Webinar on Business Model Canvassing for Energy Communities: A Joint Learning Exchange between DECA and SHAREs Projects

As part of the DECA – Danube Energy Communities Accelerator initiative, an online webinar titled “Cross-project Learning on Business Model Canvassing for Energy Communities” will take place on May 23, 2025, starting at 10:00 CET. The event is jointly organised by the DECA and SHAREs projects and aims to foster cross-project knowledge exchange on business model development for energy communities.

The webinar will bring together representatives of organisations, local authorities, and professionals engaged in the energy transition and citizen participation in energy production and governance across the Danube region. The focus will be on the practical application of the Business Model Canvas as a strategic tool for designing and strengthening viable business models for community energy initiatives.

Through this exchange, participants will have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of both projects, exploring challenges, solutions, and key lessons learned from different national contexts. Special attention will be given to identifying success factors and barriers in the creation and operation of energy communities in the Danube region.

The event is open to all interested participants and will be held online. Registration is available via the QR code on the event visual.

The DECA project is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme and co-funded by the European Union, with the involvement of partner organisations from across Europe.

by REIC Admin

Call for Applications: 20th International Summer School 2025 “Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy in CEI Member States”

Call for Applications: 20th International Summer School 2025 “Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy in CEI Member States”

August 8–17, 2025 | Ethno Village Čardaci, Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina

We are pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 20th edition of the International Summer School (ISS 2025), organized under the theme “Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy in CEI Member States.”

This year, ISS 2025 celebrates two decades of fostering knowledge, innovation, and collaboration among young leaders from across the Central European Initiative (CEI) region.

The Summer School will be held at Ethno Village Čardaci, a unique eco-complex in Bosnia and Herzegovina powered by renewable energy sources including biomass, geothermal, solar energy, and a mini-hydro power plant. This inspiring setting exemplifies how renewable energy can drive sustainable local development.

Program Focus
ISS 2025 will equip participants with essential knowledge and practical skills in key areas such as:

  • Clean Energy and Renewable Energy Sources (RES)

  • Energy Efficiency

  • Circular Economy

  • Just Transition

  • EU Taxonomy and CBAM

Participants will engage in a dynamic program that combines theoretical sessions, practical case studies, and site visits to renewable energy facilities.

Program Highlights

  • 10 days of intensive learning and hands-on activities

  • Lectures by leading experts from the CEI region

  • Group work on real-life governance challenges

  • Site visits to renewable energy projects

  • Final group presentations

  • Access to the extensive REIC Alumni Network with nearly 400 members

Who Should Apply

  • Master’s and PhD students

  • Young researchers

  • Young professionals and policymakers

  • Candidates from CEI member states are priority: Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine

Application Details

Full application call can be found HERE

Join us at ISS 2025 to broaden your knowledge, build your skills, and connect with peers and experts dedicated to creating a sustainable future.

by REIC Admin

Join Webinar ‘Learning Lab’, on the 5th of May, 2025!

DECA Project is excited to invite you to a webinar on 5th May 2025, at 10:00 CET.

What makes this session unique?
We’ll delve into not only how Pixel Energy has been enabling the smooth set up and management of RECs across Austria, but also learn about their involvement in the EU LIFE funded DISCOVER project and how it may have some synergies with project DECA. There will be plenty of time for discussion too!

Good to know:
“The DISCOVER project bundles multiple actions for creating and delivering services to Community Energy Projects (CEPs), to provide guidance and professional support on technical, economic, financial and legal aspects covering all phases of a CEP lifecycle”

What you’ll learn in this session:
• The Technological & Operational Management of Energy Communities
• Community Energy Financing & Investment Options
• Possible synergies between the Projects DISCOVER (EU LIFE) and DECA (Interreg Danube).

Guest Speaker:
Helmut Hergoltz, Managing Director of Pixel Energy

Date & Time: 5th May 2025, at 10:00 CET
Location: Online (Microsoft Teams)
Register here: https://tinyurl.com/37vmae88

This session is open to all—whether you’re involved in policy, research, community development, or renewable energy projects, this is a great opportunity to learn from real experiences and gain practical insights.

We’d love for you to join us and spread the word within your network!

by REIC Admin

REIC to Organize the 20th International Summer School "Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy"

The Regional Education and Information Centre for Sustainable Development in South-East Europe (REIC) is organizing the 20th edition of its International Summer School titled "Sustainable Energy and Environmental Policy", which will take place from August 8 to 17, 2025, at the Ethno Village Čardaci, Vitez, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Summer School gathers young professionals, Master's and PhD students from CEI member states, offering an interdisciplinary program focused on clean energy, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, circular economy, just transition, EU Taxonomy, and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). Special attention will be given to connecting energy and climate policy knowledge with practical skills needed to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

The program includes lectures, workshops, group work on case studies, and site visits to renewable energy facilities. In addition to professional development, the Summer School offers opportunities for networking and future collaboration among participants, lecturers, and experts from the region and beyond.

Over the past 20 years, REIC has successfully gathered nearly 400 alumni who now work in international organizations, academic institutions, the private sector, and NGOs worldwide. This year's Summer School continues that tradition of empowering young leaders in the fields of sustainable energy and climate change.

The organization of this important event is supported by the CEI Central European Initiative - www.cei.int.

More information about applications and the program will soon be available on our website and social media channels!

For all inquiries, please contact us at info@reic.org.ba.

by REIC Admin

Građanska energija: Od A do Zajednice

Pozivamo vas da se pridružite dvodnevnom treningu u Potocima kod Mostara i naučite kako osnovati i voditi Zajednicu obnovljive energije.

Građanska energija nije samo pitanje korištenja obnovljivih izvora – ona predstavlja zajednički rad građana na lokalnim rješenjima za globalne izazove. U Dunavskom regionu postoji veliki potencijal za razvoj projekata obnovljive energije koje vode građani, ali taj potencijal još uvijek nije u potpunosti iskorišten. Vrijeme je za promjene.

U okviru projekta DECA - Danube Energy Communities Accelerator, koji se realizuje kroz program Interreg Danube, organizujemo niz treninga usmjerenih na razmjenu znanja i inspiraciju za pokretanje građanskih inicijativa u energetskom sektoru.

Ko može učestvovati?

Trening je namijenjen građanima, lokalnim organizacijama i udruženjima građana, kreatorima politika, kao i svima onima koji žele zajednicu staviti u središte energetske tranzicije.

Detalji događaja

  • Datum: 15. i 16. april 2025. godine

  • Lokacija: EkoDizajn i permakulturno imanje NEŠTO VIŠE, Potoci, Mostar

  • Prevoz: Za učesnike iz Mostara obezbijeđen je prevoz.

Prijavite se putem sljedećeg linka: Prijava

Šta vas očekuje?

15. april 2025.

  • Pokretanje i upravljanje Zajednicom obnovljive energije

  • Pravni i organizacijski okviri za osnivanje zajednice

16. april 2025.

  • Planiranje, finansiranje i tehničke mogućnosti projekata

  • Korištenje digitalnih i pametnih rješenja za upravljanje energijom

  • Uloga društvenog poduzetništva u energetskoj tranziciji

Oba dana predviđene su praktične radionice kroz koje ćemo zajedno kreirati koncept Zajednice obnovljive energije.

Detaljna Agenda se nalazi OVDJE.

Broj učesnika je ograničen.

Budite dio pokreta koji transformiše zajednice širom Dunavskog regiona. Pridružite nam se, naučite, povežite se i poduzmite prve korake ka održivoj energetskoj budućnosti.

Za više informacija posjetite: Više informacija

by REIC Admin

Webinar „Uvod u građansku energiju“ Projekat DECA – Danube Energy Communities Accelerator - Interreg Danube

Projekat DECA – Danube Energy Communities Accelerator ︱Interreg Danube ima za cilj podržati građane, lokalne organizacije i donosioca odluka u razvoju projekata građanske energije kroz edukaciju i razmjenu znanja. Kroz seriju besplatnih webinara, DECA nastoji inspirisati lokalne zajednice i pružiti im alate za pokretanje održivih energetskih inicijativa.

Prvi korak: Webinar „Uvod u građansku energiju“

Kako bismo olakšali razumijevanje i primjenu građanske energije, DECA organizuje webinar „Uvod u građansku energiju“, koji će obuhvatiti ključne aspekte:

🔹 Šta je građanska energija?
🔹 Osnovni modeli upravljanja, zajedničko finansiranje i angažman zajednice
🔹 Pravni okviri i regulatorni izazovi

Ovaj webinar namijenjen je građanima, lokalnim organizacijama, udruženjima, donosiocima odluka i svima onima koji žele saznati više o načinima na koje zajednice mogu postati pokretači energetske tranzicije.

📅 Datum: 2. april 2025.
🕒 Vrijeme: 17:00
📌 Više informacija: https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/deca
🎤 Moderator: Arijana Šuvak
✅ Registracija: https://shorturl.at/wFaUF

Energetska tranzicija ne treba biti privilegija velikih industrija – ona može i treba biti vođena građanima i lokalnim zajednicama. Pridružite nam se i saznajte kako možete postaviti temelje za budućnost u kojoj energija dolazi od i za ljude.

by REIC Admin

Osnaživanje novinara u BiH: Ključna uloga medija u izvještavanju o klimatskim i energetskim temama

U vremenu kada su klimatske promjene postale neizbježna tema globalnih rasprava, uloga novinara u informisanju javnosti postaje sve značajnija. Nedavno održana obuka za novinare u Bosni i Hercegovini imala je za cilj unaprijediti izvještavanje o energetskim i klimatskim pitanjima, omogućavajući medijima da preciznije i dublje istraže ove teme.

Novinarstvo u službi održivosti

Iako su vremenski ograničenja i manji odziv medijskih kuća utjecali na obim obuke, rezultati koji su postignuti pokazuju da postoji rastuća potreba za kvalitetnim izvještavanjem o ovim pitanjima. Kroz interaktivne treninge, novinari su imali priliku ne samo proširiti svoje znanje, već i raspraviti načine na koje mediji mogu oblikovati percepciju javnosti i utjecati na donošenje odluka.

Obuka koja mijenja perspektive

U sklopu obuke održana su tri treninga za tri različite medijske kuće, na kojima je učestvovalo 16 novinara i urednika. Svaki trening bio je strukturiran u tri segmenta od po dva sata, pokrivajući ključne aspekte klimatskog i energetskog izvještavanja. Program je razvijen u saradnji s predavačima, a posebna pažnja posvećena je potrebama koje su novinari istaknuli kroz istraživanja.

Od teorije do prakse

Pored predavanja i teorijskog okvira, učesnici su imali priliku raditi na studijama slučaja, analizirajući konkretne probleme i izazove u izvještavanju o energiji i klimi. Poseban značaj imala je saradnja s FACE TV-om, koja je omogućila širenje svijesti o važnosti kvalitetnog izvještavanja. Ova saradnja nije samo omogućila realizaciju jednog treninga, već je otvorila vrata budućim medijskim inicijativama posvećenim ovoj tematici.

Kroz ciljani pristup, program obuke promovisan je u više od 20 medijskih kuća, čime se povećala vidljivost inicijative i podstakao interes za dalje učešće. Dodatni impuls dao je i FACE TV, koji je tokom jutarnjeg programa promovirao značaj edukacije novinara u oblasti klimatskih promjena i energije.

Ova obuka je, uprkos izazovima, ostvarila nekoliko ključnih ciljeva:

  • Prvi korak ka većem uključivanju medija – treningi su pokazali da postoji potreba i želja novinara da se aktivnije uključe u izvještavanje o klimatskim temama, iako su ograničenih kapaciteta.
  • Saradnja s ključnim akterima – partnerstvo s FACE TV-om nije samo rezultiralo uspješnom obukom, već je omogućilo promociju edukacije.
  • Postavljeni temelji za buduće projekte – projekat je otvorio mogućnosti za dugoročnu saradnju i širenje mreže novinara zainteresiranih za ovu oblast.

Uloga novinara u izgradnji svijesti o klimatskim promjenama ne može se dovoljno naglasiti. Ovaj program obuke je dokaz da su mediji ključni akteri u oblikovanju javnog mnijenja i podizanju svijesti o energetskoj tranziciji. Uz dalju podršku i nastavak edukacija, novinari u BiH mogu igrati još aktivniju ulogu u borbi protiv klimatskih izazova, donoseći priče koje će inspirisati građane na djelovanje.

Brošuru koju je razvio REIC kao vrstu preporuka za novinare koji žele da se bave temama energije i klimatskih promjena dostupna je OVDJE

Ukoliko želite vidjeti sadržaj treninga - dostupan je na slijedećim linkovima:

Tema 1: Prilagođavanje novinarskog jezika svim građanima – energetske i klimatske teme

Tema 2: Osnovni uvod u energetske i klimatske teme

Tema 3: Klimatske promjene – Utjecaj i prilagođavanje

Tema 4: Socio-ekonomski aspekti energetske tranzicije

Tema 5: Izvještavanje o energetskim i klimatskim temama sa socio-ekonomskim naglaskom

Sadržaj treninga je autorsko djelo predavača i vlasništvo organizacije REIC.

Projekat je podržan od strane European Climate Foundation.

 

by REIC Admin

Empowering Communities through Renewable Energy: DECA Learning Lab on Energy Communities in Portugal

The DECA project is excited to announce an upcoming case-study-based webinar as part of our Learning Labs under Activity 1.4. This engaging session will take place on February 28, 2025, at 11:00 CET and will spotlight how local communities in Portugal are pioneering renewable energy initiatives to combat energy poverty and drive digital innovation in energy sharing.

Webinar Focus: Citizen-Led Energy Communities

Rather than a theoretical discussion, this webinar will dive into a real-world success story—The Telheiras/Lumiar Renewable Energy Community—a citizen-driven initiative that is redefining local energy management and accessibility in Portugal.

Guest Speaker:

Miguel Macias Sequeira
PhD Candidate & Coordinator of the Telheiras/Lumiar Renewable Energy Community

What You Will Learn:

  • The structure and creation process of the Telheiras/Lumiar Energy Community and how it serves energy-poor households
  • Digital tools enabling efficient energy sharing and accessibility
  • The broader impact of energy communities on Portugal’s energy transition
  • A 10-step practical guide for replicating this community-led model elsewhere

Event Details:

This webinar is an open learning opportunity for all—from policymakers to energy practitioners, researchers, and local communities—to gain insights into the transformative power of community-driven renewable energy initiatives.

Find promotional materials, including social media visuals, posters, and example announcements, on the Sharedrive to help spread the word, thanks to the efforts of our team member Martina.

Join us in this interactive and practical session as we explore how local action can shape the future of decentralized, digitalized, and democratized energy systems in Europe!

Share and invite your network. Looking forward to seeing you there!

#RenewableEnergy #DanubeRegion #InterregDanube #Sustainability #energycommunities #CommunityEmpowerment #EnergyTransition #CommunityEnergy #DECA #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability

by REIC Admin

Poziv medijskim kućama u BiH: BESPLATNI In-House trening za novinare i urednike

Broj mjesta je ograničen – prijavite se odmah!

U okviru projekta organizacije REIC, "Inicijativa za medijsko osnaživanje u oblasti klime i energije – Bosna i Hercegovina" (CLIMB-BH), organizujemo BESPLATNI In-House trening za novinare i urednike:

Naslov treninga:
„Prilagođavanje novinarskog jezika svim građanima – energetske i klimatske teme“

Šta nudimo?

  • Jednodnevni trening (6 sati) ili trening u tri odvojena dana, prema vašem rasporedu
  • Lokacija: U vašoj redakciji
  • Rok za održavanje treninga: Najkasnije do 15. februara 2025.
  • Minimalan broj učesnika: 5 (uključujući urednika)
  • Osvježenje: Ručak za učesnike nakon završetka treninga

Šta obuhvata trening?

  • Ključne aspekte izvještavanja o klimi i energiji
  • Prilagođavanje novinarskog jezika široj javnosti

Kako se prijaviti?

Kontaktirajte nas kako bismo dogovorili termin i prilagodili program vašim potrebama:

Detaljna agenda treninga biće dostavljena po potvrdi termina.

Zašto učestvovati?

Unaprijedite svoje izvještavanje o ključnim temama vezanim za klimu i energiju, uz podršku stručnog tima. Ne propustite priliku da obogatite svoje profesionalne vještine i sadržaj prilagodite potrebama šire javnosti.

Ovaj trening je deo projekta CLIMB-BH, podržanog od strane European Climate Foundation.

Pridružite se i postanite deo ove značajne inicijative!

by REIC Admin

Reflecting on the Success of Project GETA

Energy poverty in the rural Western Balkans has been a persistent challenge, with barriers such as low awareness, lack of education, and limited access to energy efficiency programs. Through Project GETA, we aimed to address these issues by empowering youth workers to become energy advisors and equipping them to guide rural youth toward a smarter energy future.

Over the course of the project, we developed tools, introduced innovative training schemes, and laid the groundwork for a sustainable energy transition in rural areas.

Watch this retrospective video to revisit our journey and celebrate the impact of Project GETA! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this incredible mission.

While the project may be complete, its legacy lives on in the empowered youth and communities now embracing sustainable energy practices.

#EnergyEfficiency #YouthEmpowerment #RuralDevelopment #SustainableFuture #ProjectGETA

by REIC Admin