From Rimini to Beli Breg: Energy Communities as a Pillar of Rural Development
The recently held KEY – The Energy Transition Expo in Rimini, one of Europe's premier events dedicated to the energy transition, served as a vital crossroads for innovation and regional collaboration. Our Project Manager, Marko Nedeljković, represented the Platform for Energetic Transition at the public workshop "Energy Communities Beyond Borders: Scalable Models from the Western Balkans."
The workshop was organized as part of the project Better cohesion through development of energy communities in the Western Balkans, providing a high-level platform to discuss how pilot initiatives can evolve into scalable, long-term implementations.
Marko Nedeljkovic presenting the project Better cohesion through development of energy communities in the Western Balkans
Scaling Up: Lessons from the Western Balkans
For our team, this was a valuable opportunity to present our ongoing work on the Beli Breg energy community initiative. Engaging with partners and practitioners from across the region reaffirmed that moving from a pilot phase to full implementation requires more than just technical readiness.
Key takeaways from the discussions highlighted three essential pillars for community-led projects:
Strong Local Trust: Building a shared vision within the community is the foundation of any successful initiative.
Clear Regulatory Frameworks: Defined "rules of the game" are necessary to facilitate seamless cooperation.
Realistic Financing Pathways: Identifying sustainable investment models tailored to local economic realities.
KEY – The Energy Transition Expo in Rimini
Innovation Across 125,000 Square Meters
Beyond the workshop, KEY offered an expansive look at the future of the sector. Across 24 halls and 125,000 square meters of exhibition space, more than 1,000 brands showcased cutting-edge solutions in photovoltaics, energy storage, hydrogen, and electric mobility.
Of particular interest to our work at Beli Breg were the agrisolar solutions. By combining renewable energy generation with active agricultural production, agrisolar offers a practical way to support rural development while strengthening local acceptance of energy communities.
Strengthening Resilience in Rural Communities
Initiatives like Beli Breg are transformative for the Western Balkans because they keep both value and decision-making local. Instead of exporting economic opportunities, these projects ensure that benefits remain within the village.
By creating shared community assets, we are:
Improving Resilience: Reducing vulnerability to global energy price shocks through local production.
Building New Skills: Generating a platform for cooperation and the acquisition of modern technical expertise.
Encouraging Revitalization: Opening space for reinvestment into local priorities, providing practical reasons for people to stay, return, and invest in their village’s future.
At PET, we remain committed to proving that collective action is not only possible but essential for a sustainable and prosperous rural landscape.
