As highlighted in the EU’s latest directive on energy efficiency, regional energy agencies are pivotal facilitators in advancing the energy transition at the local level. Their expertise and proximity to communities make them indispensable allies for municipalities striving to meet ambitious climate and energy goals.

In the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the OCTOPUS project is mainly designed to facilitate the deployment of SECAPs by:

• Creating a regional network of SECAP coordinators, including local energy and climate agencies, as well as energy unions.
• Encouraging knowledge exchange through experience sharing, skill-building, and tackling contemporary challenges faced by local authorities.

The meeting agenda included a presentation of the 6 networks by the European partners and partners’ participation in different workshops, mainly focused on network coordination, energy efficiency and sufficiency, assessment of needs and communication frameworks.

It was an excellent opportunity for partners to connect, exchange ideas, and lay the foundation for the project’s success.

By fostering collaboration, leveraging local expertise, and empowering regional stakeholders, the OCTOPUS project promises to significantly enhance the ability of local authorities to implement their climate and energy action plans.