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JETforCE

Project overview

Just Energy Transition for Central Europe

With increasing energy prices, social aspects of the green energy transition have moved into focus. There is broad consensus that the transition has to be just and fair. Ideally, future energy policies and investments are co-created with citizens. The JETforCE project helped regions to better involve their citizens digitally. The partnership tested and validated two novel solutions for digital citizen engagement in policy-making and to evaluated technologies through a "just transition lense".

2,37m €

Project Budget

80%

of the Budget is funded by ERDF

Layer 1

9

Countries

11

Regions

12

Partners

2

Pilots

Duration

Start date

End date

Project progress

100%

About the project

JETforCE supported a just energy transition across central Europe by developing practical solutions that help regions address the social and economic challenges of the transition to climate neutrality. Working together, project partners developed and tested tools, strategies and recommendations to strengthen citizen engagement, support evidence-based decision-making and build regional capacity. Today, these resources remain freely available to help public authorities, energy agencies, education providers and other stakeholders plan and implement a fair and inclusive energy transition.

Project partnership

Project partners

Magyarország (HU)

Lead partner

BORA 94 Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Development Agency Nonprofit LLC

Address
Városház tér 1
3525 Miskolc
Country
Hungary (HU)
Web
www.bora94.hu

Project partner

Executive
Address
Universitätspark 1/1
73525 Schwäbisch-Gmünd
Country
Germany (DE)
Web
www.EIfI-tech.eu
Total partner budget
254,800 €
Address
Neuer Platz 10
9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Country
Austria (AT)
Web
www.glocha.info
Total partner budget
206,640 €
Economic Development Department
Address
Via Benedetto XIV 3
40126 Bologna
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
www.cittametropolitana.bo.it
Total partner budget
180,600 €
Energy Agency of the district of Bautzen
Address
Preuschwitzer Straße 20
DE-02625 Bautzen
Country
Germany (DE)
Web
www.tgz-bautzen.de
Total partner budget
221,760 €
Address
Presernova ulica 18
2250 Ptuj
Country
Slovenia (SI)
Web
https://www.lea-ptuj.si/
Total partner budget
161,700 €
Address
Rudarska 1
52220 Labin
Country
Croatia (HR)
Web
www.irena-istra.hr
Total partner budget
254,646 €
Address
Nerudova 1498/8
58601 Jihlava
Country
Czechia (CZ)
Web
www.eav.cz
Total partner budget
172,172 €
Department of International Cooperation/Division of Innovation
Address
Bajkalská 27
82799 Bratislava
Country
Slovakia (SK)
Web
www.siea.sk
Total partner budget
175,420 €
Department of Regional Policy
Address
Pilsudskiego 8
90-051 Lodz
Country
Poland (PL)
Web
www.lodzkie.pl
Total partner budget
159,960 €
Address
Via Zamboni 20
40126 Bologna
Country
Italy (IT)
Web
https://www.grameenitalia.it/
Total partner budget
84,000 €
Address
Franz-Pichler-Straße 30
8160 Weiz
Country
Austria (AT)
Web
www.innovationszentrum-weiz.at
Total partner budget
245,857 €

Roadmap

1

The challenge: Delivering a Just Energy Transition

Regions across central Europe are facing the challenge of delivering the energy transition while ensuring that its social and economic impacts are shared fairly. Public authorities must balance climate objectives with the needs of communities, ensuring that no one is left behind. A just energy transition therefore requires more than new technologies. It also depends on informed decision-making, meaningful stakeholder participation and the capacity to plan and implement solutions that respond to local needs.

2

Bringing stakeholders together

Workshop participants visit the Power2Change exhibition hosted at the meeting place and have open conversations about multiple aspects of the energy transition process, both technological and social.
Workshop participants visit the Power2Change exhibition hosted at the meeting place and have open conversations about multiple aspects of the energy transition process, both technological and social.

JETforCE brought together public authorities, energy agencies, research organisations, businesses and citizens from nine regions across central Europe to exchange knowledge and develop practical solutions. Through local and transnational Just Energy Transition Alliances, stakeholders collaborated to identify regional challenges, share experiences and shape the project's activities. This collaborative approach ensured that the project's solutions reflected different territorial contexts and could be adapted beyond the partner regions.

3

Developing digital solutions

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Working with regional stakeholders, JETforCE developed two complementary digital tools to support different aspects of the just energy transition. The Challenges Mapping Tool helps public authorities engage citizens by collecting local knowledge, identifying challenges and supporting transparent dialogue around energy transition initiatives. The Technology Evaluation Tool helps decision-makers assess energy technologies and investments by considering technical, environmental, economic and social aspects, supporting more balanced and evidence-based decisions. Together, these tools help regions combine citizen participation with informed planning.

4

Testing the solutions

To ensure that the tools could be applied in different regional contexts, JETforCE tested them through two transnational pilots. The first pilot focused on citizen engagement, using the Challenges Mapping Tool to identify local challenges and gather feedback from communities. Building on these results, the second pilot validated the Technology Evaluation Tool through regional case studies, demonstrating how it can support the assessment of energy technologies and investments from a just transition perspective. The experience gained through both pilots helped refine the tools and demonstrated their practical value for regions across central Europe.

5

Building capacity

Developing digital tools was only part of the solution. JETforCE also strengthened the capacity of public authorities and regional stakeholders to apply the project's methods in their daily work. The Capacity Enhancing Toolkit provides practical guidance, training materials and resources to support stakeholder engagement, technology assessment and the implementation of just energy transition approaches. It helps organisations build the knowledge and skills needed to use the JETforCE tools effectively and adapt them to their own regional context.

6

Turning knowledge into action

The experience gained through stakeholder engagement, digital tools and transnational pilots was brought together in the JETforCE Strategy and Action Plans. These resources provide practical guidance for public authorities and stakeholders, combining strategic recommendations with regional examples and concrete actions to support a fair and inclusive energy transition. They can be adapted and applied by other regions facing similar challenges.

7

Lasting impact

Although JETforCE has concluded, its tools, strategies and guidance remain available through this website. Together, they provide practical resources for public authorities, energy agencies, education providers and other organisations working to support a just energy transition across central Europe and beyond. Explore the Outputs section to access the project's tools, publications and guidance.

News

Events

Pilot actions

Outputs

The JETforCE team providing event participants with information about the project.
JETforCe project partners distributing and promoting JETforCE project in Lodz Conference.

Joint Strategy for Stakeholder Engagement in Just Energy Transition

The Joint Strategy for Stakeholder Engagement in Just Energy Transition provides practical guidance for engaging stakeholders and strengthening capacity to support a fair and inclusive energy transition. Developed through JETforCE, the strategy brings together methodologies, good practices and recommendations to help public authorities and regional stakeholders involve citizens, address the needs of vulnerable groups and adapt engagement approaches to different regional contexts. The strategy is complemented by digital tools and practical resources that support transparent decision-making, collaboration and knowledge sharing. It is intended for public authorities, energy agencies and other organisations seeking to strengthen stakeholder participation and build the capacity needed to deliver a just energy transition.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans

JETforCE Challenges Mapping Tool

The JETforCE Challenges Mapping Tool is a web-based application that supports citizen participation in the just energy transition. It enables citizens to identify and report local challenges, assess climate and energy transition initiatives, and provide feedback on their potential social and environmental impacts, particularly for vulnerable communities. Tested across participating regions, the tool helps public authorities and other stakeholders gather local insights, strengthen dialogue with citizens and support more inclusive, evidence-based decision-making.
Type of output: Solutions
View solution

JETforCE solution for digital technology evaluation through a Just Energy Transition lens

The JETforCE Technology Evaluation Tool is a web-based application that helps users assess energy technologies and investment options from a just energy transition perspective. It supports evidence-based decision-making by evaluating technologies based on energy performance, costs, environmental impacts and social considerations. Designed for public authorities, energy agencies and other stakeholders, the tool can be applied to a wide range of energy solutions, including renewable energy technologies, smart devices and digital applications. For detailed guidance on using the tool, please refer to the accompanying "User Manual" and "Understanding Your Score" guides.
Type of output: Solutions
View solution

Capacity Enhancing Toolkit for JETforCE Digital Solutions

The "Capacity Enhancing Toolkit for JETforCE Digital Solutions" is an online repository and manual containing JETforCE capacity enhancing resources and guidelines for application of both digital tools (i.e., the Digital Challenge Mapping Tool & the Technology Evaluation Tool). It includes compiled lessons learned from the JETforCE project on how to ensure access of all citizens, including vulnerable ones.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans
View solution
Interreg Central Europe JETforCE project, BORA 94 Nonprofit Kft., convened with members of the Just Energy Transition Alliance (JETA)
Interreg Central Europe JETforCE project, BORA 94 Nonprofit Kft., convened with members of the Just Energy Transition Alliance (JETA)

JETforCE Strategy and Action Plans for Just Energy Transition in Central Europe

The JETforCE Strategy and accompanying action plans provide a practical framework to support a just energy transition across central Europe. They combine strategic guidance with concrete regional actions to help public authorities and stakeholders strengthen citizen engagement, build capacity and support the uptake of innovative energy solutions. Here you can access the JETforCE Strategy and Toolkit, which brings together the project's digital tools and practical resources, as well as a catalogue of regional action plans developed and tested by project partners. Together, these resources offer practical recommendations and examples that can be adapted by other regions planning a fair, inclusive and sustainable energy transition.
Type of output: Strategies and action plans

Project videos

Project documents

Newsletters

Media Press Releases

“Introducing the JETforCE Project” Press Release Fostering just energy transition in Central Europe – the JETforCE cooperation 10 May 2023

JETforCE

The project lead partner is responsible for the content of this project website.

Project on social media

Project contact

Katalin Szabó-Havasi