This European Solar Day (June 21), we cast a light on how small towns like Serock, Poland, are leading the way in creating cleaner and fairer energy systems.To meet EU climate targets, renewables deployment must be accelerated, but the roll out of renewable energy infrastructure is often hamstrung by a lack of public support, leading to protests and stalling progress. The solution lies not just in changing the pace at which renewables are built, but in how they are built – and municipalities are key players in this change.
Serock, a small town of 4000 residents, is bringing this vision to life by empowering community-led initiatives. In 2021, the municipality launched Sunny Serock, one of Poland’s first energy cooperatives, to improve energy security and foster development while reducing emissions. A key goal was to address demand for greater local support for renewables. The town worked with citizens to reclaim a former landfill where a shared photovoltaic plant with storage would be located.
The municipality supported land use permits, rented the site, acts as intermediary with the grid operator, and owns shares. Cooperative members benefit from free electricity and cover minimal maintenance costs. With enough members, the cooperative will consume all generated energy.
Serock’s approach reflects the principles of the Fast & Fair Renewables & Grids initiative, led by ICLEI Europe, which offers a framework for energy stakeholders including municipalities on how to implement renewables based on five principles that encourage the creation of local value and ownership, adequate stakeholder involvement and nature-positive planning, aimed at facilitating fairer outcomes for all. Serock’s example illustrates the core tenet of the initiative: energy systems that can be implemented faster because they are fairer.
As Europe looks to meet its climate goals, Serock and many other municipalities - such as ICLEI Member Rome via the Sun4U and Sun4All projects - offer a simple but powerful lesson: fair, community-powered energy isn’t just possible – it’s already happening.