Iceland
After 30 months of collaboration across Europe, the RECET project has come to an end. The final consortium meeting took place in Menorca, bringing partners and stakeholders together to reflect on the project’s key lessons and the important role of rural communities in the clean energy transition.
Rural Areas Matter
One of RECET’s strongest messages is clear: rural areas are not bystanders in the clean energy transition – they are essential drivers of it.
Throughout the project, we saw the value of strong local knowledge, natural resources and community engagement. Our experience showed that successful local energy transitions depend on a few key principles: start with local needs, keep solutions simple and accessible, invest time in building trust, involve local people from the beginning and build on ideas that come from the communities themselves.
Looking Ahead
While RECET has ended, the work continues. The knowledge, relationships and practical approaches developed through the project provide a strong foundation for municipalities and rural communities to turn climate ambitions into local action.
We sincerely thank all municipalities, stakeholders and partners who contributed to RECET, as well as the European Commission for its support.
RECET has shown that when local people are given the opportunity to shape the clean energy transition, rural communities can play a vital role in Europe’s energy future.
