Energy Circle

Energy Circle

The Energy Circle project is supported by the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme.

Project budget: 2991850 €
TREA budget: 206950 €

Project duration: 01.03.2025. – 28.02.2025. (36 months)

Project aims: The main objective of Energy Circle is to help businesses and communities achieve long-term, circular energy independence by providing practical tools and knowledge to support well-considered, integrated energy planning decisions rather than fragmented ones

Energy Circle is an international cooperation project in the Baltic Sea Region that aims to support businesses and local authorities in their transition towards circular and long-term sustainable energy independence. The project builds on the energy crises of recent years, which have shown that many decisions in the energy sector are made under short-term pressure and without a comprehensive, forward-looking plan. Such an approach often leads to inefficient investments and limits opportunities for future development. Energy Circle addresses this challenge by offering methodologies and practical tools that help shape well-considered, circular energy solutions.

 The project focuses primarily on strengthening the capacity of organisations so that they are able to act as drivers of energy independence both within their own institutions and in the wider community. To this end, an assessment framework is developed to analyse organisations’ competencies, bottlenecks and development needs, along with guidance for preparing long-term energy independence roadmaps. These tools support businesses and municipalities in making informed decisions by integrating energy efficiency, renewable energy, the use of local resources and circular economy principles into a coherent whole.

 An essential part of the project is the practical application of the methodologies in various pilot areas across the Baltic Sea Region (9 pilot areas). In cooperation with local stakeholders, energy needs are mapped, long-term energy action plans are developed, and organisations are supported in implementing them. Through continuous feedback and impact assessment, the solutions are refined to ensure they are as user-friendly and applicable as possible in different territorial and administrative contexts.

 The project goes beyond individual pilots and places strong emphasis on knowledge dissemination and the long-term use of solutions. Through cooperation between partners, a cross-border knowledge and advisory network and digital tools are established, enabling the Energy Circle approach to be applied in new regions as well. The result is stronger strategic capacity for energy planning, reduced dependence on volatile energy markets, and a greater contribution to achieving climate neutrality and regional energy security.

 The benefits for Estonia lie primarily in providing Estonian businesses and municipalities with practical tools and knowledge for long-term energy planning, reducing energy costs and dependence on external energy supplies. Energy Circle supports Estonia’s energy security by helping to avoid ad hoc and short-term investments and by promoting the uptake of well-considered circular solutions. In addition, the project strengthens cooperation between local energy competence centres and municipalities, brings international best practices to Estonia, and enhances Estonia’s role as an active contributor to the development of a sustainable energy sector in the Baltic Sea Region.

Project results:

  • two practical methodologies – EnergyCircle Builder Methodology (Organisational Capacity Assessment) and EnergyCircle Roadmap Methodology (Long-term Energy Independence Planning) – developed and tested for assessing organisational capacity and preparing long-term energy independence roadmaps;
  • long-term energy action plans (roadmaps) for businesses and municipalities in several Baltic Sea Region pilot areas;
  • strengthened capacities of businesses, municipalities and support organisations in circular and sustainable energy planning;
  • digital tools and a knowledge base (including training materials and videos) to support energy independence planning;
  • a cross-border cooperation and advisory network enabling the continued use of solutions beyond the project’s lifetime;
  • improved energy security and cost-effectiveness through decisions based on integrated and long-term planning.

Project partners:

  • Business Development Council of Toender Municipality (DK)
  • Benet Solutions Ltd (FI)
  • Lithuanian Innovation Centre (LT)
  • Sustainable Business Hub Scandinavia AB (SE)
  • Creativity Works Europe (PL)
  • Birzai District Municipality Administration (LT)
  • Zemgale Planning Region (LV)
  • Business Fredericia (DK)
  • DIGITALEUS OÜ (EE)
  • RegioVision GmbH Schwerin (DE)
  • Tomelilla Municipality (SE)
  • City of Fehmarn (DE)
  • Municipality of Kielce (PL)
  • Tartu Regional Energy Agency (EE)
  • Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biała (PL)

Project home page: https://interreg-baltic.eu/project/energy-circle/

Contact person in TREA: Martin Kikas, martin.kikas@trea.ee, Nele Ivask, nele.ivask@trea.ee

This text reflects the views of the author. The managing authority of the programme is not liable for the content and use of the information.