Traditional Energy news

• Europe sets the rules, Heat Heroes make them work

  05-10-2026 09:23 via energy-cities.eu
  
  No directive will heat a single home on its own. That work happens in cities and towns, led by local authorities and the people we call our Heat Heroes. So what does it take to get them there?Europe’s ambition to leave fossil fuel behindOver the past few years, the EU has been building clearer frameworks to move away from fossil fuels towards cleaner, more secure and more affordable energy systems. Since the European Green Deal, this ambition has been translated into legislation, from the
  
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• A chill in the air for the EU budget

  15-10-2026 11:29 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Temperatures are not the only thing falling as autumn begins. The future EU budget is shrinking too. For months, everyone has been waiting for proposals from the European Council, chaired by Ireland. Meanwhile, Parliament is sending mixed messages, with its various committees pulling in different directions. The advantage of the Irish proposal, published on 10 October, is that it offers a comprehensive solution. It seeks a compromise between the so-called “frugal” countries (led by G
  
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• Supporting energy communities just got easier: free course for municipalities

  13-10-2026 10:48 via energy-cities.eu
  
  In March 2026, the European Court of Auditors delivered a sobering verdict in its special report “Energy communities – Potential yet to be fulfilled”: Citizen initiatives often struggle to get timely support from municipal administrations. This is a gap the report links to a lack of local expertise. That gap, cities can close it themselves through targeted training. The free Espresso online course is both short and efficient – just like a shot of coffee is.
  Mapping &
  
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• Next Annual Forum will be in Athens in April 2027

  13-10-2026 09:54 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Our next Annual Forum will take place in Athens, Greece, on 14–16 April 2027. As a member since 2025, Athens will welcome our members and urban practitioners for three days of exchange, inspiration and collective action. Together, participants will explore how to build the fair, resilient and liveable cities we need now for tomorrow. For us, this edition is special. Europe is often viewed from its centre, with cities, narratives and solutions highlighted from similar angles and p
  
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• SPARKLE Peer-to-Peer Sessions: exchange with and learn from other cities

  29-09-2026 18:23 via energy-cities.eu
  
  SPARKLE supports cities across Europe to accelerate their local energy transition by strengthening skills, collaboration and practical implementation. Through peer-to-peer exchange, capacity building and shared learning, the project helps cities learn from one another, tackle common challenges and turn ambitious climate and energy goals into action.From October 2026 to March 2027, we are holding short, monthly, free peer-to-peer online sessions, open to any city and/or their partners to particip
  
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• Peer-to-Peer Sessions: exchange with and learn from other cities

  29-09-2026 18:23 via energy-cities.eu
  
  SPARKLE supports cities across Europe to accelerate their local energy transition by strengthening skills, collaboration and practical implementation. Through peer-to-peer exchange, capacity building and shared learning, the project helps cities learn from one another, tackle common challenges and turn ambitious climate and energy goals into action.From October 2026 to Autumn 2027, we are holding short, monthly, free peer-to-peer online sessions, open to any city and/or their partners to partici
  
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• Local flexibility: Utrecht’s shared cars become batteries for the city

  23-09-2026 04:57 via energy-cities.eu
  
  As solar panels spread across Europe’s cities, a new challenge is emerging: how can all that clean electricity be used when it is produced, without overwhelming already congested grids?Utrecht is turning part of the answer into an everyday service. Its shared electric cars do more than moving people from one place to another. When parked, 50 of them can store locally produced solar power and return electricity to the grid when demand rises.
  The bold result of this vehicle-to-grid equipped
  
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• “The idea to set up a One-Stop Shop came from civil society activists who asked the city council to act.”

  18-09-2026 10:02 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Valencia is one of Spain’s largest cities with a population of more than 800,000 inhabitants. Inefficient homes and energy poverty, affecting currently one out of five households, are among the city’s biggest challenges. In 2019, Valencia Climate and Energy Foundation created three physical and one mobile municipal energy offices. Their first objective was to fight citizens‘ ‚energy illiteracy‘ and to educate them on some energy basics, such as understanding energy
  
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• SOTEU 2026: Ursula von der Leyen highlights the cost of fossil fuel dependence but does not set a clear phase-out vision

  17-09-2026 09:37 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Europe’s latest energy crisis and a summer of deadly heat have made the costs of fossil fuel dependence impossible to ignore. In her 2026 State of the Union address, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recognised these risks and set out measures on electrification and climate resilience. But for Europe to become truly energy independent, a clearer vision for moving away from fossil fuels is still needed.An approach to resilience across governance levelsClimate adaptation mat
  
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• Change is already happening, and it won’t stop

  17-09-2026 08:30 via energy-cities.eu
  
  What a summer! There is no need to list everything we have been through together over the past few months. The facts are not just statistics, maps and commentary. For many, they are traumatic experiences, and there is a dizzying sense that there will be no return to “normality.” “After decades of calling for change, being IN the transition is something else entirely”, my colleague Thomas Brose, director of Climate Alliance, pointed out to me. And that is indeed what we ar
  
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• Surviving heatwaves, designing liveable cities 

  16-09-2026 14:46 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Summer 2026 gave Europe yet another very stark reminder that climate change is disrupting life in our cities. June was the hottest on record in western Europe, with temperatures 3.06°C above the 1991–2020 average. July followed as the second hottest month on record, and August kept the heat going.  And heat is not just uncomfortable. It can be deadly.  Extreme heat is Europe’s deadliest weather-related hazard, accounting for around 95% of deaths linked to weather a
  
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• How should we talk about sufficiency in France, Romania and Spain?

  14-09-2026 08:23 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Depending on the national context, energy sufficiency can take different forms and be addressed through different topics. The size of a city, the living standards of its residents and its history all influence how sufficiency is understood and discussed. In some contexts, the term “frugality” is used instead.Focusing on low-tech and people Low-tech and people could well be Lorient’s motto! In partnership with the City of Lorient, the local Energy and Climate Agency has bee
  
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• When public solar roofs turn into a flexible and collective regional resource

  08-09-2026 15:56 via energy-cities.eu
  
  For many towns, installing solar panels is no longer the hard part. The harder question comes afterwards: how can locally generated electricity be used where and when it brings the greatest value? A school may export surplus power during the holidays while a nearby swimming pool or pumping station still buys electricity from the market.The eleven municipalities of Salzburger Seenland, a region of 44,000 people in Austria’s Salzburg Lake District, decided that municipal boundaries should no
  
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• Turning separate solar installations into a flexible regional resource

  08-09-2026 15:56 via energy-cities.eu
  
  For many towns, installing solar panels is no longer the hard part. The harder question comes afterwards: how can locally generated electricity be used where and when it brings the greatest value? A school may export surplus power during the holidays while a nearby swimming pool or pumping station still buys electricity from the market.The eleven municipalities of Salzburger Seenland, a region of 44,000 people in Austria’s Salzburg Lake District, decided that municipal boundaries should no
  
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• Learn from the SPARKLE cities’ stories

  31-08-2026 14:44 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Is there anything more powerful than learning together?The five SPARKLE Schools gathered almost 200 participants and granted scholarships to 66 local and regional authorities from all over Europe.Learning communities around topics such as community energy, local governance, circular economy, food systems and land use, and fossil-free neighbourhoods have been set up to keep exchanging on both challenges and best practices, and to work together – thus fulfilling the SPARKLE mission.As inspir
  
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• Electrification = Energy sovereignty or simply an industrial competitiveness policy?

  23-07-2026 11:06 via energy-cities.eu
  
  On 17 July, the European Commission adopted its proposed Electrification Action Plan. At its core is a new target of 46% electrification by 2040, meaning electricity would account for twice its current share of the EU’s energy mix. This appears realistic, but will require new measures, as current policies would raise electrification to only 31%, according to Strategic perspectives. The aim is to send a clear signal to all stakeholders and show the way forward. This new target is expected t
  
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• Heating Besançon beyond gas

  21-07-2026 09:00 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Across Europe, cities are rethinking the way they heat homes and buildings to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, strengthen energy resilience, and provide more sustainable solutions for residents. In France, Besançon is taking action to accelerate the transition towards a cleaner and more local energy system.Heating is one of the main sources of CO₂ emissions across the territory, which is why the metropolitan area has placed heat decarbonisation at the heart of its climate stra
  
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• Not built for this: Heatwaves are exposing the limits of Europe’s preparedness

  15-07-2026 10:33 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Summer 2026 has already been marked with one of Europe’s most severe heatwaves. The European summer, once associated with breezy vacations and lively festivals, is increasingly defined by the oppressiveness of extreme heat. The human toll of the most recent heatwaves has been devastating. People sweltered in apartments never designed to cope with extreme heat, struggling to find fresh air or any respite from suffocating temperatur
  
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• Fostering sustainable, local food strategies

  13-07-2026 14:17 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Nestled within the Alps, Albertville (France) hosted the fifth and last SPARKLE Summer School Eat Better, Waste Less, Produce Locally: Developing Sustainable Food Systems for Resilient Cities, which gathered European local authorities interested in learning how to foster sustainable food production for their citizens.This two-day event focused on three main topics: the role of different levels of government in local food policies, support for local and sustainable food production, and the promot
  
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• When prices rise, the lights stay steady thanks to solar

  09-07-2026 07:20 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Europe’s energy debate has shifted once again. As geopolitical tensions continue to expose the risks of relying on imported energy, cities are increasingly asking a practical question: how much energy can we produce ourselves? Mediterranean cities are more and more using their solar exposure as a strategic advantage.The municipality of Aradippou (23,000 inhabitants), a pioneer in Cyprus, knows how to make most of the abundant sun. A year ago, we shared how the municipality became the count
  
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• How Bristol City Leap is using private finance to empower citizens

  03-07-2026 08:34 via energy-cities.eu
  
  As Europe swelters through another record-breaking heatwave, cities are once again under pressure to keep people safe, energy affordable and essential services running. While the headlines focus on strained power grids and soaring demand for electricity, some municipalities have been quietly building local solutions for years. Bristol is one of them. Through its Community Energy Fund, the city has channeled private investment into neighbourhood-led projects.A public-private partnership contribut
  
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• Heating Brussels Capital Region beyond gas

  24-06-2026 10:00 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Across Europe, cities are working to replace fossil gas with cleaner heating systems. This shift makes our heating independent from external markets and less vulnerable to price shocks. In the Brussels-Capital Region, this transition is being driven by a long-term vision to decarbonise heating and cooling while ensuring that no one is left behind. One of the flagship projects helping to turn that vision into reality is the Be.SHARE Project, an innovative distri
  
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• Green Golden Rule

  18-06-2026 11:21 via energy-cities.eu
  
  In an unexpected turn of events – the sort that makes politics so fascinating, precisely because it is so chaotic – the European Commission has proposed a « green golden rule ». This rule means that public investment in the energy transition, namely all investment that will make us less dependent on external energy suppliers and all investment that will enhance the resilience of our energy systems, may, up to a certain extent, be excluded from the public deficit
  
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• Trust, behaviour and the hidden drivers of the clean energy transition 

  12-06-2026 14:57 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Over two intensive days, the SPARKLE Vilnius School – Decarbonising buildings and energy districts for the benefit of all: how cities can drive the change – shifted attention away from technical solutions alone, towards the human, organisational and systemic factors that determine whether the energy transition actually happens on the ground. Held on 27-28 May 2026, the School brought together 30 participants from across Europe. Municipal r
  
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• Energy as a common good: the Danish model

  09-06-2026 12:51 via energy-cities.eu
  
  Denmark is frequently recognised as a pioneer in sustainability. The country is internationally known for its forward-thinking innovative architecture and urban planning, and its widespread cooperative approach to energy production and management. This reputation is reflected in concrete results. Throughout 2025, Danish energy communities shared a total of 200 MWh of renewable electricity among their members, according to the Danish organisation Energifællesskaber. In 2026, nearly 70% of D
  
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• European Renewable Energy Set for Huge Growth Over Next Decade

  20-03-2023 14:35
  
  New report analyses data from more than 300 sources to identify key challenges and insights. BRACKNELL, UK. 20th March 2023 – Europe will see tremendous change to its renewable energy landscape over the next decade and beyond, according to a new report by specialist consultants White Space Strategy that analysed more than 300 different data sources and was commissioned by Panasonic TOUGHBOOK. The main changes predicted include: Almost 84% of energy generated in Europe will...Source: RealWi
  
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• Knauf plans an additional production line with state-of-the-art and sustainable electric melting technology at the Novi Marof plant in Croatia

  02-03-2023 10:14
  
  Construction and insulation Group to invest around EUR 120 million in Croatia Knauf Group, a global building materials and insulation company, is significantly expanding its activities in Eastern Europe. The insulation division Knauf Insulation plans to expand the company’s existing plant in Novi Marof in northeastern Croatia by adding a new production line. The investment, worth around EUR 120 million, was announced following a meeting between the Managing Partner Alexander Knauf and the
  
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• Dr. Cindy Vestergaard is RKVST’s new vice president special projects and external relations

  16-02-2023 09:00
  
  Nuclear sector and global security blockchain expert joins leader in trustworthy digital archives and supply chain integrity, transparency and trust SANTA CLARA, Calif., and CAMBRIDGE, U.K. – February 16, 2023 – RKVST™ is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Cindy Vestergaard as vice president special projects and external relations. Cindy’s extensive experience with blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) across global supply chains, including reconcili
  
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• Data centres: UK organisations with the most servers are still unlikely to prioritise energy efficiency – research

  07-02-2023 07:00
  
  Companies with fewer ICT facilities or younger IT managers are up to twice as likely to prioritise energy efficiency, while less affluent vertical sectors seem unaware of the impact of energy efficiency on Total Cost of Ownership February 7th 2023 – London, UK – Despite the consumption by data centres of around 1% of the world’s electricity production[1], the dramatic rise in energy prices over the last 12 months and ever-more-frequent warnings from environment agencies,...Sour
  
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• Auriga Services’ partnership with IOTICS is leading the way in enabling utility companies to ‘truly share data, securely’

  23-01-2023 08:00
  
  Digital cooperation capability from IOTICS enables a decentralised data ecosystem for the Auriga Priority Services Registration and Essential Sharing Network engine. The current energy and financial crisis, combined with the severe weather conditions at the end of 2022 have been described as the ‘perfect storm’ of risks for consumers in particularly vulnerable situations. The system used to directly address and importantly help how thousands of UK individuals are prioritised, protect
  
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