Beli Breg Popovci Energy Cooperative Founded – Phase 1 Complete
On June 9, 2026, residents of the Popovci hamlet in the village of Beli Breg near Vranje formally established the Beli Breg Popovci Energy Cooperative, marking the successful completion of Phase 1 of the Beli Breg REC – Citizen Shared Energy project.
The founding assembly adopted the cooperative's founding acts, confirmed its member-led governance model, and defined four strategic directions for future development: solar energy investment and shared cost reduction; agriculture through collective equipment and better production organisation; rural tourism and promotion of local products and nature; and mobility through shared transport and e-mobility connecting the village with the city.
The cooperative is the result of months of community engagement, workshops, and participatory planning sessions with local residents — a process designed to ensure that the initiative grows from the community itself, rather than being imposed from outside.
"When neighbours in a village agree to produce electricity together, that is not just about energy - it is a sign that the community still exists."
Phase 2 will focus on the development of small-scale solar installations as the first practical step toward energy independence for cooperative members.
The project is implemented by the Platform for Energy Transition (PET) with support from the European Union, Regione Emilia-Romagna, and ART-ER (Italy).
