E2-CUTIES' kick-off marks the beginning of a collaboration between twelve European partners committed to reshaping the energy landscape.
Local Energy Communities at the heart of E2-CUTIES
At the core of E2-CUTIES are LECs, groups that bring together citizens, businesses, and local governments to own and manage local energy systems jointly. E2-CUTIES aims to empower Local Energy Communities (LECs), accelerate the shift to clean and locally produced energy and foster public-civic collaboration. The project will support six LECs in creating decentralised, renewable-based smart energy systems tailored to their local needs.
To help them succeed, E2-CUTIES will provide a step-by-step roadmap and four practical toolboxes focused on (1) governance, (2) inclusive community building, (3) technical design and operation, and (4) financial/legal frameworks.
From theory to practice: six pilot sites in Northwest Europe
Led by the city of Utrecht, E2-CUTIES will test its methods in six pilot areas: Utrecht (Oog in Al, Lunetten, Noord-Oost), Leuven, Strasbourg, and Dublin (Balbriggan, Fingal). Two cities, Leuven and Strasbourg, will trial integrated energy system concepts to gain hands-on experience and insights.
Lessons learned will be shared across Northwest Europe through a capacity-building programme, aiming to inspire more LECs in the region.
Collaboration across sectors
The strength of the project lies in its diverse partnership. Alongside local public authorities, the consortium includes academic institutions, private-sector experts, and networking organisations, offering a comprehensive approach to reach the project’s ambitions.
The project partners officially kicked-off the project on 7 and 8 April 2025 in Besançon (FR) and a next project meeting is already foreseen for the end of September 2025 in Utrecht (NL).
Funded by the European Commission through the Interreg Northwest Europe programme, E2-CUTIES will run until June 2028.
