As part of Energy Cities’ inspirational day in Modena, on 18th October, we gathered a bunch of renewable experts and activists in the fictional city of Andria. For one day, this was our place to discuss the challenges of bringing (renewable) energy access and energy justice to all. People did not need a GPS to navigate through Andria and its lively workshops. They let empathy and foresightedness be their guide.

Take-away 1: We must give space to the invisible citizens if we want the energy transition to be fair and effective. They bring the power we all need! 

We discussed energy poverty and how we can give space and visibility to those who are usually standing and living in the blind spot of policies. How can we give space in decision-making and involve them fully in the energy transition? And what can we actually learn from them? And why do we call “vulnerable” those who show most strength and resilience?

Big inspiration came from Jan de Pauw, project engineer at the citizen energy cooperative Ecopower and energy advisor for the city of Eeklo (Belgium). He presented the outstanding energy poverty support program which was initiated by the City of Eeklo together with Ecopower: This scheme, which has been developed and launched in the framework of the POWER UP project, will enable low-income households to become members of an energy cooperative. How? The city pre-finances cooperative shares and lends these to people who would not be able to pay this upfront cost on their own. Over several years, these beneficiaries will then pay the share back through a small monthly fee. As of day one, though, the shareholders will be full members of the Ecopower cooperative including all rights that come with it such as getting renewable energy at a fair price or having a voice at Ecopower’s decision-making. This rolling fund of pre-financed social energy shares makes local renewable energy accessible for all. It is a first of its kind in Europe and has great potential to be implemented in other local governments wanting to help people in energy poverty.

👁️‍🗨️ Take-aways from the group debates that followed can be found on the POWER UP website.

Take-away 2: Legal stumbling blocks require patience, but they aren’t a reason to stand still

Italy’s national decree on energy communities was meant to be published many months ago. While impatiently waiting for it, we organised together with Confcooperative a training session on energy communities for Italian civil servants as part of the SCCALE 203050 capacity-building series. Despite a complicated and lengthy adoption of the legal framework, local authorities do take action to deploy renewables and to put them in citizens’ hands. They are keen on getting the right skills and they wish to level up their city-citizen collaborations around renewable energy projects! We provided participants with success stories and guidance from Italian peers about the very practical steps to create an energy community.

👁️‍🗨️ For those interested in improving their skills on community energy: watch out for the second round of Energy Cities’ Espresso training. Your baristas are about to brew a good new coffee for you!

Take-away 3: Municipal space needs to be clearly identified and made available to the community

The afternoon workshop put public assets for local community energy on the spot. We’ve explored all those different spots in which renewable energy can find a place in a city: roofs and façades, parking lots, water reservoirs, brownfields – even cemeteries! Much of it still remains pretty much untapped as neither local governments nor other players in town do know what they could use to produce or consume locally produced energy.

After an introduction to the workshop, Anik Lehman-Tron from the Energy Department of the City of Besançon (France) presented the approach by the City of Besançon. She talked about their strategy to quantify available renewable energy, to map suitable space and to identify consumers and producers in their Planoise district. Planoise is a low-income area with high social mixity. Annick’s presentation was first followed by a Q&A session with the audience. All participants were then brought to an XXL-format map of the Planoise neighbourhood to do a joint spatial analysis and exercise around renewable offer and demand.

Next we had a presentation by Anna Francis from Energy Cities on the LIFE LOOP asset match-making tool. When released in December, this will be the very first European-wide platform allowing cities to show their local people that they care for the development of renewables and that they offer space for those who want to invest in it!

We ended with the success story of Balkan Solar Roofs in Porec, Croatia. Their ambitious local policy, made visible through the Sunny Office, first one-stop-shop in the area, has brought renewable development to another level.

We could have continued the conversation, talking about land constraints for urban renewable energy, data or modelling challenges, participation and how we make all this work for vulnerable people…but the sun started sinking into the narrow streets of Andria.

You think our articles and newsletters are fantastic, but you’d love to engage face-to-face with other city representatives and experts on local renewables energy perspectives? Our next Annual forum in the lovely historic city center of Modena is the chance to dive deep into decentralized and people-powered energy. 

Here’s a sneak preview of what we have designed for you! Make sure you register as soon as possible, selecting the Hub 3 sessions of Energy Cities’ inspirational day on Wednesday, October 18^th! 

Wednesday 18 October 2023 

9:30-12:00 Energy for the invisible citizen: in search for lasting & fair solutions.  

In a less conventional format, we will bring together all those who are fighting energy poverty in their everyday work. You’ll have the chance to navigate with other city-makers through questions related to housing and health, renewable energy access, summer energy poverty, and gender. This first workshop with social impact hacker, will be followed by a fruitful flopcast: Together we will explore the mistakes and the respective lessons learned in the different EU initiatives and projects. Throughout the session, we’ll unashamedly suck knowledge from innovative EU-funded projects (POWER UP, WELLBASED, Cooltorise, Shape EU) on how to bring systemic changes to end energy poverty.  (view detailed program)

9:30 – 12:30 Developing energy communities in Italy by promoting collaborations between municipalities, citizens, SMEs – part 1

Capacity building on community energy for Italian municipalities, organised together with Confcooperative as part of SCCALE 203050 capacity-building series for Italian civil servants

This is a training upon invitation dedicated to Italian local governments who wish to level up their city-citizen collaborations around renewable energy projects! We will provide participants with experiences, guidance, and proposals for the creation of new energy communities. We will explore different ways to share renewable energy produced locally by promoting the active role of consumers, citizens and businesses in collaboration with municipalities.  

14:00 – 15:30 Developing energy communities in Italy by promoting collaborations between municipalities, citizens, SMEs – part 2 

Community building on community energy for Italian municipalities, organised together with the Municipality of Magliano Alpi. 

How did the city of Magliano Alpi develop its energy community? What challenges did its team encounter and how did it overcome them? Join this experience sharing session and benefit from the city’s experience and advice. 

16:00-17:30 The Map it Show! Treasure hunting renewable energy in our cities. 

For anyone who enjoyed geography at school and in particular working with maps, this session is for you. Anik Lehman-Tron from the Energy Management department of the City of Besançon will be using a huge map of the Planoise neighbourhood to illustrate the solar potential analysis they recently carried out with the French PV association HESPUL. You will learn how they are using the results to set up a self-consumption project with the ambition of transforming Planoise into an eco-district. This map will then be used for a generic exercise with all participants: you will identify as many possible potential public owned assets that could be linked to future community projects in a city. Anna Francis from Energy Cities will then talk about her experience of working for Frome municipality in the UK. How did they identify solar-fit public sites and involve a local cooperative in renewable energy projects? Anna will then conclude by introducing the asset-matchmaking tool that is being developed within the LIFE LOOP project. (detailed program soon)

Ready to go?  

Register now for Energy Cities’ inspirational day at our Forum in Modena!  

You want to get a glimpse of what the other Energy Cities’ sessions will be covering? Discover the full programme of Energy Cities’ Day in Modena. 

Don’t forget to sign up for all the other engaging and inspiring activities we have in store for you during the rest of the Forum: plenary sessions, networking opportunities, engaging tours of Modena, and even the train ride just for Energy Cities’ members! 

You may also be interested in attending Climate Alliance’s Workshop the next day: Municipal solutions for energy poverty – 19 October, 15:00 – 17:00 | Camera di Commercio Modena (English) Energy poverty is increasingly in the spotlight, but what can cities and towns do about it? Involving energy-poor citizens and enabling municipal staff on the road to a socially just energy transition is of the essence. Join the discussion and get inspired by real > Agenda

In recent weeks, part of the European Parliament has chosen to boycott discussions on the draft regulation for “nature restoration”.

This is quite unprecedented, as debates usually get bogged down and, rather than facing outright refusal, many texts are drained of their substance through endless negotiations. But what’s at stake here is a pre-election battle (already!). And it doesn’t bode well: those who are trying to convince us that we can’t ensure our food security without continuing to destroy the soil, water and forests are the same people who have caused setbacks to the European Green Deal. The European Commission has already suggested revising its proposals so as not to include obligations to achieve results, but only to make a reasonable effort. Not even an obligation of means…

Meanwhile, the European Central Bank has just published an analysis of the risks posed to the banking system by the decline in biodiversity:  “Nearly 75 per cent of all bank loans in the euro area are to companies that are highly dependent on at least one ecosystem service. […] If nature degradation continues as now, these companies will suffer and banks’ credit portfolios will become riskier,” writes Franck Elderson, member of the Executive Board of the Frankfurt institution, in an article published on 8 June on the BCE blog.

The Commission is proposing practical measures to protect nature in the city.

Member States should achieve 10% green and blue spaces in urban areas by 2040, and at least 15% by 2050. Most of these spaces should be legally protected. Cities are already very active and more ambitious, and nature within the city ensures a better quality of life and the resilience of urban spaces, a necessary solution for combating heat islands and improving food security…

It is yet another directive that introduces specific obligations for towns and cities, without involving them in the governance of the policies that will make these goals possible. The Commission needs to work hand in hand with local authorities. They are the ones who can build alliances with businesses that depend on healthy ecosystems, and with vulnerable social groups who, without (at least!) municipal agricultural, energy and economic policies, will not have access to the basic necessities of living.

Backing down in the face of blackmail and fear is no longer an option

(Although it never should have been in any case…)

PS : on the 15th of June, Members of the Environment Committee of the European Parliament voted 44 against and 44 in favor of the continuation of the legislative process. The proposed regulation will be examined.

*”No nature, no food” is a Campaign slogan of the Greens/the European Free Alliance (EFA) – a European Parliamentary Group

Would you like to explore new ways of financing your energy and climate measures? Would you like to learn about energy performance contracting, municipal green bonds, revolving funds or citizen financing? Would it be a plus for you if this knowledge was coming from your peers in other EU cities, from people who successfully implemented these financing instruments and could tell you if they fit your own projects in your own local context?  Would you find it stimulating to learn in small groups, exchanging directly with other city practitioners facing the same challenges?

Then, don’t search further: the PROSPECT+ capacity-building programme on innovative financing is made for you!

PROSPECT+ offers mentoring and training in five thematic areas: public buildings, private buildings, public lighting, transport, and a cross-sectoral category. It gives attention to improving the decision-making of cities and regions on how to choose projects for financing, as well as how to assess and ensure that the projects are finance ready. 

Participation in PROSPECT+ is free of charge and all local & regional public authorities and their energy agencies from Europe (EU27, UK and H2020 associated countries) are eligible to apply.

Since 2017, PROSPECT+ has already helped more than 250 cities and regions! Why not you?

How to apply?

In preparation of its third learning cycle that will start in August/September 2023, PROSPECT+ is  opening a new call for mentees and mentors, with the following deadlines:  

• Call for mentees: from the 2^nd of March 2023 to the 14^th of April 2023. 
• Call for mentors: from the 22^nd of May 2023 to the 7^th of June 2023.

In addition, local and regional authorities from Poland, Italy and Ireland can apply for joining local learning groups where exchanges will be held in their own language.

For further information and links to the application forms, please visit https://www.h2020prospect.eu/get-involved

Join our LinkedIn page Capacity building for cities and regions | PROSPECT+!

“The PROSPECT+ capacity building programme offers local authorities the opportunity to deepen their knowledge on innovative financing schemes to fund energy efficiency measures directly from their peers, those who already tested and implemented successful solutions when facing the same barriers. By providing different learning methodologies, we want to engage as many local authorities as possible, trying to cater for different needs, including limited time availability or lack of foreign language skills. PROSPECT+ is also a perfect opportunity to have a first direct experience with European projects and meet EU partners for those who are not yet familiar with the EU funding programmes.” Giulia Pizzini, Coordinator of the PROSPECT+ project, IEECP 

While most energy communities are active in the production of electricity, heating is an area holding a lot of potential, even if it requires higher initial investment. The Netherlands hosts some great examples of community district heating. The Thermo Bello project in the Eva-Lanxmeer district of Culemborg is one of these examples, the firsts of this kind in the Country.

The topic of collective heating was already a priority for the Eva-Lanxmeer district in 2000, when a Heat Supply Framework Agreement was concluded between the water company Vitens, the Municipality of Culemborg and the residents’ association (BEL). This agreement defined the first elements for the development and operation of a collective heat supply that became fully operational in 2004. The heat station was part of Vitens’ drinking water pumping station. In 2006, when Vitens, decided to focus its services on the extraction and supply of drinking water, BEL was offered to take over the heat production and distribution.

The residents of Eva-Lanxmeer had always been very involved in public life: from landscape and public green spaces, to traffic safety, water management and food production. That is why eventually, after 2 years of research, they decided to set up their own citizen energy cooperative: Thermo Bello. The cooperative supplies low-temperature hot water to 222 homes and 7 commercial properties via an underground distribution network located in the district.

Culemborg municipality offered a guarantee so that the cooperative could obtain its first bank loan to finance the initial phase in 2008. In 2021, when it was time to upgrade the system, Thermo Bello financed those works via a mixture of bank loans, citizen capital and using their own capital. They got 350 000€ from the bank (via a 10-year loan at 2,7% rate), around 100 000€ from clients/citizens, and 100 000€ from their own saved capital, based on performance of the previous years. Now they have no debt anymore, which will make it easier for banks to finance future investments.

Want to learn more about municipalities engaged in community energy? Read our guidebook

But Thermo Bello is not “only” about heat. The cooperative does not only manage heat supply and distribution, making sure it’s as energy efficient as possible. They also educate residents to reduce their consumption and on local energy production and are very keen in sharing their knowledge with other groups who might want to follow their steps.

Are you part of such groups? Do you work for a local government willing to engage in community energy? Join the SCCALE 20-30-50 study tour and meet the people of Thermo Bello on 21 April! Register here.

Energy Cities’ Hub “Community-led energy for massive renewable production” provides you with tools to increase locally-owned renewable energy production. Join our community! 

The European City Facility is looking for Country Experts and National Hubs to support local authorities in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.

For each EU Member State, Iceland and Ukraine, the consortium will appoint: 

• a Country Expert, whose role will be  to  support municipalities in their  ‘LIFE  EUCF journey’ and to support the Core Management Team for a smooth LIFE EUCF operation and monitoring. We will select Country Experts based on their proven technical and financial competences and working experience in the field of energy and climate investments at local / regional level, their existing relations and contacts with municipalities, and best value for money. 
• a National Hub, whose role will be to involve municipalities in the Facility and support the deal-closing of their investment concepts. We will select  National  Hubs  based  on  their  proven  wide  outreach  to  municipalities  and  local  authorities,  their working experience in supporting local authorities, particularly on energy and climate investments, and best value for money. 

Do you have what it takes? Please visit the website of EUCF for more information & apply by January 27th 2023 COB.

Any question? Contact mariangela.luceri@fedarene.org

“Today we are launching – as far as I know – the biggest collective investment by a local community for the energy transition in Croatia. Citizens, but also the business and public sectors from the Cres-Lošinj archipelago are very interested in it. Our solar PV project will be implemented if we obtain the necessary permits and consents from the competent public institutions”, said Dr. Ugo Toić, President of the assembly of the Croatian energy cooperative Aspyrtides in 2021,at the very start of this endeavour. One year later, the project is off to a good start.

The bigger picture

After several successful initial examples of community-financed solar power plants in Croatia (Križevci Municipality, Kaštel Lukšić, etc.), the energy community virus has now crossed the sea. Located in the scenic Cres-Lošinj archipelago surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, the Croatian energy cooperative Aspyrtides was founded last year, in 2021. With its wide diversity of members, it is very unique in Croatia: it includes two municipalities, the town of Cres (3080 inh.) and the town of Mali Lošinj (8200 inh.), public institutions, associations, entrepreneurs and companies, as well as citizens. In total, it numbers 29 founders, of which 20 are citizens and 9 are legal entities. The cooperative’s first projects are the Filozići solar power plant with a nominal power of 500kW, and an integrated solar power plant on the roof of a kindergarten in Cres.

Fisrt steps

During the first months, all the cooperative’s members were busy working on the necessary feasibility studies, preparing the initial documentation, and negotiating the purchase of land. One year later, in 2022, the assembly of cooperative members unanimously decided to purchase the chosen plot and to build the Filozići solar power plant on it.

The solar energy Filozići project in a nutshell:

• Installed power: up to 500 kW
• Annual production: 667 MWh
• Price of the land: about 65,000 euros
• Total estimated costs of the investment: 648,000 euros
• 30% of upfront costs will be collected from cooperative members and other investors through a crowdfunding campaign.
• 70% of upfront costs will be covered by a loan.

Fast fundraising through the crowd

The owner of the land, Anton Jedrječić, is himself a cooperative member and the initiator of the solar project. He decided to invest 20,000 euros as an additional cooperative share, making him the largest investor in this project so far. The cooperative assembly decided that the necessary funds needed for the land purchase would be collected from current and future cooperative members. The idea: encourage the local community to invest in it through a crowdfunding campaign that would last two months.

Instead of the anticipated two months, crowdfunding for the Filozići solar power plant lasted just three weeks raising more money than expected: The campaign aimed to collect 65,000 euros from the founders and new cooperative members in the first round. Due to the intense interest shown by residents of the Cres and Lošinj archipelago and several friends from the mainland, more than 100,000 euros of additional member contributions were collected in three weeks. During the campaign, 23 new members joined, increasing the total number of members to 58.

“We have been communicating for over a year about our idea of building a solar power plant in the north of the island. We always thought we’d finance it through a joint investment of citizens and island companies. Nonetheless, we were surprised by the speed of the reaction and the great interest to invest in the project”, said the cooperative manager Franjo Toić. He concluded that “citizens clearly want to become owners of at least part of the energy consumed on the island, and the energy cooperative is one ways they will be able to do so”.

As soon as all necessary funds were collected, the manager Toić and the land owner Jedrejčić signed a sale contract by which the cooperative became the new land owner. This was the first big step towards installing the solar panels.

Next steps

The road providing access to the construction site soon will be built. When precisely it will be depends above all on how fast the Croatian State issues the necessary permits. In the meantime, this public-civil partnership is a fantastic adventure for all the people and entities involved, demonstrating the power of bottom-up community engagement.

Inspiré par Bruno Latour

En train de préparer mon édito sur l’agenda mouvant des politiques énergétiques européennes, une des dernières analyses du philosophe Bruno Latour, qui vient de nous quitter, résonnait sans cesse : « L’accumulation des crises actuelles permettent-elles à l’Europe de trouver enfin le sol qui correspond à cette formidable invention institutionnelle que l’on continue à présenter comme suspendue hors sol et sans peuple qui lui correspondrait ? » ^[1]. Sincèrement impossible à paraphraser, encore moins à synthétiser.

Pour Bruno Latour, l’Europe tient une opportunité unique de synchroniser son modèle, son mode de vie avec ses ressources propres.

En soit, ce n’est pas révolutionnaire, mais la traduction politique de cet objectif d’adéquation ressources / besoins (d’une Europe « doughnut » ^[2] qui resterait dans les limites de ses ressources) est révolutionnaire : c’est l’Europe en tant que Peuple, Nation et en tant que territoire, qui peut et doit surgir.

Aujourd’hui, nos dépendances sont en effet terriblement, douloureusement visibles.

C’est sur un territoire bien réel que notre quotidien est ancré. Et cette crise de l’énergie impacte chacune de nos actions quotidiennes. Comme l’écrit Geneviève Pruvost : « Sans politique du quotidien, sans reconstruction collective et radicale de notre subsistance, il n’y aura pas de société égalitaire ni écologique. » ^[3]

Semaine après semaine, on annonce des « Conseils européens de l’énergie d’urgence ».

Encore un cette semaine, un autre le 25 octobre, puis un nouveau en novembre… C’est totalement inédit. C’est toute la machine institutionnelle que cette crise transforme.  Aucun des mécanismes de négociations classiques ne peut être opérant dans cette configuration inédite. Cela pose plusieurs questions : Est-ce que cette nouvelle donne permet aux politiques énergétiques d’être « ancrées » ? Y a-t-il une place pour les territoires ? Quelle place pour la politique du quotidien ? Comment donner du pouvoir d’agir à chacun pour rester maitre de notre destin d’européen·ne ?

Malheureusement, si les agendas semblent bouleversés par l’urgence, les politiques peinent encore à se saisir des questions pertinentes.

[1] https://geopolitique.eu/articles/le-sol-europeen-est-il-en-train-de-changer-sous-nos-pieds/

[2] https://doughnuteconomics.org/

[3] https://journals.openedition.org/lectures/51439

Tribune de Sandra Vlašić, rédactrice pour le PNUD, juillet 2022

Le Forum urbain mondial de l’ONU-Habitat, qui s’est tenu récemment dans la ville de Katowice, en Pologne, a montré qu’il reste beaucoup à faire pour atteindre l’objectif de développement durable 11 sur les « villes et communautés durables ».

Malgré de nombreux engagements politiques à l’échelle internationale et régionale, comme le Programme 2030 et le pacte vert pour l’Europe (ce dernier comptant deux missions visant à créer des villes durables, résilientes et climatiquement neutres), nous restons en retard sur le calendrier. « Les défis complexes auxquels notre communauté fait face ne peuvent pas être résolus uniquement par des solutions techniques », explique la ville arménienne de Charentsavan. Une phrase qui traduit bien la nature des problèmes auxquels les villes sont confrontées.

Un avant-goût douloureusement réaliste des urgences de demain ?

Les villes sont des écosystèmes complexes dans un monde complexe où des choses inimaginables se déroulent. En présentant le pacte vert pour l’Europe, la Présidente de la Commission européenne, Ursula von der Leyen, a comparé les missions de l’Union européenne aux premiers pas sur la Lune. Et en effet, la foule d’événements sans précédent qui nous ont touchés nous a donné le sentiment de nous retrouver dans une partie inexplorée de l’espace : pandémie de COVID-19 et confinements, inondations estivales en Allemagne, tornades en Europe centrale, records de chaleur, sécheresses et feux dans la région Méditerranéenne, guerre en Ukraine, hausse des prix du carburant, crises économiques… Je pourrais continuer longtemps. Nous devons à la fois faire face au présent et penser à l’avenir.Les missions doivent se poursuivre et nous devons adopter une nouvelle méthode, car les approches linéaires par projet ne fonctionnent plus.

112 villes européennes se sont engagées dans une mission en vue d’atteindre la neutralité carbone avant 2030, et pas très loin, chez nos voisins de l’est, un nombre trois fois plus élevé de villes et de municipalités ont entamé une mission similaire appelée Mayors for Economic Growth (Les maires pour le développement économique), ou dans sa version courte, #M4EG.

Qu’est-ce que #M4EG ?

« M4EG est une initiative conjointe de l’UE et du PNUD en matière de recherche et de développement qui vise à dépasser le schéma traditionnel donateur-bénéficiaire », explique Tina M. S. Stoum, cheffe de projet régionale pour Mayors for Economic Growth. « Elle est fondée sur un constat douloureux : la majorité des projets de développement entraînent des changements progressifs plutôt que les transformations radicales dont nos sociétés ont désespérément besoin. Cette initiative nous servira d’environnement de test pour essayer de nouveaux outils et de nouvelles approches. Cette nouvelle proposition de valeur repose sur des “portefeuilles”, une alternative à l’approche standard compartimentée par projet utilisée partout.  »

M4EG n’est pas un projet traditionnel, c’est une invitation au changement. Les problèmes complexes exigent des réponses systémiques. Mariela Atanassova,spécialiste en innovation stratégique et chargée des villes pour la Chôra Foundation, explique pourquoi nous avons besoin d’une approche mixte de ce type : « L’idée est que nous faisons face à des systèmes complexes qui ne peuvent pas être changés en élaborant un plan parfait et en l’exécutant, car les systèmes ont des réactions imprévisibles. Il faut adopter des outils qui permettent d’identifier les transformations nécessaires. »

C’est ce que fait M4EG, et l’initiative devient peu à peu une plateforme qui soutient les villes et les municipalités des pays du Partenariat oriental dans leur transition écologique, inclusive et numérique, et leur développement économique local 2.0.

Actuellement, plus de 350 municipalités locales en Arménie, en Azerbaïdjan, en Moldavie, en Géorgie et en Ukraine ont rejoint ce programme afin de réinventer l’avenir des villes et de les rendre durables. En 2021, M4EG a entamé la deuxième phase de ses activités, qui s’inscrit dans la continuité de la phase précédente (2017-2020). L’initiative pourra-t-elle devenir une grande plateforme collaborative pour les villes sélectionnées et servir à toutes les villes de l’UE ainsi qu’à celles des pays voisins ?

Repenser les villes, mode d’emploi

Tina Stoum explique : « En travaillant directement avec les municipalités, nous nous intégrons au contexte local, voire hyperlocal, afin d’identifier ensemble des axes de transformations adaptés à l’écosystème de la ville ou de la municipalité, puis de les mettre en œuvre. C’est un travail ambitieux qui nous invite à sortir de notre zone de confort : nous ne sommes plus des fournisseurs de solutions, mais des apprenants. Cela suppose aussi de passer d’un schéma interdisciplinaire à un schéma multidisciplinaire, car les problèmes complexes, comme la transition vers les énergies renouvelables, les inégalités et la confiance dans les autorités locales, vont souvent de pair. »

Les villes de M4EG ont plusieurs outils à leur disposition, à savoir un ensemble de dispositifs de financement, d’apprentissage de la facilitation, de mentorat, de prise de contact et de création d’une communauté et pour finir, un espace pédagogique spécial. En tout, 13 villes ont été sélectionnées dans le cadre de l’appel à candidatures européen pour les appels de portefeuilles annuels, 18 villes font partie du programme « Urban Imaginaries » et 9 autres ont été retenues pour le programme « Portfolio Journey » (d’une durée de 2 ans et plus). Et ce n’est que le début. Dernier élément mais non des moindres, M4EG s’adapte afin d’appuyer les villes ukrainiennes et moldaves en première ligne des actions de réponse, de redressement et de renouvellement face à la crise.

Repenser les villes en pratique

La ville arménienne d’Areni étudie comment développer le tourisme durable, mettre en place et préserver un environnement écoresponsable pour les résidents, et comment l’utiliser comme levier de développement permettant d’attirer les financements pour le renouvellement des infrastructures. La ville de Batoumi, en Géorgie, rêve d’un écosystème de start-ups solide qui contribuera à transformer le marché du travail local afin d’oublier les anciens secteurs et de se concentrer sur les technologies et sur des compétences plus poussées. Ceadîr-Lunga, en Moldavie, imagine un système énergétique résilient où l’énergie est abordable et provient de sources renouvelables. Une autre ville géorgienne, Koutaïssi, souhaite devenir une ville écologique et intelligente à l’empreinte carbone neutre, utiliser les ressources naturelles durablement, développer l’économie circulaire, et investir dans des espaces verts publics et l’alimentation locale. Ces descriptions s’appliquent facilement à toutes les villes européennes. C’est pourquoi il est évidemment pertinent de leur permettre d’entrer en contact à travers un réseau international de leaders urbains sur la plateforme M4EG, afin que chaque ville puisse apprendre des autres.

Qui est à l’origine de cette mission #M4EG pour les pays du Partenariat oriental ?

Personne ne peut aller loin seul, mais ensemble, nous pouvons atteindre nos objectifs. Cette mission rassemble des maires de plus de 350 municipalités locales de 5 pays, avec l’appui de la direction générale du voisinage et des négociations d’élargissement (DG-NEAR) et du PNUD. Les « partenaires compétents » sont des experts ou des pionniers expérimentés : Ove Arup, une entreprise d’ingénierie internationale de premier plan spécialiste du développement durable, qui crée des structures et des villes meilleures qui rendent les gens heureux ; EIT Climate-KIC, la plus grande communauté européenne d’innovation et de connaissances pour le climat, à la tête de la mission de l’UE pour des villes climatiquement neutres ; l’Université de technologie de Tallinn, ou TalTech, le fleuron de l’ingénierie et de l’enseignement technologique estoniens, également un centre de recherche ; le Centre for Public Impact, ou CPI, un partenaire d’apprentissage pour les gouvernements, les fonctionnaires et le réseau d’acteurs du changement, qui vise à repenser la gouvernance de sorte qu’elle convienne à toutes et tous ; et la CHÔRA Foundation, dont l’objectif est d’aider les personnes et les organisations à faire face à un monde de plus en plus complexe via une innovation stratégique et transformatrice.

Retrouvez-nous lors de l’événement « Show & Tell » et apprenez avec nous !

Pas besoin d’aller sur la Lune pour créer la ville que nous voulons. Les solutions, les connaissances et les ressources se trouvent dans nos communautés. La ville que nous voulons est un endroit agréable à vivre, durable, inclusif, sûr et sain, où tout le monde a un travail ou une source de revenus décente, le soutien nécessaire et un accès aux services de base. C’est un espace convivial fait pour les êtres humains, où vivre en harmonie avec la nature. Ensemble, faisons du monde un endroit plus agréable !

Rejoignez-nous lors de l’événement « M4EG Show & Tell » qui aura lieu en ligne le 28 juillet et découvrez en avant-première les nouvelles pistes de transformation urbaine : de la gestion des déchets à la restauration des lieux culturels, rencontrez le réseau M4EG et explorez les approches pilotes menées par des équipes municipales locales.

Consulter https://eum4eg.com

L’été est là et tandis que les vacancier·ères préparent leurs bagages pour rejoindre leur destination, la saison des vacances fait naître chez les Européen·nes un sentiment de sécurité trompeur. La vérité, c’est qu’une guerre fait rage en Ukraine et que l’approvisionnement énergétique est menacé en Europe. Les Ukrainien·nes continuent d’être brutalement bombardé·es chaque jour et les dirigeant·es européen·nes se démènent pour savoir comment iels vont fournir de l’énergie aux populations et au secteur économique lorsque les mois d’hiver seront à notre porte.

Les prix de l’énergie ne cessent de grimper tandis que l’approvisionnement en gaz naturel se raréfie au fil des semaines. Les États membres européens ne reçoivent en effet plus que 40 à 60 % du flux qu’ils recevaient de Russie l’an passé. Et pendant que Gazprom refuse d’honorer ses obligations contractuelles, les installations européennes de stockage de gaz peinent à se remplir.

Hier, la Commission européenne a publié le paquet Des économies de gaz pour un hiver sûr, une stratégie qui vise à encourager les États membres à réduire leur consommation de gaz de 15 % entre août et mars, afin d’anticiper d’éventuelles nouvelles ruptures d’approvisionnement en provenance de Russie. Si le plan prévoit d’exploiter les potentiels d’économie de gaz dans les bâtiments, les centrales électriques et les industries, il encourage également les États membres à accroître les activités d’extraction au niveau national et à procéder à des changements de combustible en faveur d’énergies plus polluantes, ce qui est une terrible nouvelle pour les objectifs climatiques et les ambitions de réduction des émissions de gaz à effet de serre.

Les alertes estivales menacent les objectifs climatiques européens 

Les Pays-Bas se préparent à augmenter la production du gisement de Groningue, la plus grande réserve de gaz naturel d’Europe continentale. Bien qu’elle ait été qualifiée de mesure de dernier recours, cette décision pourrait remettre en cause la stratégie de sortie progressive d’ici 2028, et replonger les communautés voisines dans la crainte de tremblements de terre d’origine anthropique provoqués par les activités d’extraction. 

Nous assistons bel et bien à une “renaissance du charbon” : des centrales thermiques au charbon qui avaient cessé leurs activités ou étaient sur le point de le faire sont remises en service à plein régime afin d’équilibrer les réseaux électriques. 

L’Allemagne et l’Italie illustrent parfaitement ce retour en arrière : les projets d’élimination progressive du charbon sont abandonnés afin d’économiser le plus de gaz possible et accélérer le remplissage des réservoirs de stockage. Berlin a ainsi remis en exploitation 16 centrales qui avaient été mises en sommeil, tout en prolongeant la durée de vie de 11 autres déjà en fonctionnement. Rome se prépare quant à elle à augmenter la capacité de production de 6 centrales.  

En Autriche, le Ministère de l’action climatique et de l’énergie apporte un soutien financier aux industries et aux installations à forte consommation d’énergie pour qu’elles passent temporairement du gaz au pétrole, et une centrale thermique en Styrie a été réalimentée en charbon, alors le pays avait réussi à éliminer cette source d’énergie en 2020. 

Ce sont de terribles nouvelles pour les objectifs climatiques de l’Union européenne, car ces initiatives nationales prises pour équilibrer un paysage énergétique instable renvoient le continent dix ans en arrière, lorsque la réduction de 55 % des émissions d’ici à 2030 et la neutralité climatique d’ici à 2050 n’étaient même pas concevables. À l’approche de l’hiver, ce sont plus de 100 milliards de mètres cubes de gaz naturel russe qui manquent à l’appel et le Kremlin est bien décidé à tirer profit de cette situation alarmante en représailles aux sanctions européennes. Face à cette menace, la diversification de nos approvisionnements et la substitution des combustibles ne nous mèneront pas bien loin.

La seule solution viable dont dispose l’Europe pour se préparer à l’hiver est d’éviter de consommer de l’énergie en premier lieu. 

Les villes deviennent des piliers de la sécurité énergétique en Europe

La réduction de la consommation d’énergie peut offrir des alternatives concrètes à la récente réouverture en urgence des centrales au charbon décidée par les gouvernements nationaux. Depuis l’agression de l’Ukraine par la Russie, les villes européennes ont adopté une position ferme contre Poutine et son chantage à l’énergie, en se protégeant elles-mêmes contre la hausse vertigineuse des prix de l’énergie et en se rangeant aux côtés du peuple ukrainien. De nombreux·ses maires européen·nes ont ainsi choisi de ne pas financer la machine de guerre du Kremlin et refusé de se soumettre à une coûteuse dépendance aux combustibles fossiles russes en diminuant leur consommation d’énergie, tout en garantissant les services à leurs citoyen·nes et en préservant leurs ambitions climatiques.

Rappelant les mesures d’économie d’énergie prises en réaction à la crise pétrolière de 1973, les municipalités se sont serré la ceinture pour réduire leurs dépenses énergétiques, tout en maintenant des niveaux de confort compatibles avec le mode de vie de leurs habitant·es. Les collectivités locales ont déjà pu jouer un rôle proactif dans de nombreux domaines : 

• Le CHAUFFAGE représente une part énorme de la consommation de gaz en milieu urbain et abaisser le thermostat de quelques degrés pourrait permettre de réaliser des économies substantielles. La capitale néerlandaise Amsterdam a ainsi baissé la température de son réseau de chauffage urbain de 21°C à 18°C, diminuant ainsi de 15 % la consommation municipale de gaz naturel. 

• L’ÉCLAIRAGE DES VOIES PUBLIQUES est également un secteur qui peut participer à réduire considérablement la pression sur les réseaux électriques. La municipalité bulgare de Sredets, par exemple, a réduit la durée de l’éclairage public de 40 minutes la nuit, tout en diminuant l’intensité des ampoules.
• LA MOBILITÉ est fortement impactée par les marchés pétroliers, mais peu de réglementations urbaines peuvent alléger la pression des prix des carburants. La ville française de Lyon a limité la vitesse à 30 km/h sur 84 % de son réseau routier, permettant ainsi aux conducteur·rices de moins consommer de carburant tout en encourageant l’utilisation des transports publics pour se déplacer plus rapidement. 

Ce ne sont là que quelques exemples qui montrent que les collectivités locales sont les mieux placées pour réduire la demande d’énergie face à d’éventuelles pénuries hivernales. Solidement ancrées dans leurs territoires, les municipalités peuvent exploiter un énorme potentiel d’économies d’énergie dont les gouvernements nationaux ont désespérément besoin. Un potentiel qui ne demande qu’à être activé par les populations désireuses de réduire leur consommation d’énergie, mais dont la réalisation nécessite de mener des campagnes locales et d’entretenir un lien de confiance avec les autorités locales.

A quoi faut-il attendre cet hiver ?

L’Europe est à la croisée des chemins. Une moindre disponibilité de l’énergie oblige les gouvernements nationaux à faire des choix qui compromettent les ambitions climatiques et nos aspirations à un avenir durable. Le charbon est un monstre du passé auquel nous devons définitivement tourner le dos ; et si nous nous tournons actuellement vers le gaz et le pétrole pour alimenter nos économies, accroître l’utilisation des combustibles fossiles disponibles pour combler les lacunes de notre approvisionnement énergétique est un choix terrible pour notre planète. Éviter de consommer l’énergie est la seule option durable qui permette à l’Europe de tenir une position ferme face à l’agresseur russe, d’accroître notre indépendance énergétique et de maintenir nos ambitions climatiques. 

Les villes s’imposent de plus en plus comme les gardiennes de la sécurité énergétique en Europe, en prenant des engagements sans précédent dans un domaine qui était historiquement une prérogative exclusive des gouvernements nationaux. En réduisant leur consommation d’énergie, les collectivités locales contribuent à protéger les ambitions climatiques de l’UE et à empêcher une planification énergétique nationale irréfléchie. 

Le Cities’ Energy Saving Sprint est un outil puissant pour encourager les collectivités locales à prendre des mesures d’économie d’énergie. Lancée par la Convention des Maires – Europe, en collaboration avec la Commission européenne et le Comité européen des régions, cette campagne vise à sensibiliser les collectivités locales aux options dont elles disposent pour protéger les citoyen·nes contre la hausse des prix de l’énergie et les risques de coupure. 

Inscrivez votre ville au Sprint et contribuez à l’indépendance énergétique de l’Europe ! 

Energy communities find themselves at very different stages of development. Some are informal groups that have just started thinking about setting up an energy community, some are already established legal entities that only need a last bit of expert support to get their renewable energy project over the finish line.

Four technical assistance activities to match energy communities’ needs

With this in mind, the Energy Communities Repository has built up a technical assistance programme made of different forms of support to take into account the different needs of applicants.

Direct technical assistance

At least 25 energy communities will benefit from direct technical support from experts in the field.

Capacity building at national level

Workshops and webinars will be held in local language in the following countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Croatia (extension towards Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina), Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, targeting at least 80 communities.

Twinnings and peer-to-peer exchanges

On specific topics and issues faced by energy communities. Successful applicants will be matched with experienced energy communities and/or national experts based on the applicants’ needs and wherever possible, by language. The twinnings will be organised in 3 online sessions.

Capacity building at EU level

These activities will be complemented by EU-wide capacity-building webinars.

More information on the Technical Assistance offer

Visit the Energy Communities Repository website, discover how to apply and consult the FAQs, or watch the Technical Assistance Launch Webinar.

…and the Energy Communities Repository team, made of Energy Cities, REScoop.eu, FEDARENE, Florence School of Regulation, and Akarion, is there to help you! Send us an email at info [at] ec-repository.eu

#EUCitiesSaveEnergy #StandWithUkraine

Qu’est que le Cities Energy Saving Sprint?

Aujourd’hui, 19 mai, la Commission européenne, la Convention des Maires – Europe et le Comité des Régions lancent The Cities Energy Saving Sprint, une initiative conjointe qui encourage les villes à prendre des mesures pour réduire au plus vite la consommation locale d’énergie.

Le “Sprint” va durer 4 mois, jusqu’à la Semaine européenne de l’énergie durable (EUSEW) qui aura lieu du 26 au 30 septembre 2022, durant laquelle la Convention des Maires partagera les résultats préliminaires de la campagne.

D’ici là, les villes peuvent saisir l’opportunité offerte par les Sustainable Energy Days de l’Union européenne pour organiser des échanges avec leurs habitant⸱es, les équipes municipales et les parties-prenantes du territoire pour prendre des mesures urgentes d’économie d’énergie.

Que peuvent faire les villes dès maintenant ?

Dans le cadre de la campagne, le bureau de la Convention des Maires – Europe a conçu le Cities Energy Saving Toolkit, qui propose aux villes des mesures simples et rapides à prendre dans l’urgence de préparer le prochain hiver.

Les villes y trouveront également dans ce toolkit des exemples concrets : des témoignages de villes qui ont déjà pris toutes types de mesures, dans différents secteurs :

• Mobilité,
• Eclairage,
• Chauffage et refroidissement,
• Implication des citoyen⸱nes et autres parties prenants locales.

Vous pouvez agir dès maintenant pour sécuriser une énergie durable et abordable à tou⸱te⸱s. Rejoignez le Cities Energy Saving Sprint en vous inscrivant ici! La campagne est ouverte à toutes les collectivités locales de l’Union européenne et au-delà.

Utilisez le kit de communication du Cities Energy Saving Sprint pour promouvoir vos actions locales et prendre part à ce mouvement européen #EUCitiesSaveEnergy

Chaque gramme de gaz à effet de serre évité dans les mois à venir comptera, non seulement pour le climat, mais aussi comme acte de solidarité envers l’Ukraine. Nous avons un rôle essentiel à jouer, les villes ont un rôle essentiel à jouer. Rejoignez le Sprint!

Plus d’infos

Rendez-vous sur la page de la campagne ou envoyez un e-mail à energy-saving-sprint [ at ] eumayors.eu.

#EUCitiesSaveEnergy #StandWithUkraine

What is the Cities Energy Saving Sprint?

Today, 19th May, the European Commission, the Covenant of Mayors – Europe and the European Committee of the Regions are launching The Cities Energy Saving Sprint, a joint initiative that encourages cities to take measures that will immediately reduce their energy consumption.

The “Sprint” will last for 4 months, until the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) to be held from 26 to 30 September 2022, when the Covenant of Mayors Office will share preliminary results of the campaign.

In the meantime, cities can seize the opportunity of the EU Sustainable Energy Days to hold discussions with their residents, staff and local stakeholders to take emergency energy-saving measures.

What can cities do now?

As part of the campaign, the Covenant of Mayors – Europe Office has developped the Cities Energy Saving Toolkit, which gives cities simple and quick measures they can take in the emergency to prepare for the next winter.

To make those short-term initiatives practical, the toolkit includes City Reports: testimonies from cities that already took this kind of measures, sorted by sectors:

• transport
• lighting
• heating and cooling
• engaging citizens and local stakeholders.

You can act now to secure sustainable, affordable energy supplyt to all. Join the Cities Energy Saving Sprint by registering here! The campaign is open to all local governements across the EU and beyond.

Use the Cities Energy Saving Sprint’s communication kit to promote your local actions and be part of an EU-wide movement. #EUCitiesSaveEnergy

Every gram of GHG avoided in the coming months will be an important step, not only for the climate, but also as an act of solidarity with Ukraine. We have a crucial role to play, municipalities have a crucial role to play. Join the Sprint!

More information

Visit the Sprint page on the Covenant of Mayors – Europe website or send an email to energy-saving-sprint [ at ] eumayors.eu.

J’ai récemment découvert le manga « Radiant ». Il propose une description d’un monde… tellement proche du notre! Pour combattre “les méchants” (appellés « l’inquisition »), il faut se ressourcer dans la forêt (appellée « fantasia »). C’est la force de l’imaginaire et de la nature qui permet de contrer les forces « excavatrices » qui ont déjà transformé la planète en gruyère, il ne reste que des ilots de croûte terrestre…..

Nous vivons une période riche. Très intense, pas toujours positive, mais riche.  Il y a l’urgence de la guerre, du changement climatique, de la pauvreté. Mais il y a aussi un terreau fertile de solutions qui ne demandent qu’à être reproduites et généralisées.

Les enjeux se clarifient, les stratégies sont détaillées, les étapes sont définies. Manquent la gouvernance, les mécanismes institutionnels, les formations aux changements de comportements, aux nouvelles méthodes, aux nouvelles solutions techniques. Manquent les dates précises de chaque étape, et la cohérence d’ensemble de nos systèmes juridiques, fiscaux, budgétaires, de nos politiques d’emploi, de santé. Manque le temps de réfléchir pour mettre en musique toutes ces transformations.

La Commission européenne a annoncé ce mois-ci les 100 villes qui font partie de la mission climatiquement neutres en 2030. Ces villes ont pour mission de prouver que la neutralité climatique est possible en apprenant les unes des autres, de leurs trajectoires et de leurs difficultés, et de constituer une communauté pour avancer ensemble.

Echanger, inspirer, apprendre, c’est aussi le cœur des Assises européennes de la transition énergétique qui auront lieu à Genève, ou du festival « New European Bauhaus » qui se tiendra à Bruxelles au mois de juin. Ou encore du URBACT City Festival. Il faut saisir ces occasions de puiser dans ces sources vives d’inspiration, elles donnent l’énergie pour avancer ! Pour moi, c’est un carburant inépuisable et une énergie vitale nécessaire !

C’est aussi notre mission !  Et c’est pour accompagner au mieux cette nouvelle phase de l’action climat et énergie dans les villes et son intensification, que nous lançons nos Hubs. Ce sont de véritables espaces de discussion, d’inspiration, d’apprentissage, de débat autour des axes de transformations des territoires, pour capitaliser sur les échanges, et créer communauté. Pour faire le plein de carburant !

J’ai toujours été impressionnée par la vitalité des membres de notre réseau. Et je note un changement de ton. Aujourd’hui, ce que je vois, c’est la détermination de nos élu⸱es, des équipes municipales. Détermination et action, ce sont les mots qui me viennent après les échanges intenses de mes derniers voyages à Bruxelles, Valencia, Vienna, Metz…

Et c’est enthousiasmant !

PS : Pour nous retrouver aux assises, nous vous donnons rendez-vous le mardi 31 mai à 14h00, lors de l’atelier “Les entreprises locales de distribution d’électricité en Europe : outil de la transition pour les citoyens et les collectivités” (atelier 105)

Voir grand, commencer petit, apprendre vite : C’est probablement la meilleure façon de décrire l’approche du gouvernement local de Barcelone pour s’attaquer à l’immense problème croissant de la précarité énergétique. Poussée par l’objectif ambitieux de parvenir à 0% (oui, zéro!) de précarité énergétique d’ici 2030, la ville a mis en place un service citoyen dédié à ce phénomène. Comment répliquer rapidement ce que Barcelone à su mettre en place ces dernières années?

Chaque habitant de la ville peut obtenir un soutien et des conseils auprès du bureau, un guichet unique pour les personnes vulnérables. Comme l’explique Julia Linares du conseil municipal de Barcelone, ce point-info est à la fois un centre d’aide (sociale, juridique, économique), une opportunité d’emploi (beaucoup des conseillers ont été formés après un chômage longue durée) et le point de départ d’un travail dans les quartiers pour détecter et réduire la précarité.

Pour aider d’autres villes à se préparer à la mise en place de mécanismes de soutien similaires, la Convention européenne des maires vient de lancer son pilier sur la pauvreté énergétique. En complément à l’atténuation et l’adaptation, ce troisième pilier devrait aider les signataires à définir des objectifs et des mesures liés aux impacts sociaux négatifs de la hausse des prix de l’énergie, aux mauvaises conditions de logement ou même à la décarbonisation de nos modes de production et de consommation.

La Convention des Maires et l’Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) ont uni leurs forces et développé une méthodologie pour

1) diagnostiquer

2) planifier, et

3) mettre en oeuvre des actions contre la précarité énergétique. 

Energy Cities apporte un soutien très concret aux villes à travers deux de ses projets phares sociaux :

La précarité énergétique nous rend malade

La santé est une dimension souvent négligée quand on parle de précarité énergétique. WELLBASED, un projet de recherche (Horizon 2020), s’intéresse à la détresse physique et psychologique dont souffrent les personnes touchées. Les six villes pilotes Valence (Espagne), Heerlen (Pays-Bas), Leeds (Royaume-Uni), Edirne (Turquie), Obuda (Hongrie) et Jelgava (Lettonie) conçoivent et mettent actuellement en œuvre six programmes pilotes visant particulièrement à améliorer la santé, le bien-être et l’égalité des personnes touchées par la pauvreté énergétique. Sur la base de ces expériences, les pilotes et leurs partenaires universitaires et à but non lucratif proposeront aux décideurs politiques et aux praticiens des villes des solutions reproductibles à l’échelle européenne.

Des modèles commerciaux créés avec et pour des clients vulnérables

Les services énergétiques sont rarement conçus avec le consommateur et rarement pour les personnes qui ont du mal à payer leur facture. Les six projets pilotes du projet POWER UP serviront de “laboratoires vivants” car ils exploreront, avec les ménages touchés par la pauvreté énergétique, les modèles commerciaux qui peuvent être financièrement et socialement viables. Les professionnels les plus en contacts avec les personnes en situation précaire, notamment le personnel du care ou dans le département social de la ville, serviront d’intermédiaire pour ces activités de co-conception.

Le 6 avril, le 3^ème groupe d’experts du GIEC a publié son dernier rapport, consacré à la lutte contre le changement climatique. Leurs conclusions ne sont pas surprenantes et comme l’a dit le secrétaire général des Nations unies, António Guterres : « [Ce rapport] est une litanie de promesses non tenues ». Nous ne sommes pas sur la bonne voie pour limiter le réchauffement climatique à 1,5°C d’ici à 2050. Même si l’augmentation des émissions de gaz à effet de serre (GES) entre 2010 et 2019 n’a pas été aussi importante qu’entre 2000 et 2010, nous avons atteint un pic sans précédent en 2019. Nos émissions doivent atteindre un plafond avant 2025 et être réduites de 43 % d’ici 2030 si nous voulons atteindre des émissions nettes de CO2 nulles d’ici 2050 et limiter le réchauffement climatique à 1,5 °C. 

Beaucoup reste à faire, mais les solutions sont à notre portée ! Nous avons été heureux de constater que le GIEC a mis en avant certaines des recommandations qu’Energy Cities promeut depuis un certain temps déjà : 

Des responsables politiques plus ambitieux 

Les politiques et les lois sur le climat se sont multipliées ces dernières années, mais cela ne suffit pas. Nous avons la science, nous avons les technologies, mais les responsables politiques détiennent la clé d’une atténuation efficace du changement climatique.   

Cliquez ici pour voir notre proposition d’imposer une planification locale dans la directive révisée sur les énergies renouvelables 

Un arrêt immédiat des investissements dans les énergies fossiles 

Les investissements publics et privés restent plus importants pour les énergies fossiles que pour l’adaptation et la lutte contre le changement climatique. Il n’y a pas d’autre choix que de se désengager des énergies fossiles pour réorienter les fonds vers des mesures climatiques et la production d’énergies renouvelables. 

Cliquez ici pour accéder à la lettre de la Community Power Coalition demandant à la Commission de supprimer le gaz et le nucléaire de sa taxonomie des activités durables 

Des petites installations aux grands potentiels 

Les petites unités de production d’énergie à faible émission de GES sont très prometteuses. Le GIEC s’accorde à dire qu’elles sont moins onéreuses et ont un potentiel de perfectionnement plus élevé que leurs homologues à grand échelle, ce qui en fait un excellent outil de lutte contre le changement climatique. Nous pensons que le succès des communautés d’énergie renouvelable au cours des dernières années le prouve – ce modèle fonctionne et devrait être reproduit et étendu dans le monde entier. 

Cliquez ici pour accéder à notre guide étape par étape pour créer des communautés énergétiques 

Qui sont les véritables radicaux ? 

Le Secrétaire général de l’ONU a, une fois de plus, mis le doigt sur le problème lorsqu’il a déclaré que « Les militants du climat sont parfois décrits comme de dangereux radicaux. Mais les radicaux vraiment dangereux sont les pays qui augmentent la production de combustibles fossiles. Investir dans de nouvelles infrastructures d’exploitation des énergies fossiles est une folie morale et économique. » 

Vous voulez en savoir plus ? 

Le rapport complet est disponible ici . Un résumé pour les législateurs et une synthèse technique du rapport sont également disponibles ! 

La guerre en Ukraine fait rage et nous avons plusieurs villes membres dans ce pays. Ces derniers jours, nous avons pris des nouvelles de nos partenaires. Passé le choc, c’est la colère et la détermination que nous entendons dans leurs témoignages. Le Conseil d’Administration d’Energy Cities a, dès jeudi dernier, envoyé un message de soutien à ses pairs.

Nombre de nos villes membres nous ont demandé comment aider.

[cette section est régulièrement mise à jour afin d’inclure d’autres façons dont les villes peuvent aider].

Les besoins les plus pressants qui nous ont été exprimés sont des équipements de protection (casques, gilets) qu’il est déjà difficile de se procurer en nombre. Nous avons demandé à nos partenaires quelles associations fiables il est possible de soutenir. En voici une liste non exhaustive :[cette section est régulièrement mise à jour afin d’inclure d’autres façons dont les villes peuvent aider].Les besoins les plus pressants qui nous ont été exprimés sont des équipements de protection (casques, gilets) qu’il est déjà difficile de se procurer en nombre. Nous avons demandé à nos partenaires quelles associations fiables il est possible de soutenir. En voici une liste non exhaustive :

• La Croix Rouge : https://www.icrc.org/en/donate/ukraine
• MitOst : https://www.mitost.org/ : association européenne qui se concentre sur les échanges culturels et la citoyenneté active dans cette zone géographique. L’association organise déjà des actions pour l’accueil des réfugié·es.
• La Banque Nationale de l’Ukraine a ouvert un compte dédié au soutien des forces armées du pays : https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi

Nous savons aussi que plusieurs des villes membres du réseau participent déjà à cet élan de solidarité et organisent des collectes, notamment de médicaments et matériel de protection.

Le Centre d’Information et de Soutien pour les régions et les villes du Comité Européen des Régions offre des informations sur les droits et les fonds, ainsi que sur les possibilités de soutien et de défense des intérêts. Ils ont lancé une initiative visant à faire correspondre les besoins aux offres de soutien des autorités locales et régionales. En particulier, grâce à cette enquête, les villes de l’UE peuvent dire ce qu’elles peuvent faire pour aider, notamment accueillir les réfugiés.

Nous porterons la voix des villes ukrainiennes et des villes limitrophes qui accueillent les réfugié·es.

Nous mettons en contact les villes avec des journalistes. Des interviews sont déjà prévues. Nous mettons tout en œuvre pour porter leurs voix à travers les moyens de notre réseau !

Voici un message de notre ville membre Mariupol, qui subit actuellement une catastrophe humanitaire [traduction par Energy Cities].

« La ville de Mariupol a besoin d’aide de toute urgence.

En résultat de l’agression militaire de la Russie le 24 février à 5 heures du matin, les villes, villages et petites communautés ukrainiennes sont sous le feu constant de l’artillerie et des frappes aériennes des troupes militaires russes.

Mariupol, une ville ukrainienne paisible de 550 000 habitant(e)s, déjà victime de bombardements par l’armée russe en 2015 qui ont tué 30 civils, endure à nouveau 7 ans après les pilonnages et bombardements des mêmes troupes du même pays. Des dizaines de civils ont été tués, dont des enfants. Des milliers d’habitant(e)s de la ville et de ses environs ont été évacué(e)s.

Nous avons besoin de votre aide.

La municipalité de Mariupol a ouvert des comptes dédiés à la collecte de dons pour les besoins humanitaires urgents des victimes de cette agression russe.

Les informations sur la collecte et l’utilisation des fonds seront fournies sur la chaîne Telegram officielle de la ville : https://t.me/mariupolrada.

Le Maire de la Ville va personnellement contrôler l’utilisation des dons. »

La réponse de l’Union européenne est sans appel

Pour la première fois, l’UE va fournir des armes à un pays en guerre et a d’ores et déjà activé de nombreuses sanctions économiques.

Nous sommes déterminé·es à continuer de faire vivre la démocratie et la coopération décentralisée, grâce aux membres de notre réseau. Nous sommes solidaires de l’Ukraine. Nous croyons en l’Europe plus que jamais.

Claire, et toute l’équipe d’Energy Cities.

Cities are on the front line of the fight against climate change and they are the ones that will implement the systemic changes and measures to deliver a fair transition. However, the issue of resources is crucial to the success of their action.

The European landscape of project funding opportunities is currently undergoing significant change, mainly because of the post-COVID recovery programme and new European priorities. Energy Cities published a new briefing to guide cities through this landscape of financial support and opportunities at the EU level.

The EU has many different funding sources and initiatives available to cities. They have their own focus, operational guidelines and requirement. Our briefing presents the following programmes to help cities access the help they need in building a decarbonised, decentralised and democratised future:

Traditional research programmes

• Horizon Europe & the mission the climate-neutral and smart cities
• Circular Cities and Regions Initiative
• LIFE programme

The traditional regional cohesion and development programmes

• Cohesion Policy (REACT-EU Package)
• EU Urban initiative (URBACT, JPI Urban Europe, UIA)
• INTERREG programme
• Just transition mechanism

The initiatives to raise your profile but with no financial support

• Green City Accord

We are also monitoring the following initiatives – keep an eye on them, new funding opportunities might come in the future!

• Affordable Housing Initiative
• New European Bauhaus initiative

In the briefing, we also analysed how local authorities can benefit from the recovery package, presenting the Italian and Greek examples, and which opportunities are or will be available for green local investments.

Stay tuned, Energy Cities will provide more content on the national recovery plans in the coming months!

Download the briefing

More than 80% of Croatians are yet to embrace renewable energy and a staggering  90% are unfamiliar with the process of obtaining permits for electricity self-production. The Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ) wantsto bridge this knowledge gap: last November, the ZEZ team went on a mission to inform residents in Zagreb about the possibilities of citizen-led solar energy. They hosted a series of free lectures titled: “How to get your own solar PV plant” during a tour through 10 neighborhoods of the Croatian capital. Svibor Jančić, ZEZ’s community development expert, was one of them. During the tour he passionately shared insights and valuable information, encouraging citizens to invest in solar and usher in a new era of sustainable energy. We met him for a talk about citizen solar energy in his country.

Svibor, you visited 10 neighborhoods in Zagreb in just one month. Can you share the motivation behind this extensive outreach?

Absolutely. ZEZ has been on a mission to educate citizens across Croatia about installing solar PV plants for years. The goal is to make as many citizens as possible to become aware of the cost-effectiveness and value of solar investments. This tour aimed not only to inform citizens but also to underscore the pivotal role that solar plays in the broader energy transition towards an energy-independent society. 

Could you elaborate on the collaboration with the City of Zagreb and the significance of the LIFE LOOP (Local ownership of power) project?

Our partnership with the City of Zagreb, supported  by the European funded project LIFE LOOP, reflects our commitment to engage citizens in their local environment. By organizing lectures on the premises of local boards – essentially  local self-governance entities – we aimed to bring the discussion closer to citizens and local government representatives. In this context, “LIFE LOOP” encapsulates our strategy to foster local ownership and participation in the energy transition.  

What benefits does solar energy bring to the citizens and Zagreb as a whole?

Until recently, Croatia significantly lagged behind in the adoption of solar energy in comparison to its neighboring countries. Numerous reasons can be given, from procedural and administrative burdens, to prices.  However, thanks to legislative changes coming into force at the beginning of 2024.  solar is becoming recognized as a good investment opportunity.

 The new regulatory framework ensures greater security and savings for citizens investing in small solar PV plants, with potential savings now reaching  up to 100%. Beyond financial gains, citizens are recognising the broader benefits,  from using  solar energy for heat pumps to powering electric vehicles, 

The installation of small solar PV plants not only benefits individual households but also benefits the broader society.  Following the example of other countries in Europe, solar energy can be the foundation for creating energy communities, reducing carbon emissions and creating added value for the entire local community.

How are your lectures designed?

The lectures cover three basic thematic areas that help citizens make an informed decision on investing in a small solar PV plant: T the technical conditions for installation, the components of a solar PV plant, and the administrative procedures involved.

What further distinguishes our lectures is the introduction of  citizens to the concept of energy communities,  encouraging them not only to invest in their own solar PV plant but also in community solar PV plants in cooperation with fellow citizens.

What did the presidents of Local Boards say about the lectures in their neighborhoods?

Local board presidents, such as Ivana Molan (Šestinski dol – Vrhovec), Marko Vranić (Lučko), Robert Šafranko (Podsused), and Goran Jukić (Holy Spirit), expressed strong support for our efforts. They recognize the value these lectures bring to citizens, with attendees often sharing their positive experiences. There is a shared belief that energy communities can be a transformative solution, although ongoing education and emphasizing the savings potential are crucial to overcoming initial scepticism.

What interests and concerns do citizens express regarding solar energy adoption?

Citizens are most interested in costs, expected savings, and opportunities to generate additional income through solar energy. They are mainly interested in setting up solar PV plants on facilities near the  coast where they expect faster profitability of the investment, as well as energy sharing initiatives in the continental part of Croatia. Concerns primarily revolve around the administration aspects, with  the entire process taking 6 to 9 months. Patience becomes a key factor in navigating the solar energy journey.

What about other Croatian cities? Is the solar revolution extending beyond Zagreb?

Absolutely. In addition to our extensive outreach in 10 Zagreb neighborhoods, we conducted lectures in 23 cities across major regions of Croatia. We delivered a total of 36 lectures for citizens and 13 educational sessions for employees of city administrations. Our focus extends beyond merely delivering lectures; we actively encourage cities to take a leading role in the local energy transition. We encourage them to co-finance small solar PV plants for their citizens. Our ambitious goal is for every city to establish at least one energy community,actively supported and developed  in cooperation with its citizens. While challenging,  we believe this path leads us toward a more sustainable, democratic and solar-powered future for Croatia.

Thank you for this conversation.

Since it launched its energy community LICHT Leuven, the Belgian city Leuven has become quite an expert on city-citizen collaboration. Read this interview with Jasmien Jossart and Eline Evers, Energy coaches and consultants at the City of Leuven and with Christina Vogt, who is in charge of Communication & community management at Ecopower. They know quite a lot about how to bring the municipality and the energy cooperative together around joint renewables or energy efficiency projects. When talking to the SCCALE 20-30-50 team, the two experts also reflect on where the cooperative stands with its 5 goals from rooftop PV, over community aquathermal district heating to an energy sobriety ambassador program.

👁️‍🗨️ Read full interview

In this, the closing week of the COP 28, let’s take a quick look at what’s been happening, not only in Dubai, but over the year as a whole.

First of all, the multi-lateral, multi-level, multi-stakeholder dialogue at global level is alive and well. The COPs provide a unique meeting place for semantic battles.  While the accords might not meet the stakes, these conferences are still the only place where all the countries and all the parties get together and attempt to find common ground. With this in mind, it is crucial that the fossil fuel producers have a place at the table. If we want to make headway, we need to talk in concrete terms with the players directly concerned.

The famous ‘wording’ wrested in a final sprint of negotiations is not only a huge theatrical display so that everyone can explain the renunciation of their initial position, it also often serves as a revelation of the ‘vital’ points of tension. And while the European media focus on the phase-out of fossil fuels, the final agreement actually talks about the “reduction in production and CONSUMPTION”. Because of course, who are the major producers of gas, coal and oil producing for? Essentially for us.

From a European point of view, 2023 has been the year of the Green Deal touchdown. The President of the European Commission has no reason to be ashamed of her track record. The negotiations were tough, but the result is a clear increase in ambition. The last brick of the ‘Fit for 55’ package, namely the revision of the energy efficiency directive for buildings, is set to be adopted by the European Council before the end of December. All the sectoral energy and climate guidelines now set out a new target with a number of new obligations for local authorities. We will come back to this with a detailed analysis in 2024.

Nevertheless, there is not just a brick, but a pillar missing. As we have been reminded by the fossil empires, what about policies for the reduction of our needs? Not only those of energy efficiency, but those of sifficiency? This will be one of our political priorities for 2024.

The European budget battle has already begun. Member States are siding with one of two camps, either the frugal or the others… with no more money pouring in to support the European economy in the face of the energy price shock. Yet the ‘frugals’ are not thinking about the reduction of needs, only the reduction of spending. And that’s not quite the same debate: how can we lead the ‘budget frugals’ onto the path of sufficiency?

Surely, investing in future non-spending is more judicious than preventing Member States and local authorities from building their own autonomy and ability to withstand future crises and disasters. And to do this, in 2024 our campaign will be focusing mainly on the human resources that are absolutely necessary for municipalities to organise, plan and implement their local climate strategy.

I look forward to seeing you then, on 15 March in Brussels, for the Mayors’ summit for the Green Deal of the European Union’s Belgian Presidency, and on 26 to 27 June in Valencia, Green Capital 2024, for our Annual Forum.

Two key moments for debate, exchange and reconnecting to move forward with our agenda!

Until next year!

In June 2023, Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment issued a set of guidelines for Energy Performance Contracting (EPC). The new EPC guidelines offer a structured approach to improving energy efficiency, particularly in public sector projects. This move is a part of Poland’s strategic energy policy, aiming for a more sustainable and efficient energy use across the country, and reinforcing the nation’s commitment to energy efficiency and climate goals.

Central to these guidelines is the role of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), providers of services related to energy consumption. The innovative ESCO financing model allows modernisation projects to be undertaken without the need to engage own financial resources. The investment costs, in part or in full, can be repaid from the achieved and guaranteed (under the EPC contract) energy savings, through the visible difference in energy bills.

The Polish guidelines for EPC contracts are assigned to public sector entities, encompassing a range of energy efficiency projects. They represent a practical and comprehensive tool consisting of:

• a comprehensive guide to carrying out EPC projects at all stages of their implementation;
• ready-to-sign templates of EPC contracts for three types of projects related to improving energy efficiency:
  • thermal modernisation projects;
  • modernisation of street lighting;
  • energy management in the ESCO/EPC model;
• contractual clauses for hybrid projects and projects worth over PLN 25 million net.

These guidelines not only support the national goal of a sustainable energy future but also set a precedent for effective public-private partnerships in the energy sector.

The new templates and guidelines related to the modernisation of public lighting will be taken into account during the preparation of the Smart EPC pilot projects in Krakow and Warsaw. The guidelines will cover the entire project lifecycle, from its preparation through the selection of the contractor to the contract closure. This serves as an example of a ready-to-use solution, especially for smaller entities that do not have sufficient internal resources for adequate investment preparation.

The guidelines do not explicitly cover the possibility of incorporating, beyond the lighting fixture exchange-related investment, additional services such as smart technologies. In this regard, the solutions tested within the Smart EPC project will constitute an important complement to these developments.

Read more on the website of the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment here.

On 23 September 2023, the city of Karlovac signed an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) for the complete refurbishment of its public lighting, consisting of 9,083 luminaires, and the displacement of 152 public lighting cabinets located inside the DSO transformer stations.

The city has many different luminaire types such as road lighting luminaires, urban park luminaires, architectural floodlighting, public sport field lighting, and underpasses lighting. Within the Smart EPC contract the emphasis is placed on the preservation of the city’s visual identity.

Besides visual requirements, the contract also includes strict light pollution requirements such as max CCT, G-index, ULOR and maximum illuminances. After the refurbishment, the city lighting will be fully harmonised with the Croatian national law against light pollution.

The city also defined strict lighting quality requirements that are in accordance with the EN 13201 European standards and the national legislation.

When preparing for the EPC tendering, Karlovac carried out a detailed energy audit of the public lighting and defined lighting profiles (geometrical parameters) for every lighted area of the city. Special attention was put on the lighting of the conflict zones (Figure 3).

The costs of the data transfer (luminaires-software and vice versa) are included in the contracted fee.

The contract also accommodates the development of a management and monitoring software for public lighting which will have these features:

• Display of the public lighting elements static data (e.g. luminaire type and model, date of the installation, road classification);
• Processing and display of dynamic data obtained from luminaires (power, alarms, voltage);
• Archiving of collected data;
• Display and visualisation of public lighting system;
• Sending data to the luminaires;
• Alarming by logical conditions;
• Reporting on the key public lighting performance or other indicators;
• Controlling, supervision, and reporting for the Energy Performance Contract management.

The contracted private partner has two months to finish designing the public lighting refurbishment and to develop the conceptual design for the management and control centre.  

The refurbishment phase, when all luminaires need to be replaced and all other works to be finalised, lasts 12 months from the moment of contract signing. After the completion of refurbishment, the usage phase starts, lasting for 10 years.

The project in figures:

In a bid to propel the energy transition in the EU, the second Master Class module of the EU ManagEnergy Initiative aimed to unveil alternative procurement models and financial instruments suitable for delivering energy efficiency projects.

The module, held on September 27, October 10-11, and October 27, hosted 24 professionals from local and regional energy agencies. The overarching goal was to inspire energy agencies to collaborate with the private sector in developing and delivering investment projects by using innovative financing instruments crucial for supporting climate and energy projects.

Conducted by the North-West Croatia Energy and Climate Agency – REGEA, the training showcased the agency’s extensive experience in utilising these tools. REGEA, acting as a facilitator, has been instrumental in establishing partnerships between public authorities and the private sector. This collaboration has successfully leveraged private finance to accelerate the energy transition in Croatia.

The focal point of the second Master Class sessions revolved around three main instruments:

• Energy Performance Contracting (EPC – SMART EPC),
• Public Private Partnerships (PPP), and
• Power Purchase Agreements (PPA).

Trainers from REGEA presented the Smart EPC handbook, offering insights into the SMART EPC concept, as well as insights on SMART EPC Contracts and Tender documentation – notably through an Excel tool named “Value of Investment”. This exercise allowed them to simulate and calculate the values of investments and the SMART EPC fee for potential SMART EPC projects.

The initiative has not only provided a platform for knowledge exchange but has equipped energy professionals with the tools and insights needed to navigate the complexities of developing and financing SMART EPC projects. As the participants return to their respective roles armed with newfound knowledge, the hope is that this initiative will catalyse a wave of collaborative projects with the private sector, further developing new SMART EPC projects and utilising the developed SMART EPC tools.

The ManagEnergy initiative announced its 3^rd Master Class which will be held on January 31, February 14-15, and February 28, 2024. This Master Class will be held on the topic of “One-Stop-Shops”.

The Smart EPC consortium was looking for a unique demonstration site for practices related to smart Energy Performance Contracting and public lighting. What better place to choose than DOLL – Europe’s leading Living Lab for smart and sustainable urban innovation – situated on the outskirts of Copenhagen, Denmark?

The DOLL Living Lab is a Europe’s leading Living Lab for smart and sustainable urban innovation. It is located on the outskirts of Copenhagen, a city well-regarded for its Smart City readiness. This lab serves as a dynamic nucleus for innovation, spans a vast 1.5 km² industrial area, and engages over 10,000 daily users. Their primary focus areas include the latest Smart City technologies, intelligent traffic systems, and outdoor lighting solutions. It acts as a unique platform, gathering public and private actors on a neutral ground, allowing them to test, showcase, and draw inspiration from cutting-edge technology.The lab is home to more than 75 real-life use-cases, each demonstrating the potential of Smart City solutions across various fields.

The DOLL team welcomed us with an introduction to their work and innovations, focusing on Smart EPC related themes such as lighting in a Smart City and IoT context, as well as on standards and interoperability.

Before visiting the sites, some of the leading equipment manufacturers and companies in innovation in this field presented us with their work:

• Lighting, machine learning and AI presented by Tridonic;
• Interoperable lighting controls presented by ObiWAN Conobi;
• Dynamic lighting controls presented by Seneco

By taking a tour around the DOLL premises we followed a range of good practices related to the Smart EPC project. We stopped to discuss a variety of SmartLampPost integrations, including small cell 5G and EV-charging; the lighting of the C99 Cycle Superhighway,equiped with motion detectors; and the Airglow wireless outdoor lighting control device.

Felicity’s HIVE+ Traffic Sensor node were installed on the C99 Cycle Superhighway that forms part the 800 km bicycle path network in and around Copenhagen. This smart node includes a visual AI edge sensor that enables continuous and cost-efficient anonymous object detection and collection of multimode traffic data for the cities.

Airglow’s devices combine advanced wireless outdoor lighting control with unique scalability and future IoT possibilities. In the visited use case,LumenRadio’s AirGlow, a wireless outdoor lighting control device, manages Fagerhult Opalume lighting fixtures with RGB opal uplight. The lighting control nodes make it possible to control both the light towards the road and the color of the light in the opal lampshade itself. One AirGlow device can control a great number of lighting points over a long distance; this solution can be utilised in a number of urban environments and the control of the RGB uplight would work especially well for city centers, in relation to sport events, and more.

The innovations and technologies developed or showcased at DOLL are influencing smart lighting and Smart City projects in various European locations. This was an inspiring visit. We learned how municipalities, businesses, and knowledge institutions can work together to shape the mobility of tomorrow. Moreover, we were assured that the Smart EPC project development is in line with the latest innovations and modern technologies.

From sectoral sufficiency to generalized sufficiency

Across Europe, the energy crisis has made sufficiencythe order of the day. In Grenoble, a French city that has embodied citizen ecology since 2014, the crisis has been an opportunity to move from sectoral sufficiency to generalized sufficiency. According to Grenoble’s Finance and Ecological Accounting and Energy Transition Deputy Mayor Vincent Fristot:

“The [energy] crisis has triggered generalized sufficiency”.  

We talked with Mr. Fristot to find out more about the measures that Grenoble is implementing and get inspired.

Until now, sufficiency measures have mainly concerned energy, and street lighting in particular. The various measures implemented by the municipality (lower indoor temperatures, on-demand air-conditioning, etc.) have resulted in savings of 1 million euros. Vincent Fristot points out that the implementation of these measures required very little investment. 

But economic constraints were not the only motivation. In fact, the energy crisis has proved to be a real opportunity to deploy new structural sufficiency policies. The obvious scarcity of certain resources (water, energy, etc.) has encouraged the acceptance and commitment of all stakeholders, including citizens.

Governing sufficiency

Putting sufficiency on the agenda has changed the way Grenoble works internally. Cross-functionality has become the watchword. The city has created new cross-functional positions to implement and evaluate sufficiency policies, encourage innovation in this field, and support associations. Municipal employees have also been heavily involved. A commission “Coordination, Anticipation and Response to the Energy Crisis” (CARE) has been set up with the Director General of Services and the deputies in charge of human resources and finance. The monitoring and evaluation of sufficiency policies is therefore carried out at the highest level of the commune.  

 “Grenoble 2040″, an initiative for an “ecological redirection”

The city of Grenoble wanted to learn from past emergencies (COVID-19, energy crisis…) to anticipate future threats and strengthen its resilience. Since 2021 the city has been engaged in a process called “Grenoble 2040” to define what a desirable and sufficient city of tomorrow might look like. This collaborative approach is leading the city to discuss with citizens the changes to be made in public services. It is based in particular on the Doughnut model, theorized by Kate Raworth, which leads to the definition of a safe and just space for humanity, respecting an environmental ceiling, planetary boundaries, and a social floor. To redefine the trajectories to be taken, the city has set up “ecological redirection workshops” in collaboration with randomly selected citizens. The result of these workshops is a roadmap that defines for each area (transport, green spaces, consumption…) what to abandon, what to keep and what to modify or start. Today, this roadmap serves as a guideline for Grenoble’s ecological reorientation.

“We need to develop resilient public services with scarce resources, which means making choices and perhaps giving up on certain things. Giving up means redefining priority missions together, sometimes with other ways of doing things.” – Vincent Fristot

Inventing sufficient public services

In concrete terms, what does ecological redirection mean for the city of Grenoble? 

This ecological redirection has led Grenoble to modify its trade-offs. The municipality has decided to merge two neighbouring projects: a new school and a community center. The city has built the school while providing rooms and spaces dedicated to the activities of the community center. This is an example of the city’s careful use of land. Today, the commission responsible for allocating premises to associations must always seek to maximize use.

A second example, that of swimming pools, illustrates how ecological redirection also rhymes with planning and anticipating the scarcity of resources. Indeed, the city is considering the future of its municipal swimming pools, infrastructures that consume a lot of water and energy but play a crucial role in enabling every citizen to learn to swim. Following the roadmap drawn up by the redirection workshops, Grenoble is now looking for solutions to facilitate access to a bathing area with a project for a lake or on the region’s rivers.

Grenoble’s example shows how a city can put sufficiency at the top of its political agenda. Far from advocating a step backwards, the ecological redirection towards a sufficient city implies working closely with all stakeholders, from municipal officials to citizens, and redefining priorities.   

 You would like to better understand sufficiency, what distinguishes it from efficiency and discover the Doughnut model? Read our glossary!

Want to find out more about what European cities are doing in terms of sufficiency, and how the European Union can support them? Read our latest paper “Sufficiency: the missing pillar for a resource-wise Europe“.

This article was made possible thanks to the financial support of ADEME.

“From the Viennese perspective, achieving the energy revolution is crucial for achieving climate neutrality. But this is incredibly hard to do. It’s a very long process, which requires a lot of patience. Just think about the massive effort that is needed to exchange hundreds of 1000s of gas boilers for climate friendly alternatives, or what it takes to carry out thermal rehabilitation for all our buildings. This operation is clearly a massive intervention that will affect everyone’s lives, in the most personal space of all in our homes,” said Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel at the City of Vienna. “We want to increase their (citizens) life quality by ending the dependency on foreign resources. Phasing out fossil gas and oil is a political goal.”

Councillor Czernohorszky was speaking at the Decarb City Pipes Conference in October about lessons from installing district heating and cooling systems in seven European cities. One of the big lessons was the lack of time. Self-serving games played by gas DSOs to promote unrealistic solutions such as widespread biomethane or hydrogen cost us all a tremendous amount of time. District heating and cooling systems take years or study to design and even more to implement – the longer we wait for their mass rollout the less time we have to hit our climate targets.

“It will bring opponents to the scene, we will inevitably face resistance. The gas lobby is powerful and will try to convince us to tone it down by using framing concepts. One of these framing concepts comes with a slogan ‘green gas everywhere for everything’. But it’s easy to see through. Vienna has made it clear that it wants real change. Thus, phasing out gas means phasing out all gases in the building sector. This includes green gas, which is far too valuable to use it for heating apartments,” he continued.

The UK has just cancelled the second of its proposed hydrogen heating trials after public protest at heavy-handed gas companies who wanted to impose hydrogen heating on a village in a desperate attempt to prolong the life of their assets. It is a credit to the citizens in Redcar, UK and hydrogen experts such as Abigail Dombey and Michael Liebreich, who freely gave their time to counter the narrative that hydrogen is a good heating option for anyone other than boiler salespeople and gas network owners. 

“Real changes in the system require acts of bravery, acts of political bravery, and they require going on a mission. This is our mission. Everything that positively moves a society forward is preceded by the decision to go on a mission,” said Czernohorszky. “We have no other choice but immediately start phasing out of fossil gas and oil.” 

The recent European Performance of Buildings Directive lacked that political bravery. The standalone fossil fuel boiler by 2040 has too many loopholes to be truly effective as it leaves the door open for ‘green’ gases and hybrid heating systems. But all is not lost. Member States can still choose to move forward with a complete ban on fossil fuel boilers and of course the funding to install clean, efficient district heating and cooling networks in our cities.

“Vienna has its own municipal utility for district heating, gas and electricity. This allows us to control thermal planning of the city. Many other cities, however, are not so fortunate. This is why clear parameters made by the European Union are so important.”

One of those parameters will be deep consultation with citizens – to engage them in the process of transforming their cities. This is a costly endeavour in terms of time, people and resources but it is the only way to ensure that people understand why we are changing our cities and who should be the beneficiaries of those changes.

“But you must never forget to lay our focus on the people who are affected by this system change. We must at all costs involve, inform and support every citizen throughout the whole process. We need to make sure that the people can grasp the necessity of our mission, and more importantly support it. And they must not carry the full financial weight of this project,” he concluded.

December, time to take stock: Over the past year, the LIFE LOOP journey has been marked by several in-person and online workshops, wherepartners shared knowledge about the benefits and practicalities of community energy. These sessions covered technical and financial aspects, as well as strategies for fostering community engagement around a number of topics:

• renewable energy production, 
• collective self-consumption, 
• energy sharing,
•  energy efficiency, and 
• shared e-mobility.

Participants from local authorities and community organisations learned how to raise awareness about the advantages of energy communities and explored gender-inclusive community mobilisation. They also received guidance on navigating the complexities of financing, including the challenging realm of public procurement.

In addition to those workshops, we diligently worked on developing comprehensive roadmaps for community energy in Crete, Bistrita, and Zagreb. Their design started from stakeholder mapping, analysing positions and incentives, skills assessment, and defining avenues for involvement. We are now in the final stages of crafting action plans aligned with the unique visions of each community.

If you’re about to develop your action plan, you may want to proceed like participants did at the recent workshop: discussions spanned diverse topics such as 

• technology, 
• citizen involvement, 
• financial matters, 
• organisational arrangements (including internal organisation and working groups, and the ways of involvement of municipalities in the energy community), 
• networking, and 
• policy matters.

Step-by-step progress involving a great variety of people

Co-designing workshops for energy community roadmap design were organised in Romania, Crete and Greece. Even though the approach was similar, we had very diverse discussions and interactions, facing slightly different challenges. 

In Romania: Life LOOP workshops hosted a total of 95 participants. 

• An online introduction with civil servants from the municipality of Bistrita
• A second workshop with people from the City and the local community of Bistrita focusing on alternative scenarios for community energy
• The final workshop brought together about 35 people to discuss and co-develop the city’s community energy roadmap.

One of the main challenges discussed was the lack of engagement of the local citizens. Several ideas were discussed for activating the local community with regard to the energetic upgrade of their flats and beyond.

Workshop in Bistrita ©LIFE LOOP

In Greece: The workshops engaged a total of 96 participants, fostering a collaborative environment for civil servants, members, and potential new members of the Minoan Energy Community. The first two sessions introduced the topic of community energy (including, technical, social and financial issues). It was followed by a final workshop for roadmap development.

Workshop in Crete ©LIFE LOOP

In Croatia: Over 200 people were mobilized through LIFE LOOP workshops facilitated by the energy cooperative ZEZ, with a focus on public procurement and citizen-owned solar energy. 

• first workshops: city representatives could learn how they can develop solar energy projects and provide support to citizens to invest in solar energy
• last workshop: a first draft of the city roadmap was presented to and discussed with the members of the Zagreb Community Energy Working Group.

Workshop in Zagreb ©LIFE LOOP

Outlook

Currently, all three pilot cities are in the final stages of refining their roadmaps. In the new year, we will share exciting updates on the cities’ roadmaps, concrete action plans, and invaluable lessons learned along the way. And for those who wish to follow their steps: The upcoming LIFE LOOP accreditation scheme for local authorities will actually include training on community energy roadmaps!