The common challenge addressed by the project through cross-border cooperation was to improve the knowledge and awareness of decision-makers and to increase cooperation between decision-makers and end users in the field of prevention and elimination of household energy poverty. Around 13% of households in the programme area faced energy poverty, consequently linking energy poverty to the risk of social exclusion. The programme area also experienced a rise in energy prices, which further contributed to the problem of citizens’ energy poverty. Therefore, it was necessary to establish a realistic baseline and solutions for energy poverty: to obtain data on the ground and to identify the level of households already experiencing energy poverty and the level of those who would soon experience energy poverty. Energy poverty was a multidimensional problem and an important challenge, which needed to be addressed by key actors and decision-makers who could take concrete action. At the same time, it was necessary to provide them with a starting point for action and to indicate possible solutions.

The project contributed to reducing energy poverty through activities aimed at improving energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources in households. The results were reflected in lower energy consumption, improved energy efficiency and better exploitation of the endogenous potentials of local energy sources, and ultimately in lower CO2 emissions. The concept, including an action plan, involved socially vulnerable and disadvantaged groups in the programme area who were at the greatest risk of energy poverty. A bottom-up initiative was created, different approaches were tested, and baselines and commitments were prepared to fight household energy poverty in a coordinated way.

The EnerTy project brought together four partners, each responsible for implementing activities in their own region. The partners had in-house know-how and competences from previous participation in the Interreg SI-HU “Green Line” project. At the end of the “Green Line” project, the partners signed a long-term cooperation protocol to improve the level of sustainable energy in the whole cross-border cooperation area between Slovenia and Hungary. The partners noticed that the problems and challenges related to energy poverty in all regions of the programme area had become particularly severe, especially after the war in Ukraine culminated in rising energy prices. The partners were familiar with the area; however, they did not have all the necessary data on the situation, nor had they collected examples of good practices, policies and instruments that could be provided through cooperation within the project.

The lead partner had already carried out energy audits in the field and had some data for the Slovenian part of the region, while the Hungarian partners carried out energy audits in households within the framework of the project, thus providing part of the input data for the analysis and demonstration of vulnerability to energy poverty. All partners contacted key organisations in the regions that provided the missing data required for the project. A methodology was developed to carry out these activities, and a comparative analysis of the situation was prepared.

In the second work package, an overview of good approaches and instruments and policy guidance was prepared. The concept of prevention and eradication of energy poverty, including recommendations for the SI–HU cross-border region, served as the basis for cooperation, the substantive orientation of the work and the framework defining potential organisations. An important part of this document was the identification of and proposed actions to tackle and prevent energy poverty. This also served as the basis for defining the contents to be covered and addressed by the protocols.

The organisations signed the Protocols of visibility and commitment to actions to reduce energy poverty. The signatories, such as decision-makers at local, regional and national levels, and other key organisations impacting the field of energy poverty, ensured that the project had a lasting impact on the programme area and its population after its implementation. A cross-border group of organisations was formed, whose long-term cooperation focused on monitoring the implementation of the protocols and cross-border monitoring of policy changes and new instruments. The content of the cooperation, where relevant and necessary, was further developed through cooperation and/or involvement in EU project initiatives. The added value of the project was reflected in a reduced level of energy poverty, especially in the less developed regions of Slovenia and Hungary.

Project end date:

30.11.2025