With the Energy Region programme, the Federal Office of Energy supports municipalities with their collaborations in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency. It means that energy-policy measures and projects can often be implemented more easily, efficiently and cost-effectively. The Energy Region coordination agency supports interested regions from the early development stages onwards and offers advice with planning and execution.

Since January 2021, Swiss Climate has been running the Energy Region coordination agency on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in collaboration with its partners CREM in French-speaking Switzerland and Evolve in Italian-speaking Switzerland. The Energy Region coordination agency is part of the Energy Region programme, which falls under the umbrella of ‘EnergySwitzerland for communities’ (along with programmes such as the ‘2000-Watt Society’ and ‘Smart City’). Swiss Climate thereby works with a partner network of around 100 consultants and communicators.

As the Energy Region coordination agency, Swiss Climate helps regions to plan and execute projects. It serves as a point of contact for all questions relating to inter-municipal cooperation in the energy sector. Swiss Climate makes tools and documentation available for the regions and municipalities, such as guidelines and calculators. To promote networking and knowledge sharing among the regions, Swiss Climate also organises and holds networking events. Furthermore, Swiss Climate is responsible for the accreditation, coordination and ongoing training of the official Energy Region consultants.

Strong partnership

The initiative to establish energy regions often comes from associations, companies or individuals. Interested regions receive support from the early planning and development stages onwards and can contact the Energy Region coordination agency for this purpose.

In 2021 and 2022, around 25 energy regions benefited from project funding. Almost 250 municipalities are involved. The projects being supported range from establishing new heating networks and solar registers through to e-charging infrastructure concepts.

More information about the Energy Region coordination agency and programme can be found on the website: https://www.local-energy.swiss/programme/energie-region.html#/

Swiss Climate provided the following services on this project:

• Energy consulting
• Energy region consulting
• Managing an energy region office