The Centre for Sustainable Energy Transition – RESET organized a workshop on September 26, 2025, in Tuzla, dedicated to the role of local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s energy transition. The event was held within the framework of the international project Gender and Precarity at the Energy Frontier, coordinated by the University of Manchester.
The workshop brought together representatives from the municipalities of Živinice, Lukavac, Gračanica, and Lopare, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Education, schools, and the civil sector, with the aim of exchanging experiences and sharing best practices in implementing projects that contribute to the green transition.
A special focus was placed on public institutions – primarily schools – and their role in the shift to renewable energy. Participants presented concrete examples of solar (PV) system installations in school buildings and discussed ways to use the generated energy more efficiently during the summer months, when schools operate at reduced capacity.
An innovative mechanism of cooperation between schools and the Ministry was also presented, in which the financial savings achieved are returned to the schools, further encouraging responsible energy management and self-sufficiency of educational institutions.
It was particularly highlighted that the Municipality of Lopare became the first prosumer in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the Supporting Local Energy Transition project, opening a new path for public institutions and local communities to actively participate in the production and consumption of clean, solar energy. This pioneering step demonstrates how the prosumer concept – where consumers also produce energy – can be successfully applied in educational institutions.
School representatives shared their practical experiences, challenges, and benefits of transitioning to solar energy, emphasizing that such projects bring not only savings and greater energy independence but also educational value, as students learn first-hand about sustainability and responsible energy use.
Workshop participants agreed that further installation of PV systems represents an important step toward decarbonizing the public sector and creating resilient, self-sufficient communities.
RESET will continue to support local energy initiatives and promote positive practices that contribute to building a fair and sustainable energy system in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
