Promoting circular approaches for energy independency in business and communities.

Energy Circle

Together for Sustainable Energy: Interreg Cooperation Day 2026 in Biržai, Lithuania

06 October 2026

To mark the 15th anniversary of Interreg Cooperation Day, Biržai District Municipality invited everyone interested in sustainable energy, energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy sources, energy storage and greater energy independence to an online conference, “From Ideas to Solutions: Energy Project Experiences and Opportunities,” held on 2 October 2026. The following day, 3 October 2026, the project participated in Biržai Autumn Fair.

Technical details

Article written by:

Lina Kiršienė

Chief Specialist

Department of Strategic Planning and Asset Management – Biržai District Municipality Administration

02 October – Online conference at Biržai District Municipality Administration “From Ideas to Solutions: Energy Project Experiences and Opportunities”

The online conference focused on how knowledge, experience and tested solutions gained through international projects can be adapted to local needs, and how cooperation across countries, organisations and sectors can contribute to finding long-term solutions to shared challenges.

The conference featured experiences from three international Interreg projects. First, the Easy Energy project, implemented by Panevėžys District Municipality, was presented. The project focuses on practical, small-scale energy efficiency measures. Its experience demonstrates that reducing energy consumption does not always require major investments. Significant improvements can be achieved through better building management, more efficient lighting, insulation and water-use solutions, staff awareness-raising, and energy-saving everyday practices.

The Interreg Europe Repower Industries project was also presented. Through this project, Biržai District Municipality, together with international partners, aims to strengthen the energy independence and security of industry. The project promotes energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy sources and energy storage, while facilitating the exchange of experience between regions and the application of this knowledge to local solutions. As part of the project, Biržai District Municipality plans to update the measures and criteria of its Strategic Development Plan for 2023–2030 related to efficient energy use, industrial energy independence and security, involving relevant stakeholders in the process.

Other project activities and complementary outcomes include the establishment of the “Biržų energija” Renewable Energy Community (AIEB) and the preparation of an investment concept for energy efficiency and integrated energy transition in Biržai District Municipality.

The conference also presented Energy Circle, a project implemented under the Interreg Baltic Sea Region Programme, in which Biržai District Municipality acts as a local connecting point between local government, businesses, communities and energy experts. The project aims to support the transition from isolated and short-term energy-saving measures towards long-term, strategic planning for energy independence based on circular economy principles.

Energy Circle is testing practical tools that help organisations assess their current energy situation, collect and analyse energy data, identify information gaps and determine possible areas for further exploration. Key tools include the EnergyCircle Roadmap, Builder Competence Analysis, an online energy data and profiling tool, the practical solutions Toolkit, and the energy profile spider-web diagram.

The benefits of Energy Circle differ across target groups. For businesses, the project provides a more systematic approach to assessing their energy situation, considering potential investments and seeking expert support where necessary. For municipalities, it strengthens strategic planning and local coordination capacities. For communities, it helps identify local energy needs and explore potential joint solutions. The municipality’s role in this process is to coordinate activities, test the developed methods under local conditions, strengthen its own capacities and share local experience with international project partners.

The long-term value of the project lies not only in the tools developed and tested, but also in stronger cooperation networks and the capacity to apply them in the future. Energy Circle aims to ensure that cooperation between local authorities, businesses, communities and experts continues beyond the lifetime of the project, and that the experience gained is used to develop solutions that extend beyond the boundaries of individual organisations.

03 October – Autumn Festival in Biržai

On 3 October, Energy Circle activities were also presented at the Autumn Fair in Biržai. Information materials were distributed to residents, and visitors were invited to learn more about the project and the opportunities it offers for participation. The presentation of the project activities was one of the activities organised to mark the 15th anniversary of Interreg Cooperation Day. It attracted considerable interest from local residents, demonstrating that energy efficiency, energy consumption and more sustainable solutions are relevant not only to specialists but also to the wider public.

International energy projects are helping Biržai District systematically strengthen its knowledge, improve energy efficiency and enhance its capacity to make decisions based on data and shared experience. In the long term, such cooperation creates the conditions for greater local energy resilience, more sustainable energy use and increased energy independence.