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A Story about ENERGAP – 20 years of Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje
From energy solutions to climate action. From ideas to impact.

Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje was established in June 2006 by Municipality of Maribor. ENERGAP is located in the 2nd biggest city in Slovenia – Maribor. Maribor is economic, university, cultural and sports centre of the north-eastern part of the country. ENERGAP covers area of 200.000 inhabitants and 17 municipalities around the city of Maribor. It is financed by Municipality of Maribor and other projects. The decision making body of the ENERGAP consists of Agency Council and Council of Experts.

 

Who We Are
ENERGAP was founded with a clear mission: to transform energy challenges—sustainability, energy efficiency, decarbonisation, and the deployment of renewable energy sources—into concrete development opportunities. Our journey began as the Energy Agency of Podravje, working closely with municipalities, public institutions, and regional partners to improve energy efficiency, promote renewable energy, and translate strategic goals into tangible actions.
From the very beginning, our focus has been on development and implementation. We understand how ideas evolve into well-structured projects, how projects become investments, and how investments generate long-term value. This practical, hands-on approach has shaped ENERGAP into a reliable partner for public authorities and organisations across Europe.

 

From Energy to Energy & Climate
Over time, it became clear that energy cannot be addressed in isolation. Energy systems lie at the core of climate change, economic resilience, and social well-being. At the same time, climate policies are reshaping energy priorities, funding instruments, and regulatory frameworks throughout the European Union.
In response, ENERGAP expanded its mission from energy to climate, becoming the Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje. This evolution reflects our commitment to tackling today’s key challenges—decarbonisation, climate resilience, adaptation, and energy security—through integrated and future-oriented solutions. For us, the energy transition and climate action are inseparable and must be designed and implemented together.

 

Why This Matters Today
Europe is entering a decisive decade in which climate neutrality, resilience, and competitiveness have become urgent priorities. Regions, cities, and municipalities increasingly require partners capable of aligning local action with European policy objectives.

ENERGAP actively contributes to European cooperation by:

  • participating in EU-funded projects,
  • linking European policy frameworks with regional and local implementation,
  • translating climate and energy targets into concrete, measurable actions.

 

What We Do
ENERGAP supports public and private partners throughout the entire project lifecycle—from strategic planning to implementation and results.

Our core activities include:

  • Energy and Climate Project Development - Transforming ideas and strategies into concrete, investment-ready projects.
  • Strategic Planning and Policy Support - Supporting municipalities and regions in aligning local actions with national and EU energy and climate objectives.
  • Project Coordination and Implementation - Managing projects, coordinating stakeholders, and ensuring real impact on the ground.
  • Integrated Climate Mitigation and Adaptation - Combining energy efficiency, renewable energy, emission reduction, and climate resilience measures.

 

Our Key Strength is Financing
One of ENERGAP’s greatest strengths lies in financing. We are highly experienced in navigating complex European funding mechanisms and translating ambitious ideas into financially viable projects.

We support our partners in:

  • accessing EU, national, and regional funding programmes,
  • structuring investments and combining multiple financial sources,
  • reducing risks and increasing project bankability.

This financial expertise enables faster implementation, higher success rates, and long-term sustainability of energy and climate investments.

 

A Reliable Partner at Local, Regional, National, and European Level
We understand the needs of local communities and municipalities, as well as the priorities and expectations of regional, national, and European institutions.
This multi-level perspective enables us to act as a trusted development partner across sectors and borders, effectively connecting local action with national strategies and European policy objectives.

 

ENERGAP is not just an agency. We are a development partner for Europe’s energy and climate future—practical, credible, and forward-looking. Ready for cooperation across Europe.

 

Our main activities are:

  • Support for the implementation of local/regional energy plans.
  • Energy audits of public and private buildings.
  • Raising awareness on energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and transport issues.
  • Search for energy-management incentive funds at national and international level and studies on innovative financial mechanisms.
  • Information, advice and training on energy management issues.
  • Energy and mobility management for local authorities, public and private companies.
  • We can give wide-ranging advice on all aspects of energy, as well as technical assistance in the design of energy projects, heritage and infrastructure and provision of public information on these topics.
  • We are cooperating in many local, national and international projects.
  • Our main goal is to implement in practice all good ideas that are set in many different documents.
  • As one of the first cities in Slovenia we have implemented the central energy management system for public buildings in Maribor.
  • We act as a contact point for relations with European networks and institutions as well as an intermediary to local, regional and national players.

 

ENERGAP - Presentation of our Energy and Climate Agency of Podravje

Until now, ENERGAP completed more than 35 European and other projects under various territorial cooperation programs, such as Interreg A, B and C, South and Southeast Europe, Central Europe, Mediterranean, Intelligent Energy Europe, Erasmus+, Interreg Europe, Interreg Alpine Space, Interreg Mediterranean, Horizon 2020.

 

ENERGAP current EU projects are:

  • PROSPECT CUBE - Capacity Building for Local and Regional Authorities
  • LIFE EnerGISE - Energy Communities Effective Guidance, Advise, Innovative Support and Stimulation
  • H2SCALE - Paving the way for setting up scalable, green hydrogen-based economic models for local communities in the Danube Region 
  • ESCALATE - Accelerating Europe’s Clean Energy Future by Empowering Cities for Efficient Heating and Cooling
  • MOUNTADAPT - Adapting to climate change - solutions that reduce the impacts of climate change on human health, focusing on mountain and hill areas
  • DECA - Delivering Effective Climate Actions
  • CLIMATEFIT - Financing adaptation to climate change
  • POWER-E-COM - Empowering Renewable and Citizen Energy Communities
  • ADAPTNOW - ADAPTation Capacity Strengthening for Highly Affected and Exposed Territories in the Alps NOW
  • AMETHyST - A MultipurposE and Tran sectorial HYdrogen Support for decarbonized alpine Territories
  • EUCF - European City Facillity
  • EIP - Optimising the biodegradation of slurry to reduce nitrogen losses and its use in agriculture
  • REPOSITORY - Energy Communities
  • REMARKABLE - Climate leaders will build new leadership capacity across Europe
  • PROSPECT + - Capacity building for cities and regions