Author: Tena Maruševac (REGEA), Tomislav Novosel (REGEA), Josipa Arapović (REGEA). Editted by: Beatriz Martínez (UPM)
Can a climate innovation lab change the future of cities in Southeast Europe?
KLIK is an acronym for Križevac Laboratory of Innovation for Climate, an energy cooperative created in the process of transformation of the cities of the Future of South East Europe. KLIK also works as an association of builders who are primarily committed to creating resilience in the local environment, with the intention of making the castle more livable than it was before us.
It was founded in 2020 to help make Križevci a self-sufficient city, but above all to engage citizens in the energy transition. Its goal is to democratize the energy system by empowering citizens to produce and consume their own energy and to put citizens at the very center of the energy transition: they should have control over the production, distribution, and supply of energy. Also, they are discovering opportunities for the citizens to invest their savings in local energy facilities that both generate income and produce clean energy, instead of keeping money in the bank.
KLIK works on identifying the needs of the local community, implementing technology in the social environment, and empowering the local community through cooperation, joint creation and capacity building. KLIK encourages local people to invest in renewable energy sources, both in public buildings and in their households, helping citizens in the development and application of renewable energy proccesses, and are a place for all issues related to energy, climate, quality of life striving to be a driver of change in their local community.
KLIK is a prime example of citizens coming together for the same cause, strongly oriented towards energy efficient and climate resilient development of the city. By establishing KLIK cooperative, citizens of Križevci created a place where they can go when they need help with their energy projects, but also an entity that will work on the projects oriented towards creating a self-sufficient city.
An innovative approach
Citizens of the City of Križevci expressed their need for support in the energy and climate projects. Based on their need KLIK cooperative was established and it is strongly supported by the City of Križevci and Green Energy Cooperative. KLIK is a place where all energy related questions that the citizens may have will be answered. It offers support to the citizens in applying for funds. It also supports the City of Križevci in writing and submitting projects, mapping and designing solar power plants, and resolving all issues regarding energy, quality of life, transparency, and citizen involvement
It has a direct relation to Collaboration Action Ability and Climate narrative and communication. Having this context in mind, KLIK delivered a first project that allowed citizens to invest in the solar roofs called “Križevački sunčani krovovi” (eng. Solar roofs of Križevci) in 2018 and 2019. Citizens were given the opportunity to finance the installation of a 30,667 € power plant on the roof of the Križevci Development Center and Technology Park through a loan for a period of 10 years, during which the investment is returned with an interest rate of 4.5 percent. The lowest bet was 133 € and the highest was 1,333 €. After the announcement of the campaign, the necessary amount was collected in just 10 days, and the response of the citizens was truly extraordinary. The power of the installed power plant is 30 kW, and the estimated saving in electricity bill payment is 4,800 € per year. Besides, during the first half of 2022, KLIK helped in the preparation of 37 solar panel projects for households and 6 for companies
Moreover, Klik opened a Center for combating energy poverty and invited citizens to contact them, not only to prepare investment projects but also if they need a recommendation on small energy efficiency measures that could help them to achieve savings.
Main positive lessons
- Easier engagement of other citizens (citizens working with citizens, more trust)
- A better understanding of problems in the local community
- Involvement in the city’s energy transition by combining needed expertise and 'on- ground' experience
Main barriers found
- Difficulties regarding financial security and needed employment to keep the cooperative growing
- National laws are not in favour of cooperative model
- Uncertainty of project development because of lack of support from governmental and international level
Potential for reapplication and scale-up
A cooperative such as KLIK can be established in every city with the active involvement of the citizens to encourage the empowerment of the local community through cooperation, joint creation, capacity building, and the implementation of technology in the social environment.
These types of cooperatives develop proactive, synergetic climate responses in an integrated manner that at the same time offer immediate involvement and are politically acceptable.
Photos extracted from Social Media pages of Stad Križevci (https://krizevci.hr/) and KLIK (https://klikninaodrzivo.com/)