On November 27, 2025, the BALTICBEAT team took part in the conference “Building Local Energy Independence” at the invitation of PODR in Lubań. The aim of the conference was to present current activities and challenges related to the development of renewable energy sources and local energy initiatives.
The event was attended by representatives of local government units, advisory centers, the scientific community, and entities related to the energy sector. The conference was opened by Aleksander Mach, director of the Pomeranian Agricultural Advisory Center in Lubań, who presented PODR’s activities in supporting the development of renewable energy sources and plans for the Provincial Renewable Energy Center.
The substantive part of the conference featured the presentation of research results on the development of energy communities in Poland by Dr. hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, Prof. UG, and Dr. Barbara Kijewska, Prof. UG. The presentation was based on analyses carried out as part of the BALTICBEAT project, which allowed for the assessment of the potential, barriers, and opportunities for the development of energy communities. The current legal framework was discussed, available European programs supporting the creation and functioning of energy communities were identified, and the characteristics of their operation in the European Union were presented. Attention was drawn to the democratic nature of the communities, their social and environmental goals, and their diverse organizational models. The presentation included the results of research conducted in local government units that are members of energy cooperatives. The research shows that local government units establish cooperatives based on their existing resources, gradually developing the capabilities and competencies of their members. Among the difficulties in development, they point to infrastructure limitations and a lack of energy management tools. It was emphasized that the main barriers remain connection conditions, a shortage of specialized staff, and the financial limitations of municipalities, especially in the context of their own contribution to investment projects.
The rest of the conference was devoted to presenting the activities of the National Forum of Energy Cooperatives, which supports knowledge exchange and cooperation between existing and newly established cooperatives. Energa S.A.’s plans to establish a Provincial Renewable Energy Education Center in Lubań, which will serve as an advisory, educational, and energy innovation support center, were also presented.
The conference ended with a discussion emphasizing the need for stable legal regulations, efficient administrative procedures, and strengthening technical competencies in local government units. Attention was drawn to the need to develop cooperation between institutions and local communities and to the important role of research and demonstration projects in the effective implementation of the energy transition.
dr Barbara Kijewska, prof. UG