Action at the local and municipal level will be crucial for the realisation of the European Union’s ambitious, socially just and economy-wide decarbonisation objectives, which are currently encapsulated in the European Green Deal policy. Local and regional authorities will deliver an estimated 70% of climate mitigation measures, and are keenly aware of their role and responsibility in implementing the Green Deal. Yet, actors at the municipal level still face several barriers to transition, often arising from misalignment between city, regional, and national authorities.  

The technological and regulatory complexity of EU energy sector policies and their implementation and applicability at city level present a particular challenge in this regard, made even more significant by the recent, substantial changes to much of the EU’s energy law and policy.

Against this background, this course aims to empower city-level actors and enable their deeper involvement in the decision-making process in a way that is truly reflective of cities’ fundamental importance in the realisation of the Green Deal as a whole. 

Week 0: Introduction

28 April – 1 May 2025

Welcome class and introduction to the course and topics.

• Welcome class: 29 April 2025, 12.00-13.00 CEST

Week 1: Renewable Energy

1 – 8 May 2025

In the first week, we will explore how cities can best foster citizen ownership of the urban energy transition through energy sharing, and how decision-makers at municipal level can leverage EU rules on renewable energy, permitting, and zoning to efficiently decarbonise their communities.

• Live Class Week 1: 6 May 2025, 12.00-13.00 CEST
• Expert Panel Week 1: 8 May 2025, 12.00-13.00 CEST

Keywords: Renewable Energy Communities; Citizen Energy Communities; energy sharing; renewables go-to areas; permitting; zoning

Week 2: Energy Efficiency

8 – 15 May 2025

The second week of the course is devoted to the EU’s rules on energy efficiency, with a particular focus on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. We will discuss the new requirements on planning, retrofitting and certification that now have to be rolled out across the EU and identify the most impactful way for cities to shape this implementation process.

• Live Class Week 2: 13 May 2025, 12.00-13.00 CEST
• Expert Panel Week 2: 15 May 2025, 12.00-13.00 CEST

Keywords: Energy Performance of Buildings Directive; Building Renovation Passports; Zero-Emission Building; deep renovation; Energy Performance Certificates; one-stop-shop for energy efficiency

Week 3: Electricity Distribution Networks

15 – 22 May 2025

In the third week, we focus on distribution networks, the opportunities associated with smart metering, as well as the challenges faced by distribution system operators (DSOs) and potential obstacles to effective DSO-municipality cooperation.

• Live Class Week 3: 20 May 2025, 12.00-13.00 CEST
• Expert Panel Week 3: 22 May 2025, 12.00-13.00 CEST

Keywords: demand response; demand flexibility; smart meters; data protection; distribution network; city-DSO relations; network planning 

Weeks 4 and 5: Case Study

22 May – 5 June 2025

In the final weeks, participants will have time to finalise a case study on one of three real cities, actively applying the knowledge gained to identify strengths and weaknesses of a city’s energy sector policy and providing advice on the measures and policies that could be implemented to shape the energy transition of their case study city in an impactful way. A final session in week 5 will serve as a way to discuss the solutions that participants have proposed in a Panel Debate with representatives from the case study cities.

• Final Panel Debate: 5 June 2025, 12.00-13.00 CEST

This course is delivered in English and designed for:

• Local and municipal government staff
• City council members
• Professionals ranging from beginners to experts in city decarbonization
• Government agencies and regulatory bodies
• Academics, researchers, and NGOs
• European and national associations
• Distribution System Operators (DSOs)
• Consultants and other professionals in the energy sector
• New stakeholders exploring opportunities in the energy field

Participants can choose from three levels of engagement:

1. Investigator: Gain a foundational understanding of the subject.
2. Advocate: Engage in discussions and debates with peers and field experts.
3. Master: Collaborate in groups to solve real-life case studies.

The amount of time required to take this course depends on the aimed course level as well as the level of expertise in the subject prior to joining the course. For example: 

• Novice to Investigator: 4-5 hours/week 
• Novice to Advocate: 5-6 hours/week 
• Novice to Master: 6-8 hours/week 

After completing this course, you’ll be able to:

• identify the opportunities for cities to be drivers of the uptake of energy communities and other energy sharing arrangements;
• recognise prospects for accelerated renewables deployment in applying the EU’s rules on permitting and siting;
• assess the benefits of, as well as the technical and regulatory requirements needed for the roll-out of smart metering and demand flexibility solutions;
• evaluate the implications of EU energy efficiency legislation for public and private urban building stock;
• formulate pragmatic and integrated advice for municipal energy sector decarbonisation; and
• critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of a city’s energy sector policy and recommend impactful measures and policies

You’ll get a hands-on learning experience with:

• Live classes delivered by FSR faculty
• Panel debates with practitioners and experts
• Video lectures to unpack complex regulatory and technical topics
• Interaction with your peers in lively forum discussions
• The opportunity to apply and test your knowledge by writing a case study

At the end of the course, the participants can earn a Certificate of Attendance, a Certificate of Completion or a Certificate of Excellence, depending of their performance and engagement throughout the course.

Each year, the Florence School of Regulation – Energy and Climate (FSR Energy & Climate) awards scholarships for a wide variety of training courses targeting a broad audience of professionals and academics.

Applications will be assessed by a Selection Committee of FSR members on a yearly basis. The successful candidates will be informed after February 2024 and will be provided with all relevant information on how to enroll in the online course or residential training of their choice.

Send your application by 2 February 2025.

Find more information here

• General fee: 1100 €
• Students (with certificate of current studies**): 440 €
• Four free seats for Star Donors
• Two free seats for Major Donors
• One free seat for Associate Donors

Discounts 

Special offer for group enrolments: 10% discount from 5 participants from the same organisation

Contact: fsr.secretariat@eui.eu 

Cancellation policy 

Paid registration fee is non-refundable. However, registrant substitution may be made up to 20 days before the start date of the course. 

**Please kindly send your certificate of current studies with the stamp of your university to FSR secretariat (fsr.secretariat@eui.eu).
The start and end dates of your studies should also be clearly mentioned on the document. Please make sure that your period of studies fully covers the training course duration.