All Municipalities in Blekinge Take Major Steps Towards Active Energy Planning
Energy planning is no longer optional—it’s a necessity that affects the climate, the energy system, and municipal finances. Municipalities are expected to take responsibility for a long-term sustainable energy supply, both to meet climate goals and to ensure security and cost-efficiency for residents. With national policy documents and EU directives in place, the role of municipalities in the energy transition is becoming increasingly clear: it’s about smart planning, collaboration, and engaging citizens, businesses, and local stakeholders.
Blekinge now stands as a strong example: all municipalities in the county have begun work on local energy planning. With support from the RECET project, through Energikontor Syd, and in collaboration with regional actors, the municipalities have embarked on an important journey toward sustainable energy systems. It’s a step that strengthens the county’s efforts to meet future climate targets.
Energy Groups Become the Hub of Local Efforts
By the end of 2025, a key milestone was reached: all five municipalities have formed local energy groups. These groups are more than meeting places, they are engines for climate action at the local level. They bring together civil servants from various departments, including urban planning, technology, finance, and environment, and serve as the central hub for municipal energy work. The groups are responsible for driving planning forward, tracking goals, and ensuring diverse perspectives are considered.
“It’s a structure that fosters engagement and makes the work more efficient,” says Anna Månsson, project manager at the Energy Agency Southern Sweden. “By gathering expertise and responsibility in one place, it becomes clearer who does what and how the municipality’s energy transition can evolve step by step.”
From Starting Point to Dynamic Development
Initially, the municipalities were inspired by a linear process model from the EU Commission’s research center JRC. The model was easy to understand and communicate, which helped kickstart the work. But in practice, energy work is rarely linear. The model has now evolved into a circular and dynamic process, where feedback, flexibility, and local conditions are central. It allows for adjusting goals, leveraging experience, and adapting efforts to new needs.
“The circular model reflects reality better, even though it’s more complex. The most important thing is that each municipality finds a working method that suits its local context, ” continues Anna Månsson.
Progress So Far
The municipalities are in different phases, but all are working toward the same goal: a long-term sustainable energy supply.
Sölvesborg: Energy plan adopted by the municipal council and implementation started.
Karlshamn: Proposal out for consultation.
Karlskrona: Working on the first draft.
Ronneby and Olofström: Replication municipalities that already started, inspired by RECET and taking learnings from RECET and other LIFE projects operating in Sweden.
Citizen Dialogues on Sustainability in Karlskrona, Blekinge
In 2025, Karlskrona municipality hosted two citizen dialogue meetings focused on sustainability and the clean energy transition. RECET took part in a broad planning group together with local associations, municipal representatives, and regional actors. Participants discussed how residents can contribute to a more sustainable municipality and shared their views on Karlskrona’s role as a forerunner in the shift toward clean energy.
“By linking local efforts to the county’s climate and energy strategy, we ensure that municipal actions contribute to Blekinge’s shared goals,” concludes Anna Månsson.
With these steps, Blekinge’s municipalities are well on their way toward a sustainable energy system, and the next chapter in the journey is just around the corner.