Young Energy Researchers at WSED 2025: Advocating for Energy Democracy Through Renewable Energy Communities
10, March 2025
Young Energy Researchers at WSED 2025: Advocating for Energy Democracy Through Renewable Energy Communities
In March 2025, three young policy enthusiasts and alumni of the Regional School for Political Development —Stefan Atanasovski Trajkovic, Alexandra Lazic, and Ivan Boban—took their grassroots energy transition proposal to the international stage at the World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED) conference in Wels, Austria. Their policy paper, titled Your Energy, Your Power, was selected in the Young Energy Researchers category, joining a global program that gathered over 600 experts, researchers, and policymakers from across the world.
The team originally developed the proposal focused on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. But their work didn’t stop there. As the program ended, their advocacy only expanded — through active networking with stakeholders in climate policy, energy transition, and just transition across North Macedonia, Serbia, and Croatia.
“We didn’t want this to stay a paper in a drawer,” said Stefan Atanasovski Trajkovic. “We saw it as a call to action—and WSED gave us the platform to take that action to a global audience.”
Why Renewable Energy Communities?
At the heart of the Your Energy, Your Power proposal is the model of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs)—an innovative approach where citizens can pool resources to jointly invest in solar energy and renewables, ideally with local government support, to produce, share, and trade energy.
This model empowers citizens to:
- Reduce energy costs
- Achieve energy security by decreasing dependency on centralized systems
- Ensure a just transition, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals
“Energy democracy isn’t just a buzzword,” said Alexandra Lazic. “It’s about putting power—literally and politically—back into the hands of citizens.”
This is especially vital in regions where energy monopolies dominate the market, often through large PV farms that sell energy back to central suppliers, leaving ordinary people dependent and without real agency in the transition.
WSED 2025: A Platform for Knowledge and Impact
The WSED Conference, held from March 4–7, featured a range of themed days, including:
- Day 1: Young Energy Researchers – where Stefan, Alexandra, and Ivan presented their paper
- Day 2: Pellet Conference – focused on sustainable heating systems
- Day 3: Energy Efficiency Conference – the most relevant for the team’s mission
On Day 3, a dedicated session on Renewable Energy Communities showcased successful implementations from across Europe. Of particular interest was a presentation by the Christiane Egger, Energy Agency of Upper Austria, who shared how the region had already supported over 450 RECs and is working actively to expand further. The agency provides technical, financial, and educational support to citizen-led initiatives.
“We were deeply inspired by the institutional commitment in Austria,” said Ivan Boban. “It made us think more strategically about how to build trust and communicate the benefits of RECs in our countries.”
Policy Progress in the Western Balkans
At the time of writing the proposal:
- North Macedonia lacked legal recognition for RECs
- Serbia and Croatia had legal frameworks but almost no implementation
- Croatia had 4 active RECs, while Serbia had none
Since then, North Macedonia has made a breakthrough: a recent amendment to the Law on Energy has legally recognized Renewable Energy Communities. While this success is shared with environmental NGOs who have long advocated for this change, youth-led advocacy played a significant role.
Stefan, also a Young European Ambassador and member of the UN Youth Consultative Board in North Macedonia, was particularly active in engaging with EU and UN bodies in the country
Next Steps: Keeping the Momentum Alive
Following their WSED presentation, the Your Energy, Your Power team has continued building connections across the region, sharing insights with decision-makers and community leaders. Their guiding principle remains unchanged: “Your Energy, Your Power.”
Their mission is to decentralize energy ownership, empower local communities, and promote climate justice through meaningful policy change—bridging the gap between ideas and action.
