Author: Davorka Medved

Project manager of the association Without Borders

Categories
Announcements Expert texts

Citizens at the centre of the energy transition

black solar panel under red and gray clouds

CONTEXT

With its ambition and achievement of energy and climate goals, Croatia is lagging behind the leading countries of the European Union, which is confirmed by the latest revision of the European Commission's draft Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). 

Energy communities, which were introduced by the European Union in 2019 with directives as part of the package of measures, play a significant role in the transition to renewable energy. “Pure energy for all’ inspired by the civic energy movement and energy cooperatives operating across Europe over the last few decades.

There is currently a gap in the transposition of the provisions of the directives in Croatia, which almost prevents the use of the potential of energy communities for the energy transition and the enjoyment of the rights of active participation in the energy market that Croatian citizens have as citizens of the European Union.

WHAT ARE ENERGY COMMUNITIES AND WHY ARE THEY IMPORTANT?

Energy communities enable citizens, entrepreneurs and the public sector to invest in renewable energy projects and play an active role in the energy market. They represent an alternative to commercial energy companies and are characterized by open and voluntary participation (membership), direct ownership of citizens, cooperation with local small and medium-sized enterprises and with local self-government units and democratic governance. 

An important difference between commercial energy companies and energy communities is the commitment to socio-economic and environmental benefits for the community – these benefits are more important for the energy community than making a profit. 

Energy Communities:

  • enable citizens to be involved in decisions about their own energy production, use and prices, protecting them from crises;
  • contribute to increasing awareness and knowledge of more efficient energy use and change the behaviour and lifestyles of their members towards more sustainable ones;
  • contribute to the diversification of energy sources and the uptake of renewable sources in local communities;
  • work with social services to address energy poverty;
  • create local green jobs and contribute to long-term energy savings;
  • can bring two to eight times higher returns to the local economy than projects by external investors (research in France i Germany);
  • play an important role in fostering a stronger, healthier, more resilient and energy self-sufficient society;
  • can contribute to the financing of the energy transition – their capacity by 2030 is up to 240 billions euro.

STATE IN CROATIA

Although introduced into the Croatian legal framework by the Electricity Market Act and the Renewable Energy Sources and High-Efficiency Cogeneration Act, energy communities are very difficult to come to life in practice. The process of establishing energy communities is complicated, and the imposed registration obligations represent insurmountable obstacles for groups of citizens who do not have the support of professional institutions and financial resources. 

From 2021, when energy communities were introduced into the Croatian legal framework, until spring 2024, only one citizens’ initiative managed to obtain a license to operate, with the support of several experts and the cost of significant financial and human resources. 

PRIORITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY COMMUNITIES AND CIVIL ENERGY IN CROATIA

The energy transition can only succeed in the cooperation of all actors, and citizens must be at its center, so all candidates participating in the elections for the Croatian Parliament and the European Parliament elections in 2024 are invited to commit to these four priorities so that energy communities and civic energy can quickly and effectively come to life in practice in Croatia.

  1. Make the process of registering energy communities simple and affordable for groups of citizens who are not (energy) experts and establish a support system in this process.
  2. Provide financial support to energy communities from available funds with the application of state aid rules in order to mitigate the riskiness of energy community projects and encourage their development and stable growth.
  3. Ensure that energy communities can easily reduce the electricity bill of their members by producing energy, share energy directly with members and conclude power purchase agreements directly with other market actors.
  4. Make cities and municipalities at the forefront of civic energy development by ensuring the involvement of citizens and energy communities in renewable energy projects in public areas and rooftops.

ENERGY TRANSMISSION MUST BE FAIR AND USEFUL FOR ALL CITIZENS

The energy transition implies significant changes in society that cannot be successfully achieved without the support and recognition of the role of citizens and local communities. One of the fresh examples is the significant rise in energy prices, which has led to a rise in the cost of living for citizens and a rise in

energy poverty. In Croatia, this jump is mitigated by the package of measures of the Government of the Republic of Croatia that subsidizes energy prices, but it is temporary and does not represent a systemic solution. An inclusive approach that starts with the needs of citizens and communities is how we can ensure a fairer transition and acceptance of change towards renewable energy sources

Renewable energy sources such as sun, wind, water or geothermal energy are available to everyone as common goods, and their use through energy community projects, for the purpose of meeting basic energy needs, guarantees that the energy produced and the benefits thereby obtained will be retained in our local communities. 

LISTS OF APPLICATIONS:

Green Energy Cooperative (ZEZ) over the last ten years, it has supported citizens and local communities in investing in renewables, energy efficiency and technologies that contribute to the decarbonisation of the energy system. ZEZ has implemented the first civic energy projects in Croatia and is a member of the European Federation of Citizen Energy Cooperatives

REScoop.eu. – https://www.zez.coop/  

ZEZ Sun is a European energy cooperative that brings together citizens for joint, long-term and non-speculative investment in solar power plants to create positive social, environmental and economic values in their community. ZEZ Sunce is through its first call for members in March 2024.  raised EUR 140,000 for the construction of a 200 kW citizen-owned solar power plant. – https://www.zez.coop/zez-sunce/  

Croatian Energy Transition (HET) is an initiative and interactive online open access a platform that provides all interested stakeholders with an insight into the methodology of long-term planning of smart energy systems with the Republic of Croatia as a case study. – https://het.hr/

Apsyrtides Energy Cooperative operates in the Cres-Lošinj archipelago and brings together local self-government units, the business sector and citizens. The aim of the cooperative is to provide support and enable its members and the local community to participate in energy transition projects and to lead by example to other island communities. The cooperative is unique in Croatia in that there are members of two cities, Cres and Mali Lošinj.

Society for Sustainable Development Design (DOOR) is an association of experts engaged in the promotion of sustainable development in the field of energy. Our mission is to promote the principles of sustainable development in all segments of society, at local, regional and national level, primarily in the field of energy and climate, and we are actively working with local communities to become leaders of the energy transition. – https://www.door.hr/  

REGEA - North-West Croatia Regional Energy and Climate Agency is an institution focused on providing advice and innovative solutions in the energy and environmental sector with projects throughout the European Union. – https://regea.org/  

Island Movement, information-educational platform which contains in one place all the information needed to initiate and participate in the energy transition on the Croatian islands with a special focus on energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and the importance of the participation of islanders in the process of energy transition. – www.isoci.eu

Energy cooperative NOVI ISLAND KORČULA acts to help citizens in activities to increase energy efficiency and use of renewable energy sources by implementing energy renovation projects, educating the population of all ages on energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, and environmental protection projects by prioritising "green" energy and sustainable development in cooperation with local institutions.

North Adriatic Energy Community is an association formed by 20 members (citizens, entrepreneurs and NGOs) with the aim of producing, sharing and smartly managing renewable energy consumption; https://ezsj.hr. 

Association Without Borders has been working for 12 years on the development of the local community in the Rijeka settlement of Drenova. He is the initiator and holder of numerous HR and EU projects, and among others has been working for years on the promotion of civic energy and sustainable development. Particularly noteworthy is the project of reconstruction of the Drenova Social Center, where numerous events and educations are held for the needs of the local population and entrepreneurs. He is currently a partner in the three-year LIFE DISCOVER project, where the One-Stop-Shop is being set up to support the establishment of energy communities in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. https://energija.bezgranica.hr. 

Greenpeace in Croatia – Greenpeace is an independent global environmental NGO. It has been operating in Croatia since 2012. – www.greenpeace.hr

Green Network of Activist Groups (ZMAG) is an association that brings together organic gardeners, practitioners of applicable technologies and ecological construction, permaculture designers, researchers of fair social models of organization and equal interpersonal relations, and environmental activists. – https://www.zmag.hr/  

My Energy Community - MEC is the first formally established energy community in Croatia. – https://www.myenergycommunity.hr/  

Views: 21

Categories
Lectures

CALL FOR THE ROAD "Citizen (renewable) energy"

man holding incandescent bulb

The Association Žmergo, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka, the Northern Adriatic Energy Community and the Association Without Borders invite everyone interested in the topic of renewable energy sources to a round table where relevant experts will talk about trends, actualities and potentials of renewable energy sources, the role of local self-government units, its accessibility to citizens, with a special emphasis on energy poverty and how we can eliminate (or reduce) it.


We're at an energy junction. A proactive approach to ensuring energy independence is more important than ever. The round table is an exceptional opportunity to hear experts with experience in this field who will present many of the research and opportunities provided by the launch of public-citizen projects, such as the local civic energy initiative led today by the Energy and Climate Office of the City of Križevci, the first of its kind in Croatia. Cooperation of cities and municipalities with associations and citizens is extremely important and possible, in order to successfully implement the transition to the benefit of the local community.

Guest speakers

  • M.Sc. Anamari Majdandžić, DOOR – Presentation of Centres for Combating Energy Poverty and Example of Cooperation with Good Practice from Križevci, as well as Solutions for Energy Independence in the EU and Croatia
  • M.Sc. Hrvoje Keko, Grid One d.o.o., Association My Energy Community – Services in the field of advanced networks and energy transition and modernization and optimization of energy infrastructure, connecting research organizations, energy startups and local communities.
  • dr.sc. Damir Juričić, Innerga d.o.o., North Adriatic Energy Community - Energy Independence through Civic Energy Initiatives in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Innovative Models of Organization and Financing of Energy Communities and the Impact of the Electricity Market Act on the Implementation of Civic Initiatives

Moderator:

  • M.Sc. Damir Medved, Director of the EDIH Adria project (University of Rijeka), Association Without Borders
  • Introductory Lecture - Energy Poverty in the EU and HR

The call for participation is open to all interested citizens without prior notice, and refreshments will be organized for those present.

The activity is organized by the Žmergo Association and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka as part of the Community-based action for a green transition (CO-GREEN) project, which is implemented with the financial support of the European Union within the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme.

Views: 52

Categories
Announcements Workshops

Second Meeting of the Assembly of the ECSJ Association Held

On Friday, 17 November 2023, the 2nd session of the EC SJ Assembly (online) was held and new members were received.

The agenda of the meeting was:

  1. Report on the process of establishing an association (Juričić);
  2. Admission of new members (Juričić, Medved)
  3. Plan of upcoming activities - HERA etc. (Juričić, Medved);
  4. Proposal of membership fee for 2024 (Juričić, Medved);
  5. Financial plan of the association (Juričić, Medved);
  6. Proposed logo of the association (Juričić);
  7. Pilot project in cooperation with Grid ONE – setting up a data collection system for the consumption of ECSJ members

Recording of the meeting

Minutes and documentation

Views: 21

Categories
Announcements

The Northern Adriatic Energy Community

The North Adriatic Energy Community was established by the founding assembly held in the Drenova Social Centre. It brought together thirteen enthusiasts who set out to promote civic energy in our county.

The association was founded in order to promote, develop and improve energy communities and civic energy, production of renewable energy and consumption and sharing of produced energy among members of the association.

The areas of activity of the Association, in accordance with the goals are: Economy, Protection of the environment and nature.

The activities of the Association for the purpose of achieving the goals are:

  • bringing together citizens interested in participating in energy projects;
  • organising citizen energy communities, organising lectures, seminars, round tables and similar events on environmental issues, in particular as regards the production of energy from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency;
  • cooperation and proposing measures to competent authorities in the field of environmental and nature protection and energy efficiency of renewable energy sources;
  • cooperation with experts in the field of climate and environmental protection and other non-profit organisations;
  • connecting businessmen, scientific and research institutions, local communities, state administration bodies and other entities on projects that will contribute to sustainable development and energy efficiency and the goals of the Association.

In order to achieve its objectives, the Association performs the following economic activities:

  • participation in the production of electricity for the needs of members of the Association, inter alia, from renewable energy sources,
  • the supply of electricity to the members of the Association,
  • managing the consumption of electricity by members of the association,
  • aggregation of members of the association, energy storage for members of the association,
  • energy efficiency services for members of the association,
  • charging services for electric vehicles of members of the association,  
  • the provision of other energy services to members of the association in accordance with the rules governing individual electricity markets, in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Market Act (NN Nos 111/21 and 83/23).

The Association may carry out economic activities in addition to activities that achieve its objectives set out in this Statute, but may not carry them out for the purpose of making profit for its members or third parties. If, in the course of its economic activity, the Association realises a surplus of income over expenditures, it must, in accordance with the Statute of the Association, be used exclusively for the achievement of the objectives laid down in the Statute.

Statutes and other relevant documentation:

All additional information can be obtained by e-mail energija@bezgranica.hr or by phone 091 617 6559.

Expression of interest and survey

In order to facilitate communication and collect initial information, we invite you to fill out a survey that will briefly describe you (user type, energy consumption/production, etc.). Filling takes about 5 minutes. All collected data will be used exclusively for the purpose of organizing the activities of the energy community and will not be publicly available without the prior approval of the owner.

Views: 39

Categories
Announcements Lectures Workshops

Opatija, lecture on energy transition

On March 30, 2023, we held a lecture on energy transition in Opatija.

Views: 15

Categories
Announcements Lectures Workshops

MO Kantrida and Energy Communities

In front of the full hall, Saša Ukić, Damir Medved and Damir Juričić spoke to interested citizens of the Kantrida Local Committee in Rijeka about theoretical and practical topics related to energy communities and energy transition.

Views: 15