Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Danube

Date of latest update: 2025-12-17

Description

Description (EN):

The Danube Energy Communities Accelerator (DECA) project aims to test how citizen-led renewable energy actions can be accelerated across the Danube Region; making a meaningful impact on the region’s transition to higher renewable energy use, energy independence, climate neutrality, and prosperity. This project responds to the Interreg Danube programme priority, and common needs in the region, to accelerate renewable energy deployment, including through “testing of solutions for the production of decentralized renewable energy, and supporting the empowerment of renewables self-consumers and communities”. Accelerating renewable energy uptake is critical to reducing dependency on imported fossil fuels and reducing the vulnerability of communities in the Danube Region. Currently, available renewable energy resources in the region are underutilised - when they provide ample opportunities for increasing energy security, local prosperity and moving the region towards climate neutrality. Citizen-owned energy systems are increasingly recognised as a key driver of a just energy transition towards renewables. Community energy action enables decentralised RES production and more equitable local sharing of value generated from RES. Co-benefits of community energy action include cost-savings, employment opportunities, improved energy security, community reinvestment and shared financial returns, skills development, improved social connections, resilience, and people being warmer and healthier in their homes. Citizen-led renewable energy community initiatives are therefore an innovative and important way for communities to respond to current energy, climate and economic challenges. Unfortunately, community energy action remains under-developed and inadequately supported in the Danube Region. To change this, we believe that communities need: 1. Capacity development targeted to help citizens and organisations develop the skills and confidence they need for creating impactful community energy actions. 2. Solutions to support creation of pipelines of local community energy actions that will have the greatest benefits 3. Mechanisms to effectively sustain acceleration support for community energy action through national hubs and a regional alliance for scaling across the region. The DECA project aims to address these common challenges through jointly developed solutions, pilots and a strategy for accelerating community energy across the region. Through pooling of knowledge, experiences, skills, networks and expertise, this transnational collaboration and co-creation process will enable our 12 diverse and experienced project partners to jointly develop, promote and adopt the following common solutions to shared challenges: 1. Community Energy Capacity Development Solution (Output 1.1) – trainings covering the fundamentals of community energy initiatives and social enterprise skills, this will be jointly developed, tested (Output 1.2), then refined for adoption and ongoing use. 2. Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit (Output 2.1) - including a core methodology for robust community energy action development and a set of replicable, innovative community energy action concepts that can be adopted and tailored to local applications. This solution will have been tested through application in local pilot projects (Output 2.2), then refined for adoption and ongoing use. These outputs will benefit the whole community energy ecosystem in the region, which comprises of citizens and community groups, support organisations (sectoral agencies, NGO’s, utilities, education institution), policy makers and strategic bodies (local, regional, national authorities and territorial institutions) and private sector (business support organisations and SME’s that are technology, service and product providers for renewable energy systems). These solutions will be tested through piloting in 9 countries of the Danube programme area: Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Hungary, Romania and Serbia. Ultimately, we will use learnings from this work to develop a Danube Community Energy Acceleration Strategy (Output 3.1) - for a network of community energy acceleration hubs that will sustain and expand support for community renewable energy action across the Danube Region, into the future. Together, the developed solutions and strategy will provide a powerful common platform from which to accelerate innovation and action on community energy across the region, and make a meaningful impact on the region’s clean energy transition. By the end of the project we will ensure to have activated a regional alliance of project partners and wider stakeholders committed to adopt, use, extend and scale the project outputs. Throughout this project, we will generate and share with a wide audience the innovative solutions, pilot results, the strategy, insights and lessons learned.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The project has made initial strides in promoting and supporting community-led renewable energy initiatives across the Danube region. The first milestones have been achieved through a coordinated effort among all partners, setting the stage for the growth and development of sustainable community energy solutions. The milestones are as follows: Local Energy Transition Needs Assessment - The project completed a comprehensive assessment of the community energy landscape in the participating countries. This assessment identified critical barriers, including regulatory, financial, technical, and social challenges, which vary across the region. The insights gained from this assessment are crucial for tailoring interventions to local contexts and have directly informed the design of capacity-building activities. Community Energy Training Programme - A collaborative effort among all project partners has launched the development of a comprehensive training program aimed at empowering local leaders and community actors. Developed through the joint efforts of 11 cross-sectoral working groups, the program is designed to empower local leaders and community actors by enhancing their skills in social entrepreneurship, governance, and organisational capacities. The training programme addresses various aspects of community energy, from operational models to stakeholder engagement, financing options, etc. The training content, which draws on best practices and leverages existing resources from recognised organisations and the knowledge and expertise of participating partners, is being carefully crafted into a joint training programme resource that will later be tested locally. This collaborative, transnational approach ensures the training is relevant and adaptable to diverse local contexts. Transnational Learning Labs and Study Visits - The project has laid the groundwork for a series of transnational learning labs and study visits. These initiatives are designed to facilitate continuous learning and reflection among project partners and community participants. The learning labs will provide spaces for collaborative learning, problem-solving and deliberation of new initiatives, while the study visits will offer firsthand insights into successful community energy projects. Together, these activities are expected to significantly enhance the capacity of participants and contribute to the overall success of the project. The project has established a strong foundation for driving community-led renewable energy initiatives in the Danube region. The added value of this ongoing transnational cooperation is gathered in the shared knowledge, resources, and innovative approaches that are being cultivated across borders, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable energy future. Under the Interreg Danube programme, the Danube Energy Communities Accelerator (DECA) project addresses the urgent need to enhance the adoption of renewable energy through citizen-led initiatives across the Danube Region. The DECA project aligns with the programme's priority of promoting a greener, low-carbon Danube Region by supporting the integration of renewable energy sources in the energy and transport sectors. The pathway to achieving the project's overarching objective spans 2.5 years of collective work across the partnership and diverse Danuban territories. In the first year of DECA project implementation, the following activities were activated: - Activities under the SO1 Cluster focus on developing and testing a scalable capacity-building program to enhance citizens' capacities and support organizations in the Danube Region in designing and creating impactful community energy projects. - Activities under the SO2 Cluster are directed towards developing a toolkit solution that will support the development of community energy actions at scale. While no outputs were finalised by the end of year one of the project, significant work has been undertaken towards achieving the desired outputs. O 1.1 Community Energy Capacity Development Solution consists of community energy training, a capacity-building solution that covers the fundamentals of establishing community energy initiatives and social enterprise skills. The training modules part of the output has been jointly developed by the partnership in year 1. In the next stage, this training programme will be tested by local pilots and refined by the end of 2025, ready for ongoing adoption and use beyond the project. The final output is planned for RP4. O 1.2 Community Energy Capacity Development Programme Pilots consists of a transnational pilot delivery of the community energy capacity-development programme (trainings), supporting stakeholders and citizens in each participating country and transnationally. In year one, project partners launched communication and promotion efforts and designed local training testing plans. Once pilots are on their way, we will capture lessons for improving the training programme solution and regional scaling. The output is planned for RP4. O 1.3 Transnational Learning for Community Energy Acceleration is ongoing through the activation of learning labs and study visits. So far, two of the five in-person learning labs/study visits have been achieved in 2024, involving all project partners, with the third happening in early March (also involving associated partners). This output should be finalised in RP4. O 2.1 Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit Solution consists of a jointly developed and tested Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit Solution based on a Community Energy project development methodology and a set of replicable community energy action concepts that can be adopted and tailored to local applications. The initial steps have been taken on the development of the toolkit methodology and renewable energy action concepts through internal working groups. The final output is planned for RP5. O 2.2 Community Energy Pilot Projects consists of a compendium of the Business and Investment plans developed for pilot community energy actions with evidence of local commitment to adoption and implementation, and a summary of learnings from testing the Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit in the focus communities, supporting the improvement of the toolkit solution. This on-the-ground work will commence in 2025. The output is planned for RP4. During the first year, efforts focused on the needs assessment study development, strategic planning, joint training materials, and toolkit design developments. Key achievements from this phase are the completed deliverables D1.1.1 and D1.2.1., as well as several key target groups engagement activities launched. The DECA project addresses the urgent need to enhance the adoption of renewable energy through citizen-led initiatives across the Danube Region. In this period the following activities were unfolding: - Activities under the SO1 Cluster focus on developing and testing a scalable capacity-building program to enhance citizens' capacities and support organisations in the Danube Region in designing and creating impactful community energy projects. During this period, the main focus was on testing the training design and capacity-building programme developed jointly in 9 participating countries. - Activities under the SO2 Cluster are directed towards developing a toolkit solution that will support the development of community energy projects. In this period, the first version of the jointly developed Project Pipelines Toolkit has been delivered, which will be followed by local testing and improvements. - Activities under SO3 Cluster, directed towards accelerating community energy across the Danube region, have also been activated in this period. More specifically, partners worked together in working groups to develop the foundational materials, based on which the activities can take place in local environments with respect to policy analysis and development of policy recommendations; assessment of collective financing options and establishment of community energy acceleration Hubs under the joint strategy. While no outputs were completed by the end of this reporting period, significant work has been undertaken towards achieving them. O 1.1 Community Energy Capacity Development Solution consists of community energy training, a capacity-building solution that covers the fundamentals of establishing community energy initiatives and social enterprise skills. The training modules, part of the output, have been jointly developed by the partnership in year 1. In this period, the stage 1 training programme has been tested by local pilots in most of the 9 participating countries, and the feedback has been gathered to improve the training design and programme. Once the feedback is completed and analysed, the capacity building programme will be refined (in the next reporting period), ready for ongoing adoption and use beyond the project. The final output is planned for RP4. O 1.2 Community Energy Capacity Development Programme Pilots consists of testing the community energy capacity-development programme (trainings) locally, supporting stakeholders and citizens in each participating country. In RP3, most project partners have launched their training programmes locally and have gathered the feedback from participants aimed at training programme improvement. In parallel with capturing interest and engaging participants, communication and promotion efforts were conducted locally through various channels, including social media. The output is planned for RP4. O 1.3 Transnational Learning for Community Energy Acceleration is ongoing through the activation of learning labs and study visits. So far, five learning labs/study visits have been held, and the 6th is happening in autumn in Cres, Croatia (also involving associated partners). This output should be finalised in RP4. O 2.1 Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit Solution consists of a jointly developed and tested Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit Solution based on a Community Energy project development methodology and a set of replicable community energy action concepts that can be adopted and tailored to local applications. The toolkit methodology and technical concepts for renewable energy action have been developed through internal working groups. The stage 1 toolkit will now undergo testing in the local environments of the 9 participating countries. Once testing feedback is incorporated, the final version of the toolkit will be developed as the output, planned for RP5. O 2.2 Community Energy Pilot Projects consists of a compendium of business and Investment plans developed for pilot community energy actions, with evidence of local commitment to adoption and implementation, and a summary of learnings from testing the Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit in the focus communities, supporting the improvement of the toolkit solution. The on-the-ground work has commenced in this reporting period. The output is planned for RP4. O 3.1. A strategy will be developed around the goal of sustaining and scaling support for community energy across the Danube region, into the future beyond the DECA project. Each activity under this objective now has guidance and templates available for partner input. These were developed through 3 working groups of project partners. Key achievements in Rp3 include the completion of deliverable D.2.1.1, the Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit, as well as the engagement of several key target groups in participating in training and toolkit testing.

Project outputs: Community Energy Capacity Development Solution
(EN)
Community Energy Capacity Development Programme Pilots
(EN)
Transnational Learning for Community Energy Acceleration (EN)
Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit Solution
(EN)
Community Energy Pilot Projects
(EN)
Danube Community Energy Acceleration Strategy
(EN)

Thematic information

Institutional cooperation and cooperation networks Renewable energy

Priority: (VI-B_D_2) Priority 2 - A greener, low- carbon Danube Region

Priority specific objective: RSO2.2. Promoting renewable energy in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2001, including the sustainability criteria set out therein

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 046 Support to entities that provide services contributing to the low carbon economy and to resilience to climate change, including awareness-raising measures

Partners (12)

Lead Partner: E-zavod, Zavod za celovite razvojne rešitve

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI-46683518

Department: /

Address: Čučkova ul, 2250 Ptuj, Slovenia

Department address: Čučkova ulica , 2250 Ptuj, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.ezavod.si/en

Total budget: EUR 247 985.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 198 388.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 597.00

Contractors:

Name: ML, Matevž Božič s.p.
VAT registration or tax identification number: 91768845
Name: BRAHAJ PEKARSTVO d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI16160690
Name: Družba SPAR Slovenija d.o.o.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI32156782
Name: Mestna občina Ptuj
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI85675237
Name: VITAL GOSTINSTVO D.O.O.
VAT registration or tax identification number: SI50188640

Agenția pentru Managementul Energiei și Protecția Mediului Brașov

Name: Agenția pentru Managementul Energiei și Protecția Mediului Brașov

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 15552380

Address: Mihail Kogălniceanu, 500090 Brasov, Romania

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://www.abmee.ro/

Total budget: EUR 189 970.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 151 976.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 994.00

Centar za Održivi Razvoj Energetike d.o.o. Niš

Name: Centar za Održivi Razvoj Energetike d.o.o. Niš

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 112876250

Address: Ćirila i Metodija, 18000 Niš, Serbia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://core-ni.rs

Total budget: EUR 137 590.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 110 072.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 27 518.00

Contractors:

Name: Dream Pictures Nis
VAT registration or tax identification number: 64218689
Name: BLeisure DMC doo
VAT registration or tax identification number: 110357574

Magyar Természetvédők Szövetsége

Name: Magyar Természetvédők Szövetsége

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HU19014654

Address: Üllői út, 1091 Budapest, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: https://mtvsz.hu

Total budget: EUR 161 960.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 129 568.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 32 392.00

Agencija za razvoj i podršku poslovanju

Name: Agencija za razvoj i podršku poslovanju

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 31/31-01321-2

Address: Bulevar crnogorskih junaka, 81250 Cetinje, Montenegro

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: http://www.cetinje.biz

Total budget: EUR 98 720.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 78 976.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 744.00

Contractors:

Name: Nikola Radunovic
VAT registration or tax identification number: 2012974250069

Regionalni centar za informisanje i obrazovanje iz održivog razvoja iz Jugoistočne Evrope

Name: Regionalni centar za informisanje i obrazovanje iz održivog razvoja iz Jugoistočne Evrope

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 4201057800003

Address: Topal Osman Paše , 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.reic.org.ba

Total budget: EUR 174 800.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 139 840.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 34 960.00

Contractors:

Name: CEDES ltd
VAT registration or tax identification number: 201163150000

EVTZ Alpine Pearls mbH

Name: EVTZ Alpine Pearls mbH

Partner’s ID if not PIC: ATU62244468

Address: Techendorf, 9762 Weissensee, Austria

Legal status: public

Organisation type: EGTC

Website: https://www.alpine-pearls.com/en/

Total budget: EUR 189 720.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 151 776.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 944.00

Technická univerzita v Košiciach

Name: Technická univerzita v Košiciach

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SK2020486710

Address: Letna, 04001 Košice, Slovakia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.tuke.sk

Total budget: EUR 204 730.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 163 784.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 40 946.00

Otočna razvojna agencija d.o.o.

Name: Otočna razvojna agencija d.o.o.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR95999983379

Address: Creskog statuta, 51557 Cres, Croatia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.facebook.com/OTRA-308447476002537/

Total budget: EUR 139 660.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 111 728.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 27 932.00

KLIK, energetska zadruga

Name: KLIK, energetska zadruga

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HR17145396514

Address: Trg Franje Tuđmana , 48260 Križevci, Croatia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://klikninaodrzivo.com/

Total budget: EUR 137 850.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 110 280.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 27 570.00

Korimako - zavod za svetovanje in strateško načrtovanje, Goriški vrh

Name: Korimako - zavod za svetovanje in strateško načrtovanje, Goriški vrh

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 8794847000

Address: Goriški Vrh, 2370 Dravograd, Slovenia

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

Website: http://www.korimako.org

Total budget: EUR 182 380.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 145 904.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 36 476.00

Goriška Lokalna Energetska Agencija, Nova Gorica

Name: Goriška Lokalna Energetska Agencija, Nova Gorica

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SI78059038

Address: Trg Edvarda Kardelja, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.golea.si/

Total budget: EUR 179 970.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 143 976.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 35 994.00

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Agency of Brasov for the Management of Energy and Environment

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

Center for Sustainable Energy Development llc

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

National Society of Conservationists

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

Agency for development and business support

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

Regional Education and Information Centre for sustainable development in South East Europe

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

EGTC Alpine Pearls ltd

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

Technická univerzita v Košiciach

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

Island Development Agency

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

KLIK, energy cooperative

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

Korimako

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

Goriška Local Energy Agency, Nova Gorica

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Partners and Projects info

E-institute, Institute for Comprehensive Development Solutions

Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Project acronym: DECA

Project ID: DRP0200567

Project start date: 2024-01-01

Project end date: 2026-06-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Energy Communities Repository& Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub. (EN) | EU Commission funded projects offer technical assistance support on development of community energy actions. We will draw on offered general technical support for community energy as part of our capacity building work, and connect projects where possible using their application process to seek further advisory support for specific community energy actions (EN), SHAREs (H2020) (EN) | SHAREs H2020 project is empowering communities through supporting local heroes to establish or scale up energy communities. This project focuses on networking of advanced and beginner energy communities, with mentoring of pilot communities in CEE countries by established pioneer communities from Western Europe. Our project would complement this project by sharing experience among pilot communities in similar situation. (EN), SCCALE 203050
(H2020) (EN) | SCCALE 203050 aims to accelerate the creation and growth of energy communities across Europe in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy production, district heating and more in households and non-residential buildings. We will look to exchange lessons learned with the SCCALE 203050 project team and partners (EN), DECIDE
(H2020)
(EN) | DECIDE is a Horizon 2020 project that aims to gain a better understanding of how energy communities and energy efficiency services are established and managed. Learnings from community energy pilots, and data from their Energy Communities Hub on regulatory developments related to Renewable Energy Communities, and Citizens Energy Communities. (EN), COMPILE
(H2020)
(EN) | COMPILE H2020 project aims to show the opportunities of ‘energy islands’ for decarbonisation of energy supply, community building and creating environmental and socioeconomic benefits. Build on results of pilot sites in Luče (Slovenia) and Križevci (Croatia) where a peer-to-peer energy market is being tested around the technology park.
(EN), INNOVATE
(H2020)
(EN) | INNOVATE H2020 project focussed on how to set up a one-stop-shop for models for integrated home energy renovation. Use of ‘one stop shop’ guidance for design of community renovation projects (EN), SOLAR ADRIA
(EUKI) (EN) | EUKI project Enabling municipalities in the Adriatic region to improve the development of solar energy systems in urban areas, with pilots in Koper in Slovenia and Starigrad in Croatia.
Will build on community energy development around Koper in Primorska Slovenia (EN), ENES-CE
(INTERREG Central)
(EN) | INTERREG Central Project focusses on improving implementation of local energy plans in Central Europe with greater active role of citizens, including supporting development of citizen investments and energy co-operatives.
Will build on ENES-CE development of community energy around Koper in Primorska Slovenia, and learnings on effective community energy developments in Central Europe.
(EN), European Citizen Energy Academy
(EUKI)
(EN) | EUKI project focussed on creating and sharing the necessary knowledge to increase the number of energy communities in Southeast Europe. Learnings from special attention given to gender justice and business model innovation. (EN), CrowdFundPort
(INTERREG Central)
(EN) | INTERREG Central project aiming to improve skills and competences of all relevant stakeholder groups to prepare them for taking advantage of the crowdfunding
We will build on learnings for the development of workable community financing models in SE Europe for energy projects.
(EN), CROWDSTREAM
(INTERREG DANUBE)
(EN) | The INTERREG DANUBE project “CrowdStream – Crowdfunding to stream innovation” aims at improving the effectiveness of public/private business support for innovative enterprises to access alternative financing.
Building on learnings for usage and development of alternative financing models for energy projects.
(EN), CLINEMI Krk-Cres-Lošinj
(H2020 / EUCF)
(EN) | European City Facility project to develop a comprehensive plan for sustainable mobility and transport of the islands of Cres, Lošinj and Krk
The investment concept for the e-mobility developed by the project will be used for identification of new project pipelines and community investments in Cres/Lošinj archipelago.
(EN), ACEICE
(Interreg Central Europe)
(EN) | Proposal submitted in 2023 also focusses on community energy support, but in the Central Europe region. Proposal has some common project partners. In the event that both projects are successful, there will be positive synergies. Project partners will be careful to exclude any double counting of work, in open consultation with the Joint Secretariats. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 045 335.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 636 268.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Local Energy Transition Needs Assessment Report
Community Energy Training Programme Design and Content
Refined Community Energy Training Programme Design and Content
Capacity Development Programme Testing Report
Transnational Learning Report
Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit
Improved Community Energy Project Pipelines Toolkit
Business and Investment Plans for Community Energy Actions
Community Energy Pilot Project Learnings Report
Community Activation and Uptake Report
Policy Lab Insights Report
Community Energy Collective Investment Options Appraisal
Danube Community Energy Acceleration Strategy

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyDanubeRegion The DECA project responds to the EU Strategy for the Danube Region: Priority Area 2 – Sustainable Energy. This priority aims to support the green transition and increase environmental sustainability in the region through a shift to sustainable energy. The DECA project with its intent to unlock the potential of renewable energy production based on community led energy actions contributes to this EUSDR priority.
Community energy is an underused but viable means of diversifying sources of energy production and increasing the share of renewables across the Danube region. DECA will work on solutions to acceleration community renewable energy in the region.
Activation of energy communities and their investment capacities for renewable energy projects has strong potential to contribute to achievement of the ESUDR PA 02 target of helping countries to reach national renewable energy target by 2030 in order to contribute to the EU goal of 30% renewable energy share by 2030, while complying with National Emission Ceilings.
Furthermore, the DECA project will contribute to EUSDR PA 02, Action Area 6 “To exchange best practices and to develop activities to decrease energy poverty, to increase the protection of vulnerable consumers and to empower consumers to engage in the energy market.” In particular, with empowering consumers in the energy market through accelerating development of energy communities and community energy projects.
During the project, we will invite to the learning and collaboration opportunities the relevant EUSDR Priority Area coordinators and steering/working group members.
EUSDR Priority Area coordinators steering/working group members will also be engaged with lessons learned and a view to their take up of the developed project solutions and Danube Community Energy Acceleration Strategy - to support development of further local energy actions across the region.
EuropeanGreenDeal The EU envisages reaching climate neutrality by 2050 and emissions reduction of at least 55% by 2030, (compared to 1990). These targets have been enshrined in the European Climate Law and the European Green Deal.
The Green Deal aims at turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities for all places and making the transition just and inclusive for all.
More community and citizen-led action is going to be fundamental to reaching these goals, and indeed without many more community energy initiatives, the EU Climate Goals may prove unobtainable. The DECA project responds to this challenge
TerritorialAgenda2030 The Territorial Agenda 2030 provides an action-oriented EU framework to promote territorial cohesion in Europe and a future for all places. It has two overarching objectives, a Just Europe and a Green Europe; and states that European citizens and enterprises need access to sustainable, secure and affordable energy supplies. This is important for local and regional development.
Significant imports from third countries vulnerable to economic or political instability increase problems for energy security. Volatile energy prices and rising emissions highlight the need for sustainable and resilient solutions such as renewable energy, greener, decarbonised economic activities, increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy consumption. Insufficient energy infrastructure and dependence on existing networks call for diversified energy production and supply, as well as energy market development and integration. The Territorial agenda 2030 sees renewable energy as a sustainable and resilient solution to support to reach a healthy and green Europe.
DECA’s aim is to unlock the potential of a more diversified energy production based on community led renewable energy actions that utilise secure and local energy renewable resources, provide affordable, clean energy to communities, are environmentally sustainable and in line with DNSH principles and also comply with EU Directive on air quality.
The Territorial Agenda 2030 also puts a high priority on decreasing inequalities between people and places, which is another priority that the approach to community energy taken in the DECA project will respond to directly - with a focus on working with communities in the Danube Region. Communities need help to put such strategic ambitions into action. This project helps to achieve this.
Other The EU Mission on Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities aims to mobilise local authorities, citizens, businesses, investors as well as regional and national authorities to achieve at least 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030 (and ensure that these cities act as experimentation and innovation hubs to enable all European cities to follow suit by 2050).
The mission recognises that rapid decarbonisation will only be possible by ensuring that citizens are at the forefront of creating community-led change. Community energy actions will help cities overall plans and progress towards the mission.
Other The New European Bauhaus aims to connect the European Green Deal to local living spaces, building a sustainable and inclusive future that is beautiful for eyes, minds, and souls. Improving quality-of-life and citizen co-creation and management of the built environment are key goals.
Community energy action is a great way for communities to start building pathways to help them co-create such a future, in line with the principles of the New European Bauhaus.
Other Through the Clean Energy for all Europeans package, the EU has introduced the concept of energy communities in its legislation, notably as citizen energy communities and renewable energy communities under the revised Renewable Energy Directive ((EU) 2018/2001) and Directive on Common Rules for the Internal Electricity Market ((EU) 2019/944). This proposal responds to this policy area by supporting actions that use these new policies/regulations, and test real-world application in different national contexts.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

ISI - Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across the borders, Measurement unit: No. of organisations

Delivered result indicator(s):

Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across the borders: 20.0

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Danube

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-12-17

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

138 / 138 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 413 / 1 413 (100%)

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Danube Energy Communities Accelerator

Description

Thematic information

Partners (12)

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Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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