26. October 2023

HU-GE TRANSFORMATOR 1.0: HUngarian-GErman Cooperation for TRANSFORMing Community Energy 1.0

Project from the international promotion

Keywords: citizen energy, climate protection, renewable energies, capacity building, communication

Subject and goals of the project

The project focuses on the further development of citizen energy within the framework of a sustainable energy transition, which is also supported by civil society, as well as on the implementation of citizen energy projects in Hungary.

The aim of the planned project is to increasingly establish citizen energy concepts in Hungary. Although the framework conditions in Hungary for such concepts have already improved, there is a lack of attractive model projects and business models as well as sufficient information on the subject. This is where the project consortium comes in in terms of capacity building, which will be based on the structures of the successful BBEn. Work is underway to establish a similar network in Hungary. In detail, the following project steps are planned:

Consultancy of the establishing municipal energy development agency in Hungary by BBEn in order to establish itself both organizationally and financially. The approach is a step-by-step process: the already prepared concept of the community energy development agency will be refined through learning-by-doing in the course of the project,
Consulting and coaching of citizen energy initiatives in Germany,
Compilation of best practice examples from Germany in Hungarian,
Directly support currently developing citizen energy projects with subject matter expertise,
Development of model examples in Hungary,
Establishment of a network of potential citizen energy initiatives and organizers in Hungary as well as a knowledge platform,
Creation of the legal and organizational prerequisites for the establishment of a municipal energy development agency in Hungary along the lines of BBEn.

The project is characterized by comprehensive measures for participation and public relations. The project results will result in a comprehensive guide for establishing citizen energy projects in Hungary.

Innovation and exemplary nature of the project

The project aims to achieve significant progress compared to the current state of citizen energy in Germany and Hungary. In Germany, new concepts for a citizen:driven energy transition are being developed with a focus on energy sharing; in Hungary, a new development agency is being established that promotes energy communities in Hungary through replicable business models, cooperative business models, cooperative governance models, financial innovations and legal-technical prosumer solutions.

Social and entrepreneurial innovations will also play an important role in the project. The energy communities themselves are social innovations of citizen:s that drive the energy transition and provide communities and citizen*s with the knowledge and tools for active participation in the renewable energy sector. Energy communities also contribute to rural development and the prevention of energy poverty by keeping the added value in the region. Furthermore, the citizen energy projects are implemented and presented at specific locations.

In Germany, the project also aims to implement exemplary demonstration projects by expanding special consulting for citizen energy communities throughout Germany, developing best-practice manuals, and implementing coaching for pilot energy communities. EUCENA Massive Open Online Course will give the existing citizen energy scene in Germany, which is active on the ground – but often unnoticed – the opportunity to educate themselves and learn about other good practices.

Special aspects of the project

Citizen energy concepts are based on common good principles, combined with distinctly democratic and participatory approaches. The democratic participative approach is connected with intercultural communication. Through a German-Hungarian exchange, the project promotes diversity in energy communities by deliberately seeking the integration of women, ethnic minorities and the socially disadvantaged.

Citizen energy aims at local sustainability and economic multiplication. One focus of the project is on small and medium-sized enterprises and NGOs. Accordingly, the project also pursues the following SDGs: 5 (Gender Equality), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 10 (Reduced Inequalities), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13 (Climate Action).

Funding theme 6: Renewable energy, energy saving and efficiency

Project Implementation:

Places of activity: Germany and Hungary

Funding period: January 2023 to December 2024

Project costs: Total volume: 255,251 euros, DBU funding: 125,000 euros

DBU-AZ: 38500

Status: 26.10.2023