On October 1, 2024, in Bucharest, the conference "Integration of the local perspective in the national strategies regarding Energy and Climate" was held. The event, organized by the OER Association, brought together representatives of local and national authorities, international experts and leaders in the energy sector. They looked at various solutions for the transition to climate-neutral and energy-independent communities.
During the conference, representatives of the municipalities involved in the Ready4NetZero and MENERGERS projects , both developed through the EUKI program, participated . The cities participating in each project have collaborated since the beginning, getting involved in various joint activities and benefiting from the results obtained within them.
Among the participants were representatives of local authorities from Romania and Bulgaria, members of the Ready4NetZero pilot project and the MENERGERS project. Prominent representatives were present from the National Trust Ecofund (NTEF) Bulgaria, Sofia Energy Agency (SOFENA) Bulgaria, Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU) Germany, and from the Romanian Ministry of Energy Sorin Elisei, Cristian Ilie and Matei Dimitriu.
The aim of the conference was to present the results of the MENERGERS project and promote its replication at the national and international level. By creating a dialogue platform, the event facilitated the exchange of ideas and expertise between participants, strengthening collaboration between local communities and national authorities.
The event provided the opportunity to discuss the impact of the MENERGERS project in Romania, Bulgaria and Germany, as well as the progress of the cities involved. A central point of the conference was the presentation of the National Integrated Plan in the field of Energy and Climate Change (PNIESC), supported by Sorin Elisei, Director General within the Ministry of Energy. At the same time, the Guide to Energy Performance Indicators for Local Authorities was introduced, an essential tool for achieving energy and climate objectives at the local level.
The conference highlighted important topics such as Energy Communities, the related legal framework and solutions for overcoming existing barriers in Romania. Examples of success, such as the one in Buteni commune, Arad, have demonstrated the benefits of Energy Communities for energy security and vulnerable consumers.
The pilot municipality of Râmnicu Vâlcea , participating in Ready4NetZero , had the opportunity to deepen its knowledge on essential topics, such as energy efficiency, public procurement, energy transition and climate neutrality. The city representatives also benefited from exchanges of best practices with municipalities from Romania and Bulgaria. In addition, they expressed their interest in taking the necessary steps to create an Energy Community , and exploring this possibility remains a priority for the next period.
At the end of the conference, the crucial role of innovation and cooperation between municipalities in achieving energy goals was emphasized. The Ready4NetZero and MENERGERS projects have demonstrated that the transition to climate neutrality is possible through joint efforts and well-planned strategies. These initiatives will continue to serve as a model for other communities interested in sustainable solutions for Romania's energy future.
Ready4NetZero is a EUKI funded project coordinated by the Polish Network “ENERGIE CITÉS”, with a consortium formed of the Ecologic Institute from Germany, ENERGIAKLUB from Hungary, REGEA from Croatia and Energy Cities Romania. Ready4NetZero aims to support cities from the participating countries in developing and implementing 2050 climate neutrality strategies and seeks to do this by building capacity, knowledge and skills among local leaders, municipal staff and local stakeholders, facilitating experiences exchange and dialogue between local authorities.