Regions and Energy Agencies Repowering Europe

Europe’s “man on the moon” moment[1] has never been more similar to the original one, taking place in the midst of wars confronting two very different visions of the world. Delivering on the Green Deal commitments is no longer just a growth and climate ambition, but a historic responsibility.

During the COVID pandemic the European Union showed historical leadership taking actions beyond its scope of competence, putting the interest of its citizens before “business-as-usual” policy making and saving lives in the process.

As a European Health Union emerges from the sanitary crisis, so must a Union of Sustainable Energy be built in the face of the current energy security crisis.

In response to the first oil crisis in 1973, the first regional energy agencies were created to support regions and municipalities in managing their energy supply and demand. Since then, EU’s Regions and local/regional Energy Agencies have become effective delivery agents of the energy transition in their territories.

Today, regional and local energy agencies are the European Commission’s territorial anchors, ensuring European policies achieve their full potential in improving the life of citizens, achieving carbon neutrality and building a sustainable society.

In the current energy security crisis, regions and their energy agencies stand ready to upscale and replicate across Europe the many energy transition programmes already implemented, securing Europe’s energy system in a sustainable way. To this end, the regions, energy agencies and islands of FEDARENE are ready to support the European Commission and the Members States to accelerate actions and lead the transformation agenda under the following key areas:

1. Energy Transition First
2. Upscale and replicate existing integrated renovation services
3. Implementing fuel switch in practice for heating and cooling
4. Learning from islands as test beds for clean energy solutions
5. Energy sufficiency campaigns towards structural changes
6. Address limitations of grid capacity and develop flexibility and interconnections
7. Transforming Europe’s Industry towards Climate Neutrality
8. Address shortages of workforce and materials through EU coordination strategies

[1] Press remarks by President von der Leyen on the occasion of the adoption of the European Green Deal Communication