Serbian energy cooperatives and local authorities visit Gabrovo to learn from Bulgaria’s community energy model
From 5 to 7 October 2026, a delegation from Serbia travelled to Gabrovo, Bulgaria, to explore how citizens, cooperatives, and local governments can work together on the energy transition.
The study visit brought together PET, Elektropionir, Sunny Roofs, the newly established Cooperative for Sustainable Development Beli Breg Popovci, and Bojan Ivković, Energy Manager of the City of Pirot. It was organised as part of activities to establish the Hub of Energy Communities in Serbia, with the support of the European Climate Foundation (ECF).
Starting at home: Niš
The journey began in Niš, where participants learned about two local initiatives, the Patrice Lumumba residential community and the Majakovski Heating Plant project. Both offered a close look at the opportunities and challenges of introducing renewable energy in residential buildings and engaging citizens in collective projects.
Gabrovo: a municipality that backs energy communities
The central part of the programme was hosted by the Municipality of Gabrovo. Mayor Tanya Hristova and representatives of the city administration presented the municipality’s commitment to local energy transition and discussed how local authorities can create favourable conditions for community energy projects.
A highlight of the visit was the Gabrovo Energy Community, presented by founding member Todor Popov. Participants explored its governance model, membership structure, and practical lessons, insights that are directly relevant to Serbian cooperatives at different stages of development.
EnEffect played a key role in organising and facilitating the visit. Its Executive Director, Dragomir Tzanev, shared Bulgaria’s experience and stressed the importance of technical expertise, institutional support, and cooperation.
From hydropower to rural villages
On the third day, the group visited the Sokol Hydropower Plant. On the way back, they stopped in Temska and Dojkinci, two villages in the Pirot region, to hear directly from residents about their community-based renewable energy efforts. Discussions with Pirot’s Energy Manager also opened the door to a potential future energy community in Pirot.
Building a network for citizen-led energy transition
Beyond knowledge exchange, the visit strengthened ties among Serbian organisations and cooperatives and opened space for future joint initiatives, bringing together lessons from urban residential communities, rural villages, and an established European energy community.
We sincerely thank Mayor Tanya Hristova and the Municipality of Gabrovo for their warm welcome, Todor Popov for sharing his knowledge, and Dragomir Tzanev and the EnEffect team for their invaluable support in making this exchange possible.
