Paving the way for self-sufficient regional energy supply based on sustainable energy concepts and 
renewable energy sources
The Kyoto protocol, the EU 20-20-20 strategy and several further commitments force the states of Central Europe to rationalize their energy consumption and reduce the fossil energy sources in their energy mix in favour of renewables. MANERGY assists the Central Europe area in achieving these goals by setting its general objective: supporting the responsible use of the environmental potentials of Central Europe by promoting sustainable approaches to environment friendly energy source management, including an increase in renewable energy use and significant reduction in energy consumption and CO2 emissions. As urban areas represent more than two thirds of the energy consumption of the EU, the role of local authorities in energy saving is significant. This tendency is fostered by the central governments in all countries, urging the public authorities to cut their expenses by rationalizing their overhead costs. MANERGY partners will aid local authorities to answer this challenge and pave the way for the self-sufficient regional energy supply.

Based on the similarities in the energy supply of the partners, transnational cooperation offers the opportunity for direct exchange on the needs and future aspirations related to these topics. In the Central Europe area currently there is no such official transnational level forum which would deal with these issues. The regions and local authorities are mostly the ones who implement the different approaches of energy use, on the other hand they in themselves separately are not strong stakeholders to have their voice heard in order to shape the system. By its transnational approach the project will transfer its results to other Central Europe cities and also support the forming EU’s energy policy. Besides, transnational cooperation will give that chance for local authorities - which would not have otherwise the possibility to access to a wide range of know-how - to improve their energy management by benefiting from best practices of other Central Europe countries.