MENERGERS – Energy Managers’ Services in Municipalities

To achieve the European Union’s (EU) goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2050 involving local authorities in energy management is crucial. The EU’s launched REPowerEU Plan confirms the municipalities leading role in developing energy-saving measures tailored to their local context. However, in Bulgaria and Romania, this integral part of climate protection has not received sufficient attention so far. Competent authorities often lack relevant experience because of insufficient education and training opportunities in the two countries with regard to managing energy consumption, which is why they have little insight and control over it.

Nature restoring the equilibrium, Foto: ©Unsplash

Municipal administrations are essential in avoiding unnecessarily high levels of energy usage. Hence, the project implemented measures such as research on good practices, legislation, and regulations. It searched for curricula of energy manager trainings as well as for opportunities to exchange knowledge and experiences. National authorities’ representatives, civil servants responsible for climate and energy issues, as well as environmental experts and energy managers discussed these results in workshops, round-table discussions, public consultations, and conferences, which helped develop a specific training programme. These outcomes contributed to designing a free, easily accessible, and unique model for the duties of energy managers in Bulgarian municipalities. They also led to the creation of a communication platform and to the definition of criteria for renewable energy sources in Romania, which then became part of the requirements for funding local projects. In the end, the project drafted proposals to update the policy and legal frameworks in both countries after both the model and the results of the activities had been evaluated and verified. Additionally, the dissemination of this information, along with publicity actions, increased awareness of the issue in municipalities in both countries.

Highlights

To reduce energy consumption in Bulgaria and Romania EUKI project MENERGERS released reports, conducted trainings and provided room for exchange between municipalities via study visits.

Infographic: MENERGERS HIGHLIGHTS

• Municipal capacities strengthened: Two study trips to Germany with 32 participants, the training of 12 specialists in Bulgaria, and the involvement of 30 Romanian municipalities in the application of energy management criteria (instead of the originally planned three) have significantly expanded the capacities of local administrations. 
• Institutionalization and emission reduction promoted: By training and empowering local administrations in Romania and Bulgaria, the foundation was laid for permanently embedding energy management and making concrete contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 
• Governance and policy dialogue improved: The project initiated a national communication platform in Romania, developed a legislative proposal to strengthen municipal energy managers in Bulgaria, and organized two national final conferences (RO & BG) as well as a joint cross-border event with 41 participants.