RENREN grew out of a collaboration of 6 core regions concerned to play their part in global climate action and security of energy supply, and seeking to improve regional policy-making to nurture renewable energy sources (RES). They signed a Charter to this effect in April 2007. To develop an EU-wide partnership and spread the learning benefits of RENREN further, it was decided in 2008 that new members should be approached and funding sought via INTERREG IVC to optimally coordinate RENREN exchanges.The overall objective of RENREN is the improvement of regional policies in a way that existing regional frameworks are optimized with regard to fostering and strengthening RES, in particular• enabling the network's key regional governmental bodies to exchange their experiences • establishing strategic cooperation related to new approaches, projects, and solutions and thus ensuring the transfer of the findings into regional RES-policiesRENREN is well-balanced geographically and regarding different levels of experience. The partners have either strong expertise and/or commitment to one or more RES. There are expert regions in wind power (Schleswig-Holstein, Navarre), solarthermal/photovoltaic (Cyprus, Navarre), biomass (Styria, Jämtland), geothermal (Westfjords), ocean energy (Wales), and hydropower (Styria, Jämtland), as well as learning regions (Lodz, Ustí, Timis, Central Macedonia, North Hungary). All regions will benefit from the knowledge-sharing because of the breadth of the partnership and themes to be addressed in 3 working groups (WG): WG1: Wind, ocean, hydropower; WG 2: Geothermal, biomass; WG 3: Solarthermal, photovoltaic.Each WG member will contribute to a best practice knowledge-base and a review of policy actions in these cross-cutting topics: 1.Strategic Planning for RES at regional level; 2. Permits & compliance; 3. Fostering job market development, RTD & innovation; 4. Finance & incentives.Main events are: Kick-off & closing conferences, 6 six-monthly workshops around Europe with 6 press conferences, 8 on-site visits, 3 additional communication & dissemination events.Outputs & results: a. Policy recommendations to aid all partners and other EU regions to optimise their policy frameworks to achieve or go beyond their stated renewable energy targets, thus contributing to EU climate change action. b. database of best practices and activity plan for future exchangeIn particular, the policy recommendations will be drawn up over regular interregional workshops and the interim work undertaken by partners on policies, practices and potential. All this will be drawn together in whole-network plenaries and rationalised into recommendations and RES targets for two stages of RES development. In 8 on-site visits, the project partners have the opportunity to identify best practices and to intensify their relationships laying the basis for further bi- or multilateral exchange. Achievements: At the launch conference in Kiel, Germany, on 28th April 2010, the partners debated how they and other regions can play their part in global climate action and a securer energy supply. The event attracted ca.130 people from the partner institutions, politicians, regional stakeholders and the interested public. Several regional representatives from RENREN partner regions had travelled to Kiel to give statements and talk about their regions' expectations of the project and their amibitions with regard to fostering renewable energy production. EU Energy Commissioner Günther Öttinger delivered an encouraging message by video to the partners, saying, I am strongly convinced that this project will serve as a model for similar future projects. Of course, I eagerly await your final results and I wish you every success for the further progress of the project. The first workshops took place on 29th/30th April. The workshops were subdivided into plenary and working group sessions. Each of the RENREN partners was represented in at least one of the 3 working groups (WG 1-Wind, Ocean, Hydropower; WG 2-Geothermal, Biomass; WG 3-Solarthermal, Photovoltaic and concentrated Solar Power). The focus was on Topic 1 - Strategic Planning for renewable energy sources at regional level, where the first outputs related to best practices in these areas were achieved: 1. Regional energy plans: outlining strategies in the region, 2. Gathering stakeholders: clusters, 3. Integrating renewables in the grid. Prior to the workshops, a questionnaire on the status quo (renewable energy penetration, regulatory context at regional level and existing renewables targets) had been drawn up and answered by the RENREN project partners. The answers helped assess both the partners' and partner regions' different levels of experience and expertise in the field of renewable energy-related policies and framework conditions, obstacles and achievements as well as their expectations towards the project. The results were used as a starting point for the first workshop. Furthermore, the first of eight on-site-visits took place in Nantes (Pays de la Loire, France) in June. A presentation on the regions strategy to support energy control and on development of renewable energy in the Pays de la Loire Region was followed by a number of on-site meetings and debates with researchers as well as manufacturers and people in charge of technology transfer and energy management. Among these was a visit to a shopping mall in Nantes on the top of which one of the largest urban-based photovoltaic farms in France was built in 2009 by the Nantes Metropolitan Area (Nantes Métropole). The Abalone companys head office at St. Herblain was presented as the first energy positive building in the west of France: By combining energy efficiency and sustainable development it is aimed at – in the long run – being disconnected from the national electricity grid, thus becoming self-sufficient. Last but not least, RENREN communication materials (website, logo, roll-ups, corporate design, communication plan) were developed between January and May 2010 and an ad-hoc working group "EU Energy Strategy" was formed and developed a response to the Commission Public Consultation "Towards a New Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020", closing 2nd July 2010.