On November 20, 2024, a training session was held in Lądek-Zdrój for local government units on the topic: “Practical aspects of organizing and operating energy cooperatives based on the example of the Lądecka Spółdzielnia Energetyczna.” The training was organized by the Lądecka Spółdzielnia Energetyczna and the Lądek-Zdrój municipality, with event partners including the National Agricultural Support Center, Tauron, ENERGYNAT, and PERSEM.
Experts from the Ignacy Łukasiewicz Institute for Energy Policy Sławomir Stec, Ph.D. and Artur Stec, Ph.D. participated in the training. The meeting was opened by the president of the Lądecka Spółdzielnia Energetyczna, Daniel Raczkiewicz, Eng. M.Sc. who introduced the cooperative, which began its operations on January 1, 2024. He discussed the origins of the cooperative, the stages of its formation, and legal aspects. He particularly emphasized the importance of developing a business plan and then carrying out investments – from obtaining environmental decisions, connection conditions, and building permits, to securing financing, selecting a contractor, and completing inspections and energization of the installation. The benefits of establishing the cooperative were presented, including energy balancing and a comparison of energy costs incurred by the wastewater treatment plant before and after the cooperative was established.
The next stage of the training was a presentation by the president of ENERGYNAT, Jaroslaw Gryza, entitled. “Business plan and energy balance as a key to the success of the organization of an energy cooperative.” The presentation included an analysis of the cooperative’s operating costs, projections of investment costs and simulations of savings from different billing models. The chairman pointed out the key importance of selecting energy sources depending on the profile of energy consumption and production, which affects the economic efficiency of the cooperative.
The entire conference was concluded with questions and discussion, which allowed participants to exchange experiences and gain practical knowledge of the organization and operation of energy cooperatives.