Strategic Local Energy Planning for Resilient Municipalities

Energikontor Syd, the Energy Agency of Southern Sweden, supports municipalities and regions in developing robust local energy plans that enhance energy security, reduce climate impact, and align with EU policies. By facilitating collaboration and providing targeted training, the agency helps local authorities turn strategic goals into actionable measures.

Key Actions Implemented

Energikontor Syd strengthens municipal capacity through tailored training programmes that equip local politicians and officials with the knowledge needed to improve energy planning. These programmes provide practical guidance on implementing the Municipal Energy Planning Act and aligning local strategies with EU and national climate goals.

Collaboration is a core component of the agency’s approach. By facilitating cross-sector dialogue, it ensures that municipal departments work together to develop a shared understanding of energy needs. This process helps municipalities in identifying local energy sources, optimising grid use, and securing sufficient electricity for key stakeholders.

To increase energy resilience, Energikontor Syd supports municipalities to diversify their energy mix, including local renewable energy solutions, such as local energy production, district heating, cooling, and biogas. It also promotes energy demand management to improve efficiency and grid stability.

Ensuring alignment with EU policies is another priority. The agency helps municipalities integrate EU energy and climate policies into their local planning processes, ensuring that policies are effectively translated into actionable local measures. By strengthening collaboration across different levels of governance, municipalities can implement strategies that contribute to regional and national sustainability goals.

Results & Impact

Through this structured approach, municipalities improve energy security, crisis preparedness, and self-sufficiency while attracting investment and supporting local businesses. By implementing energy efficiency measures and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, municipalities significantly lower their climate impact.

Energikontor Syd plays a key role in establishing and supporting municipal energy groups, ensuring that energy considerations are fully integrated into local decision-making. The agency provides technical and financial evaluations of proposed measures and monitors their outcomes, compiling energy flow data to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

Additionally, the agency fosters collaboration between municipalities and regional authorities, particularly on projects such as the siting of wind or hydropower installations.

By equipping local authorities with the right tools and knowledge, Energikontor Syd enables municipalities to navigate the energy transition with confidence. Long-term success depends on proactive planning and collaboration, ensuring municipalities remain resilient in an evolving energy landscape while contributing to Europe’s sustainability ambitions.

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