In the late summer of 2024, Energy Agency Southern Sweden launched the Transition Manager Program – an energy and climate planning training for municipal and regional officials. As of January 2025, over 30 individuals have completed the training.
Equipped to work with Clean Energy Transition
Energy planning is not merely a tool for sustainable development but also a process that strengthens the competitiveness of municipalities. Energy planning doesn’t end with a finished energy plan; it is an ever-continuous process. It is crucial that energy planning aligns with other plans and strategies that permeate the community.
The Transition Manager Program in Skåne follows the structure of the Swedish Energy Agency’s guidance for municipal energy planning. Being a diploma program in municipal and regional energy planning, organized by a regional energy agency, is the first of its kind in Sweden.
The 40-hour training program, largely conducted digitally over four months, has consisted of various themes and focus areas. Through the training, participants have learned everything from the legal aspects of energy planning from a national to a global perspective, to the practical skills needed to develop, implement, and follow up on an energy plan within municipal and regional operations. As a final part of the training, participants gathered for two days of lectures and group exercises in Lund and Växjö.
After completing the final training session at the end of January, over 30 individuals have been certified. Equipped with the proper tools and knowledge, they are ready to work with clean energy and SECAPS in their respective organizations!
A highly appreciated training
Participants mostly came from Skåne, Kronoberg, Blekinge, and Kalmar counties. However, the training did also attract participants from other parts of Sweden. A wide range of professional categories were represented, the most common being environmental and sustainability strategists, emergency coordinators, and spatial planners. The participation of both municipal and regional officials led to meaningful exchange, increasing the knowledge of their respective prerequisites and acting spaces.
The training has received very positive reviews:
- I am very pleased with this training. It has given me a good understanding of the municipalities’ tasks and challenges in energy planning, both from a broad perspective and in-depth, including a wealth of knowledge on how to approach and work with energy planning. The combination of lectures, dialogue, and group exercises made the training lively and made me feel involved and engaged. I especially appreciated the in-person closing conference because of the great atmosphere and the camaraderie that developed during the group exercises, which made it easy for me to contact any participant afterward if I wanted to discuss something. The spread-out structure of the training over a couple of months with digital sessions was crucial for me to participate. Excellent and appreciated content and execution! says Emelie Emanuelsson, Process Leader at the Municipal Association Storsthlm
- I appreciated the training for its broad content, which spans from energy systems on an overarching level to concrete action proposals. This is important for applying the knowledge in practice, and the training has also sparked new ideas about how we as a municipality can continue working on these issues. It has been rewarding to meet representatives from other municipalities working on similar topics, says Emelie Willsäter, Urban Planner, Urban Planning Department, Sjöbo Municipality.
- I think the training was fantastic! It had a great mix of lectures and interactive elements. It was amazing to gain so much knowledge about energy issues. I gained extensive knowledge about urban planning and legislation in Sweden and at the EU level. It was especially fun to meet in person in Lund and spend a few days in such a creative and pleasant atmosphere! says Love Frykman, Environmental Strategist, Growth Department, Burlöv Municipality.
Contact:
Gustaf Wiklund, project manager, Energy Agency Southern Sweden
+46 70-306 44 92, gustaf.wiklund@energikontorsyd.se
This project has received funding from the European Union’s LIFE CET Programme under Grant Agreement Nº101120316.
Disclaimer: Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.