Building Knowledge for Community Energy in Križevci

On September 22–23, 2025, Croatian partners in the DECA project gathered in Križevci for a two-day Core Training. The training, organized by OTRA (Island Development Agency from Cres) and KLIK Energy Cooperative (Križevci), aimed to support citizens, local activists, and community members eager to learn how to actively participate in the green transition.

Energy bills are rising, the market is unstable, and the future seems uncertain. Yet a practical solution is within reach: energy communities. Across Europe, neighbours, friends, citizens, businesses, and local authorities are already producing and sharing clean energy. They are no longer only consumers — they are also producers and drivers of local development.

This training introduced participants to the foundations of energy communities and gave them practical tools to act:

• How to motivate people, gather members, and lead a community

• How to finance and develop projects

• How to manage projects and build advocacy skills

• How to connect with others who share the same vision

The sessions also provided real-life examples from Croatia and Europe where citizens have successfully launched community energy projects. Participants had the opportunity to share their own ideas, which will serve as starting points for future local energy initiatives.

Community energy ensures independence from political and market shocks, reduces costs, and brings new value to local communities. In Croatia, momentum is growing thanks to a new law and a new model of electricity billing, which will take effect on January 01. 2026, encouraging collective production and consumption of renewable energy.

Through DECA – Danube Energy Communities Accelerator, supported by Interreg Danube, OTRA and KLIK continue to collaborate with partners across the Danube region to strengthen the foundation for community energy. Following this training, our experts remain available to assist communities in creating business plans, setting up legal entities, and turning their ideas into reality.