From outdated plans to action: Transforming energy planning in Örebro County 

Supported by funding from the Swedish Energy Agency, the Örebro County Energy Agency and the County Administrative Board of Örebro have launched the Integration of energy planning into spatial planning programme to help municipalities strengthen the role of energy planning within spatial planning. Launched in December 2024 and running until December 2026, the initiative aims to build local capacity, increase expertise, and support the development of more sustainable and resilient energy systems. The programme brings together municipalities and stakeholders from across the energy sector, including producers, distributors, and major users, to drive progress in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and grid capacity. 

Strengthening municipal capacity through collaboration 

Information‑sharing activities, peer‑learning sessions, and five multi‑stakeholder workshops have enabled municipalities to begin or significantly advance their energy planning processes. Four municipalities are now in the final stages of completing new energy plans, six have formally initiated their processes, and two additional municipalities have joined, meaning all 12 municipalities in the region are now involved. This support has helped accelerate the adoption of statutory energy plans in a county where most municipalities have not actively worked with energy planning during the 21st century. The situation has shifted from only one municipality having an outdated plan to many now completing or developing new ones, marking substantial progress at the project’s halfway point. 

Clarifying the role of energy plans in municipal planning 

A central challenge has been determining how municipal energy plans should address energy issues when municipalities have limited authority in this area. Communication has been more straightforward where municipalities own district heating companies, while privately owned providers require stronger knowledge‑building and dialogue to deepen understanding of the wider energy system. Despite these differences, energy plans have proven valuable as a knowledge base that encourages dialogue, strengthens collaboration, and supports the comprehensive plan governing land‑use issues. A methodological guide based on lessons learned will be developed to support municipalities with limited resources and will be shared regionally and beyond. 

Understanding regional energy needs and looking ahead 

In Örebro County, electricity grids can currently accommodate normal increases in power demand, although local bottlenecks and vulnerabilities persist. The project is already improving regional capacity for agile and effective energy planning, supported by enhanced stakeholder collaboration and stronger cross‑municipal cooperation. One key insight is that energy planning is only one of many responsibilities municipal planners manage within a complex workload. Emphasising the importance of reliable energy and electricity supply for local businesses and industry has proven effective in strengthening municipal competitiveness within and beyond the region. Looking ahead, there is strong interest in continuing to develop energy‑related issues, and these efforts are expected to extend into future projects and long‑term regional cooperation frameworks. 

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!