Stakeholder dialogues to support the creation of an energy community – ESINERGY project
In the Interreg Danube funded ESINERGY project community and stakeholder involvement is crucial, as technological innovations can only become truly working solutions if local actors also have their sense of ownership. To this end, several online workshops were held by IMRO-DDKK Nonprofit Ltd., in cooperation with the Zala County Local Government Office, where participants examined the situation of the energy sector from different perspectives.
One such occasion focused on the lessons learned from the project’s pilot activity, giving participants the opportunity to look back on the results achieved so far and think together about the next steps. Within the pilot activity a study has been completed for the city of Lenti to prepare the establishment an energy community. Furthermore, the technical and financial calculations and analysis were also performed.
In the focus group workshop participants approached the issue of energy transition from a practical perspective. They discussed the challenges of working with energy providers, the difficulties of implementing a community solar power plants or energy storage solutions, and how consumers could be better involved – even by becoming producers themselves. It was particularly important to recognize that community energy solutions can open up new opportunities not only from a technical but also a financial and social perspective, if the right environment is created for them.
The next meeting, a SWOT analysis workshop, examined the current situation at a systemic level. Participants reviewed the strengths of the domestic energy system, such as the well-developed power grid or a functioning institutional background, but weaknesses were also covered – for example, the vulnerability of consumers or the technical obstacles to the installation of renewable energy generators.
Finally, the aim of the “finding measures workshop” was to formulate concrete investment and organisational development proposals. It was raised that communication is not enough to increase energy awareness – tangible developments that can be experienced on the spot are essential. It is also important for communities to collect and interpret data themselves, be that their own consumption or savings, for example with the help of smart meters. During the discussion, the need was also expressed to create a supportive environment in which mentoring of communities and targeted project funding would also be included.
The experiences of the workshops made it clear that the development of energy communities is not just a technical issue, but part of a long-term process of awareness raising. Strengthening social dialogue, involving local actors, and planning around common goals are essential to create real, sustainable and community-accepted solutions.