Subscribe to our joint NEWSLETTER for
EUTROPIAN &
COOPERATIVE CITY MAGAZINE
The ENERGY4ALL consortium gathered in Budapest on October 21-22, 2024, uniting partners from Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Norway to further the development of Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) and Energy Communities (ECs). Hosted at the Kazán Community Centre and Budapest Municipality, the meeting focused on resource mapping, community engagement, and establishing sustainable governance models.
As the lead partner and coordinator, Eutropian was overjoyed to organise this in-person event, especially after months of virtual collaboration. Our colleagues flew in from Rome to join the Budapest team, and there was a real sense of excitement and energy in the air as we finally had the chance to connect face-to-face, share ideas, and learn from each other. It was a fantastic reminder of the power of collaboration and the value of coming together as a team.
A highlight of the meeting was the site visit to extensive area within Kazán Community Centre a central pilot site in Budapest’s 8th district. Kazán is a vibrant community hub housing organisations like a daycare, workshops, and a cooperative radio station. Its energy project, which includes 36 kW of rooftop solar panels, aims to enhance building efficiency through a democratic, cooperative management model. This visit provided partners with insights into Kazán’s human-centered approach and its commitment to solidarity and co-ownership.
Throughout the meeting, we explored foundational questions to define what energy communities and PEDs mean within each unique context. Questions like “What are the main resources available?”, “Which resources are missing?”, and “How is energy produced, transported, and consumed in your pilot?” helped each team thoroughly assess their capacities and identify resource gaps. This workshop provided a strong foundation for understanding each pilot’s strengths and needs.
Community engagement was a central theme, with discussions focusing on who the reference community is in each pilot, which stakeholders are currently missing, and how to effectively involve them. Questions such as “How do you expect to involve stakeholders, and what activities do you plan?” guided each team’s approach. Kazán, for instance, plans to engage local organizations and residents through participatory planning and activities, using its existing cooperative structure to strengthen involvement.
Partners also worked on governance models, posing questions like “How will consumers be involved?”, “How will energy production be made affordable?”, and “How will profits contribute to community assets?” These discussions focused on creating transparent decision-making processes, sustainable business models, and pricing strategies that keep energy affordable for local residents. Each team outlined plans to reinvest profits into community assets, ensuring that their PEDs and ECs remain financially viable and beneficial.
The Budapest meeting concluded with clear action plans and a shared vision, aligning all partners on the path to building resilient, community-driven energy solutions across Europe.
Learn more about the Energy4All project: https://energy4allproject.eu/
