Renewable Energy That The Baltics Can Get Behind
The expansion of renewable energy involves not only the construction of solar power plants and wind turbines, but also the involvement of the public and the development of new technologies. In the Baltic states, the success of the energy transition increasingly depends on whether the public, local authorities and businesses see themselves as active contributors rather than merely as energy consumers. When local communities benefit directly from clean energy – for example, through lower energy costs or new jobs – and play an active part in projects, they promote climate action and regional development. This progress is particularly important for the Baltic states, as they have historically been dependent on fossil fuels from Russia and have significant potential for wind and solar energy across the Baltic Sea.
Participation is Key
Projects funded by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) support the expansion of renewable energy across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania whilst also ensuring that the energy transition is socially inclusive and involves local communities. By combining innovative technologies with new participation and financing models, they help to replace fossil fuels and empower local stakeholders to drive the energy transition themselves.
Change often begins right on one’s own doorstep. The EUKI projects SUN BOX – Solar Storage in Multi-family Houses and SOL – Solar Energy for Multi-family Buildings in Lithuania have demonstrated how multi-family housing blocks can generate and store their own solar power. These projects provide practical solutions, develop national support schemes and actively involve tenants, making solar energy accessible to people who have previously been able to benefit only to a limited extent from rooftop photovoltaics. They also offer energy audits and practical advice on sustainable renovations.
Climate Action and Nature Conservation
Taking this idea one step further, SUNRISE – Prosumer Solar Energy supports citizens in becoming energy producers themselves. Instead of relying solely on centralised electricity generation, households and communities can generate renewable power locally, strengthening energy security while creating local economic value.
As renewable energy infrastructure expands, public support becomes increasingly important. The EUKI project Wind4Bio – Increasing the Social Acceptance of Wind Energy implemented project development approaches which help address citizens’ biodiversity concerns from an early stage. In this way, climate action and nature conservation can be jointly addressed rather than treated as competing objectives. EUKI projects also help lay the foundation for the next generation of clean energy technologies. RenewStart for Hydrogen Technologies has trained experts and institutions while analysing Lithuania’s market potential for green hydrogen. The project is helping to decarbonise sectors in which direct electrification remains difficult.
Fostering Local Expertise Through Energy Transition
Turning ambitious climate targets into real projects requires funding and local leadership. A+ Approach to Enhance Energy Transition helps municipalities and organisations access European funding for renewable energy investments, while Local Leaders for the Next Generation equips local decision-makers with the knowledge to develop and implement energy transition projects within their communities.
Together, these projects demonstrate that the energy transition is about more than technology. By strengthening participation, building local expertise and ensuring that citizens benefit directly from renewable energy, EUKI helps create the conditions for a transition that aligns with environmentally friendly practices and that is socially supported.