What can municipalities do to stimulate and accelerate the complex process of energy transition? Various representatives of German and Dutch municipalities discussed this during a workshop on Ameland, in the context of the SAVE project (Together for the Energy Transition).
The aim of this workshop was to share municipalities’ experiences with the energy transition and to come up with concrete ideas to accelerate processes. It was also discussed how municipalities can increase citizen involvement. Acceptance and participation among citizens appear to be important for the success of the energy transition at the municipal level.
Councilor Piet IJnsen opens the workshop in the Nature Center on Ameland
Alderman Piet IJnsen of Ameland welcomed the participants to Ameland. Various participants then showed how municipalities can improve their own energy management and how citizen involvement can be increased. The results of a survey were also shared among SAVE’s three intended target groups: citizens, companies and municipalities. Based on these results, a number of targeted master classes will be developed in the coming period in the field of energy innovation in and for companies. Furthermore, a set of best practices is being developed within the project for creating awareness among citizens.
The workshop concluded with a tour of the island, with short presentations on, among other things, the Tidal Kite (generating sustainable electricity with tidal energy), heat pump technology and fuel cell technology.
The SAVE project is co-financed within the framework of the INTERREG VA program Germany-Netherlands with contributions from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and from the provinces of Drenthe, Fryslân and Groningen, and from the state of Lower Saxony.
The core team of the SAVE project consists of Landkreis Leer, the municipality of Ameland, NettCon Energy GmbH, Nordseeheilbad Borkum GmbH, Hanzehogeschool Groningen and the municipality of Leeuwarden. The project is led by MARIKO GmbH from Leer and the FME business association.