Engage your community in local energy and climate planning
Apply for support to host a Citizen Energy Panel:
- Demonstrate climate leadership
Show your municipality’s commitment to inclusive governance. - Reveal local energy needs and priorities
Enable the design of local energy plans tailored to your citizens’ priorities and recommendations. - Empower marginalised or under-represented groups
Include marginalised and lower-income groups and to ensure your energy planning is inclusive. - Build trust and support for local policy
Involve residents in shaping policy and encourage public ownership and acceptance. - Strengthen funding applications by showing clear community engagement
Lay the groundwork for long-term community engagement.
What are Citizen Energy Panels?
Under CEAH, a Citizen Energy Panel is a one-day workshop designed to actively involve citizens in identifying the energy and climate challenges facing their community and co-develop solutions. Each panel combines expert presentations, structured group discussions, and interactive activities to gather citizens’ views and ideas that can help municipalities shape future strategies and policies.
What support will CEAH provide to selected municipalities?
Selected municipalities will receive:
- Technical and logistical guidance to plan and deliver the panel effectively.
- Support to define the scope of the panel and themes relevant to local needs.
- Training and orientation sessions for facilitators and local experts.
- Access to standardised materials, templates, and online resources, including:
- Facilitator handbook
- Presentation template
- Citizen orientation booklet to provide knowledge of topics ahead of the panel
- Panel minute-taking template
- Participant feedback form
- Advice on inclusive citizen recruitment strategies and communication and promotional toolkits, including:
- Flyers
- Social media content
- Email templates
- A brochure for potential citizen participants
- On-site support from CEAH experts during the event.
- Assistance in analysing, summarising, and disseminating the panel outcomes.
What is expected from the host municipality?
Host municipalities are expected to:
- Secure a suitable venue and manage event logistics.
- Select a clear topic relevant to the energy transition.
- Recruit a varied range of participants to ensure diverse and inclusive representation.
- Cover basic costs such as catering and participant expenses.
- Provide follow-up to citizens on how the recommendations have been considered for local planning.
Who can apply?
The call is open to municipalities and local authorities in all EU Member States, regardless of size or population. Both urban and rural municipalities are eligible to apply.
In addition to individual applications, joint applications from neighbouring municipalities are encouraged. These joint applications should demonstrate how the participating municipalities will collaborate to organise a single Citizen Energy Panel that reflects shared local challenges and benefits from regional cooperation.
One municipality or joint application per Member State will be selected to receive support from CEAH.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted electronically through the EU Survey platform. The application form is available in all official EU languages and can be completed in stages.
The second call for applications will open from 02 June 2026 to 31 July 2026.
Information Sessions
Two information webinars have been provided to explain the application process, the support that will be provided, and to answer your questions.
The first webinar, delivered on 27 November 2025, introduced the concept and purpose of citizen energy panels, showcased examples from across Europe, and explained the support that CEAH offers to municipalities. Watch the recording
The second information webinar, which provided a more detailed explanation of the application process, took place on Thursday 15 January 2026. Watch the recording