The 2025 edition of the Pomeranian Eco Forum (18–19 November) is now behind us. For nearly a decade, the Forum has served as the region’s largest platform for ecological debate, shaping development pathways and setting new trends in environmental protection.
As in previous years, the Forum brought together representatives of national and local government, business, academia, and civil society. It once again provided a space for open discussion on the most pressing environmental challenges. The goal of the Forum is to exchange knowledge, experience, and best practices—accelerating the implementation of modern solutions that improve the quality of the natural environment.
In this year edition, discussions were focused on both effective tools supporting the energy transition and the persistent barriers that slow the development of green initiatives at the local level.
The Forum was officially opened by:
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Anna Olkowska-Jacyno, Deputy Governor of the Pomeranian Voivodeshi
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Adam Gawrylik, Member of the Board of the Pomeranian Region
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Piotr Kryszewski, Managing Director for the Green City of Gdańsk
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Piotr Grzelak, President of the Association of Maritime Cities and Municipalities
The first session, entitled “The Energy Reality of Municipalities,” was moderated by Prof. Barbara Kijewska from Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Gdańsk, under the patronage of Energa Obrót S.A. It gathered experts representing a wide spectrum of sectors involved in the energy transition—from academia and professional energy operators to practitioners building local energy communities.
The session opened with a presentation of the study “Challenges in the Development of Energy Communities in Poland”, conducted within the BALTICBEAT project, given by Prof. Sylwia Mrozowska from the University of Gdańsk. The research highlights the biggest challenges faced by local governments in shaping energy communities in Poland.
Among the key findings are:
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insufficient tools for energy management, including smart meters and local energy storage;
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spatially diverse potential for renewable energy sources;
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grid connection rules that remain one of the main barriers to RES development;
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limited municipal financial resources;
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outdated or insufficient grid infrastructure;
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high own-contribution requirements in support programmes;
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shortage of specialists, lack of training, and the complexity of technical analyses required for investment decisions.
Presentation of project’s outputs followed a panel discussion entitled . The experts team included:
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Ireneusz Lasikowski, Energa Obrót S.A.
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Ulrik Jørgensen, Professor at Aalborg University and Board Member at Energy Communities Denmark
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Krzysztof Solarz, Sudecka Energia Energy Cooperative
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Dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, Prof. UG, BALTICBEAT Project Leader and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at the University of Gdańsk
The discussion, divided into two thematic rounds, addressed:
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the role of energy communities in the EU’s energy transition;
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institutional conditions supporting their development;
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challenges associated with forming energy cooperatives;
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legal barriers in Poland and Denmark;
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social and economic benefits of local energy initiatives;
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forms of support needed by municipalities to strengthen energy communities.
The debate confirmed that rising energy costs, regulatory pressures, and the need to build local energy resilience make the development of energy communities one of the key directions of the transition ahead.
