ManagEnergy Workshop on Energy Communities

To help energy agencies strengthen energy communities, ManagEnergy will hold a dedicated workshop on 25 February 2026 in Wels, Austria, during the World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED).

The session will highlight effective approaches and real-world success stories from cities and regions across Europe. Participants will gain insights into policy frameworks, financing options, citizen engagement strategies, One-Stop Shops, and interactions with Distribution System Operators (DSOs).

The workshop will consist of two parts, “Energy Communities: a driving force for the energy transition” and “Beyond Theory: Success stories from Energy Communities across Europe”.

A limited number of participants will receive up to €400 to cover travel and accommodation costs, along with complimentary access to the full WSED programme. Applications are open until 22 December 2025, and spots at the workshop will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Energy Communities: a driving force for the energy transition

This first part of the Energy Communities workshop will focus on policies, programmes, financing mechanisms, and digital innovations to support and enable energy communities across Europe. The topics and speakers presented during this part will include:

• EU policies on Energy Communities – Alejandro Ulzurrun De Asanza Y Munoz, European Commission, DG Energy
• Energy Communities are here to stay! – Christiane Egger, OÖ Energiesparverband, Austria
• Highlights and lessons from EU-funded Energy Community projects – Talía Brun Marcen, European Commission, CINEA
• Unlocking finance for energy communities – Felix Kriedemann, REScoop.eu
• Interacting with DSOs – Harald Proidl, e-control, Austria
• Blockchain for Energy Communities – Francisco Puente, ESCAN, Spain

Beyond Theory: Success stories from Energy Communities across Europe

The second part of the workshop will be centred around real-world examples of successful energy communities to explore energy community strategies, challenges, and lessons for sustainable community action. Join the workshop to learn more about the following topics from experts across Europe:

• The “Weekend Energy Community” – Vlasta Krmelj, ENERGAP, Slovenia
• Pioneering Energy Communities in Emilia-Romagna and the key role of energy agencies – Marco Costa, AESS, Italy
• First green energy community in Romania – Olimpia Nicolae, Coaliția Energie Comunitară, Romania
• Five remote villages – one Energy Community – Savvas Vlacchos, Cyprus Energy Agency, Cyprus
• Energy belongs in the hands of the community – Christian Straßer, Energiewende Feldkirchen, Austria
• Innovative financing of island Energy Community – Alexis Lozano, Consejo Insular de la Energía de Gran Canaria, Spain
• Integrating electricity, heat production and renovation – Noémie Zambeaux, Auvergne Rhône Alpes Énergie Environnement, France
• Energy sharing in social housing – social responsibility meets community energy – Benjamin Wilkin, Energie Commune, Belgium
• Bulgaria’s Energy Communities in Gabrovo, Burgas and Sofia – Diana Paunova-Galeva, Sofia Energy Agency, Bulgaria
• Energy Communities as a new market force in Greece – Chris Vrettos, Electra Energy, Greece

About WSED

WSED is a leading European conference on energy efficiency, renewables and climate-neutral solutions. Organised by OÖ Energiesparverband, the event welcomes more than 600 attendees from over 50 countries each year and runs alongside a major energy-related trade fair, “WeBuild – Energiesparmesse”.

Apply to the workshop by 22 December 2025 to benefit from this chance to exchange ideas, build partnerships and stay informed on the latest developments in community-led energy initiatives!