Mutual learning to ensure sustainable energy supplies and recultivating former coal mining sites

From 13-14 March 2023, the region of Lusatia (DE) welcomed a delegation from the neighbouring region of Zgorzelec (PL) in the context of the exchangeEU programme. The visit focused on sustainable energy infrastructure and the recultivation of post-mining areas. The regions shared best practices and developed new ideas regarding how to overcome prevailing challenges faced along their just transition pathways.

Representatives from Zgorzelec shared their experiences building energy communities to provide a clean and safe energy supply for Polish citizens. Furthermore, tangible ideas for sustainable infrastructure projects, such as building a cross-regional energy valley based on a new carbon-neutral energy model, were jointly developed and discussed. These ideas were shared with other German and Polish stakeholders, such as representatives from the Saxony State Ministry, and the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU).

The delegations visited several just transition lighthouse projects around Lusatia:

• a soon-to-be-opened vocational training centre to attract (young) workers to the region;
• a re-purposed former glass factory that now offers meeting and event spaces;
• a Communication and Nature Conservation Center in the City of Weißwasser (‘Turm am schweren Berg’), which offers views over the open-pit coal mine and an overview of the region’s coal mining history; and
• a Boulder Park in the Nochten district, where a former coal mining area was converted into a landscape-garden featuring erratic boulders and a variety of blooming plant species.

Inspired by these best practice examples, the delegations deliberated on additional project ideas linked to repurposing post-mining lands, such as hiking and adventure trails, or trails to connect the regions that display information about their mining histories.

Despite the challenges identified during the exchange, the participants took the opportunity to learn from each other's experiences and to lay the foundation for fruitful, ongoing collaboration. Their unique situation as neighbouring regions allowed them to develop feasible project ideas to implement jointly, and they plan to continue exchanging on best practices.