Author: Maria Boatca
The Just Transition Plan aims to create equal chances for all communities transitioning from fossil-fuel intensive industries to clean energy in Europe. In the case of Jiu Valley, located in Hunedoara County, Romania, the Just Transition is key for economic recovery for one of the poorest regions in the country, slowing down young population migration and reducing social inequalities (including mitigation of energy poverty). These ambitious targets can only be met if all the stakeholders collaborate in the development of projects that meet the specific objectives of the Just Transition.
The Romanian partner of the JUSTEM project, Asociatia “Institutul Social Valea Jiului” (AISVJ), is actively involved in participating in numerous events on the topic of energy communities and the Just Transition with its particularities related to the Jiu Valley microregion. Among the events was a workshop entitled “First steps towards an energy community”.
The workshop was organized in October 2024 by the Association for Integrated Territorial Development Jiu Valley (ADTI) in collaboration with Greenpeace Romania. The target audience comprised local authorities, public institutions, SMEs and citizens interested in developing energy community projects in Hunedoara and Gorj counties, Romania. These two counties are direct beneficiaries of the Just Transition Plan.
The topics of the workshop were:
- Functioning of energy communities
- Examples of best practices
- Technical and economic models specific to Romania
- Ideas for energy communities’ projects
- Working with real technical and economic data
During the workshop, AISVJ representatives presented key ideas on correlations between JUSTEM objectives and the development of energy communities.
Starting from the idea that the Just Transition cannot happen without the contribution of citizens, energy communities represent the materialization of energy democracies. It is estimated that approximately 9.000 energy communities currently exist[1]. Potential projects by energy communities include topics such as heating, e-mobility, greenhouse (farmers and enterprises), PVs net metering and renewable energy sources, including biogas. Funding such projects from the Just Transition Territorial Plans is a natural development for regions such as Jiu Valley.
The JUSTEM project is working with communities in six European regions currently undergoing coal phaseout to support them as they transition to a more sustainable future.
[1] https://www.infoclima.ro/acasa/comunitatile-energetice-conteaza-tranzitie-justa
