Local governments together on energy transition
How can residents be guaranteed stable access to electricity? How can green energy be effectively implemented, and how can cities strategically plan their energy transition? These and many other questions were addressed at the Meeting of Municipal Power Engineers 2025, held on May 30 in Gdynia, where the META BUILD project was presented alongside other initiatives in which the city is actively involved.
The event, organized periodically as part of the work of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee of the Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area, also called Gdańsk Metro Area) brought together energy specialists from Pomeranian local governments, representatives of public institutions and energy companies. This year's edition was hosted by the Energy Office of the Gdynia City Hall, and the partner was PGE Energia Ciepła S.A.
Shared responsibility for the energy future
"Gdynia focuses on modernity and solutions that ensure the future" emphasized Rafał Geremek, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia, during the opening of the meeting. "As part of metropolitan cooperation, we can see how important and real the energy transition is becoming. Local governments, through their daily investment decisions and cooperation with residents, are the foundation of these changes. Gdynia is actively involved in projects that improve energy efficiency and support green energy" he adds.
In the face of the unstable geopolitical situation and climate change, energy security is becoming one of the key challenges, both for central and local authorities. Annual meetings of municipal energy professionals enable the exchange of experiences, joint planning of activities and strengthening cooperation between municipalities in the field of energy efficiency.
"The Act on the Metropolitan Association will soon be submitted" announced Michał Glaser, President of the Management Board of OMGGS. "When this happens, we will spread our wings, and the energy sector will be one of the key areas on which we will focus. We are a large area – 1.6 million inhabitants, the fourth largest labour market in Poland. We should create one group of energy specialists and one group of public transport specialists, thanks to which all key issues for the development of the metropolis and our residents will be implemented in a holistic way" he emphasizes.
Practical knowledge and cooperation
The agenda of the meeting included, among m.in, thematic panels on:
- Participation of municipalities in the Horizon Europe programme
- The role of the energy audit in the investment process
- Challenges related to local energy production and distribution
- Energy transition at the municipal level
- Experience of the Gdańsk Energy Cluster.
- Practical workshops, during which participants discussed methods of optimising electricity distribution parameters, particularly important in the context of rising costs and technical challenges, were very popular.
Gdynia – active in the energy transition
The organisation of the event in Gdynia is another step towards strengthening the city's position as an active participant in the energy transition. The Energy Office of the Gdynia City Hall conducts a number of initiatives supporting sustainable development on a daily basis - from cooperation with residents on projects increasing energy efficiency, to activities promoting renewable energy sources. "As a city, we believe that a responsible and fair energy transition is not only about investing in infrastructure, but also about investing in people and their awareness," sums up Hanna Górecka-Banasik, Head of the Energy Office.
Within META BUILD, Gdynia serves as a replication pilot site, testing and adapting innovative solutions that can later be scaled across other European cities. This directly supports the ambitions voiced during the Meeting of Municipal Power Engineers, namely the need for: stable and affordable access to electricity, integration of renewable energy, and practical models of municipal-level energy transition.
By aligning its local initiatives with EU-funded innovation, Gdynia exemplifies how municipalities can act as drivers of transformation, bridging European research with real-world urban needs.
Looking ahead
The discussions in Gdynia highlighted that the energy transition is not only about technological investments, but also about building awareness, cooperation, and shared responsibility - principles at the core of the META BUILD project. As the city continues to strengthen its role within the Polish and European energy landscape, its involvement in META BUILD ensures that Gdynia remains a key player in shaping climate-neutral and resilient urban environments.