10.06.2025
Climate Alliance releases study on techniques for a city-led local energy transition
Today, Climate Alliance published the new study "Leading the Charge: local energy action planning techniques for a city-led local energy transition". The publication details how municipalities in Northern Europe are pioneering innovative strategies for an accelerated, affordable, and competitive energy transition.
With case studies and testimonials from 10 pioneering cities in Northern Europe, the study identifies several best practices that form part of a 'local energy action planning' approach, including:
- Securing political engagement in energy management: Ensuring long-term buy-in and unified city approaches.
- Enhanced DSO-city collaboration: Moving beyond operational interactions to strategic partnerships for long-term planning.
- Formalising cross-department energy management: Integrating energy considerations across all municipal services and departments.
- Exploring new market-based roles for the public sector: Leveraging public guarantees and establishing local energy companies to accelerate sustainable solutions.
- Actively engaging business stakeholders: Working with businesses to ensure they benefit from and contribute to the energy transition, improving grid resilience and promoting demand-side flexibility.
With a mix of small, medium, and large cities interviewed, the study serves as a resource for anyone working on the energy transition within a European city, offering insights into the latest techniques for developing and implementing effective local energy action plans.
This research was conducted in collaboration with Bax Innovation, as part of the European innovation initiative COPPER, co-funded by Interreg North Sea. Climate Alliance is a part of the COPPER project, which is developing local energy action planning techniques led by cities in collaboration with local energy stakeholders.
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