STRONG Project - Local energy development through municipal engagement

In Pirot on May 20th, PET members, operating under the STRONG project and supported by the European Climate Foundation, held a productive meeting with City of Pirot officials and a representative from the Solarna Stara initiative.

Solarna Stara, a landmark project in the Balkan Mountains villages of Temska and Dojkinci, represents Serbia's first cooperative solar power plant and a leading citizen-led energy production model. This initiative developed from local efforts to counter ecologically harmful mini-hydropower plants, effectively demonstrating a viable, equitable, and community-owned energy transition. Income generated from electricity production directly benefits the Temska and Dojkinci communities, facilitating local development.

The meeting addressed opportunities to reinforce citizen-led energy initiatives through municipal partnership, a key focus of the STRONG project's mandate. Specific points of discussion included leveraging public spaces, supporting projects that merge renewable energy with rural tourism and agriculture, and creating an institutional structure to ensure the enduring sustainability and expansion of community energy endeavors.

We thank the representatives of the City of Pirot and Solarna Stara for their valuable contributions and for jointly exploring collaborative models for local energy development anchored in solidarity, shared expertise, and community assets.