The third edition of the “Energy Transition Town Twinnings” project, funded by the Federal Foreign Office (The Foreign Ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany), is about to begin. The Renewable Energy Agency and Berlin Governance Platform (BGP) are once again reaching out to cities and municipalities, this time in in Ukraine, Moldova and Serbia, to build partnerships aiming to strengthen exchange on the European energy transition across national borders.

The goal of the project is to initiate new partnerships or strengthen existing ones by sharing knowledge and experience related to renewable energy. Moreover, the project focuses on initiating projects around the topic of the energy transition – in relation to the respective needs and demands of each municipality. Such projects may include communal heat planning, the inclusion and participation of citizens, or the planning and construction of wind farms and solar parks.

Following the selection and connection of four interested cities and Communities from Germany with two municipalities from Ukraine, one from the Republic of Moldova and one from Bosnia and Herzegovina.Over the next two years, the participating municipalities can expect a diverse exchange with their partner municipalities as well as with experts from the renewables sector, practice partners and politicians from Germany and the rest of Europe.

Apart from a kick-off conference in Berlin, two physical and/or digital workshops are planned for each of the four twinning town pairs with the intention to discuss local-scale development towards energy transition. In addition, online dialogue formats for training purposes as well as regular digital work meetings will be organized. Moreover, policy briefs devoted to energy transition topics relevant to each partnership are being planned. Finally, a closing event (online), and a study trip to Brussels will complete the project. The project is envisioned for 26 months. Over the whole duration of the project, the twinning towns will be made known to the wider public through intensified public relations work.