technological practices and encourages decision makers to explore renewable energy potentials. It helps create regional and local networks of suppliers of renewables such as farmers, communal waste management and forestry companies and supports the generation of additional income. Furthermore, it supports businesses in the development of innovative products and services for the renewable energy sector and Activities include the elaboration of a comparative study on the legal, administrative, financial and economic requirements. Partners develop generic guidelines for the operation of renewable energy plants, including a model business plan, model feasibility study. In each participating regions, partners also initiate Local Focus Groups to support the strategic planning process and to adapt business plans to the regional needs. Partners also establish a permanent showroom of small-scale demonstration models for renewable energy facilities to promote renewables and communicate benefits.