Six local communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina have signed grant agreements under the EU for Collective Action for Energy Transition (EU4CAET) project, launching initiatives in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and community-led energy solutions. The projects, announced by the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9 June 2026, involve the municipalities of Kakanj, Zenica, Modriča, Sokolac, Srbac, and Trebinje.
Three of the projects establish Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), a model promoted under EU energy policy that enables joint production, consumption, and sharing of renewable energy among local authorities, businesses, and citizens. Kakanj, a former coal-mining town, received the first-ever REC status in the Federation of BiH and will install a 103 kW solar plant on its municipal building, generating around 111,678 kWh annually and cutting CO₂ emissions by 83.2 tonnes per year. Modriča will host the first registered REC in Republika Srpska with a 157.67 kW solar plant on a sports complex, expected to reduce electricity consumption by about 25 percent and emissions by 136.56 tonnes annually. Sokolac will establish a REC with a 71.4 kWp solar installation on its sports hall, covering roughly 90 percent of its energy needs and reducing emissions by 58.45 tonnes per year.
Other projects focus on energy efficiency upgrades. Srbac will introduce a smart adaptive LED public lighting system, benefiting around 8,200 residents and cutting electricity consumption by 323,330 kWh and emissions by 240.75 tonnes annually. Zenica will upgrade its Sports Arena with a 300 kW heat pump system to improve efficiency and lower operating costs. Trebinje will replace an outdated coal-fired boiler with a high-efficiency pellet boiler at its sports hall, improving air quality and reducing heating costs.
Solomon Ioannou, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation, stated that the investments deliver tangible benefits for citizens while contributing to a sustainable energy future. Mareike Hahr, EU4CAET Project Manager, highlighted that the first RECs in both entities serve as models for other communities. The EU4CAET project is co-financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by GIZ.
The initiatives are expected to improve quality of life by lowering energy costs, reducing emissions, and fostering local ownership of the energy transition. The projects also carry implications for stakeholders: local citizens benefit from cleaner air and reduced energy bills; municipal budgets gain from reinvested savings; coal-dependent regions face a gradual shift away from fossil fuels; and EU taxpayers see their funds supporting decentralised energy models that align with EU climate goals.
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