International Conference "Energy Communities" in Prague

On October 18, 2021, the City of Prague hosted the international conference “Energy Communities”. The event in the Prague Mayor Residence was attended by more than 100 participants.

"Our goal is, in accordance with the Climate Plan, to involve Praguers, municipal and private companies, research institutes, universities and civic associations in a joint effort in the field of climate," said Petr Hlubuček (see picture), Deputy Mayor of the City of Prague for the Environment in his opening address.

The conference presented community approaches in renewable energies for municipalities and low-income households with examples from all over Europe. Experts from science, industry, local authorities, and politics presented and discussed different models of community participation at the international conference.The EU project SCORE contributed results from its pilot projects in Essen (DE) and Susa Valley (DE). The City of Prague introduced its Prague Climate Plan and the pilot projects of the energy community. Further presentations introduced projects from Austria and Croatia.

In the areas of sustainable energy and buildings, Prague aims, among other things, to reduce heat and gas consumption by 15% and to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 60% in electricity and heat supply. The production of energy from renewable sources is the preferred option in the city. Up to 23,000 buildings will therefore be equipped with solar and cogeneration sources of electricity. The recently established Prague Renewable Energy Community will also be a means of doing so.