Local Energy Manager (LEM) studies

By project EMPOWER

Published on 05 June 2020

Poland

About this good practice

The Mazovian Energy Agency (MAE) in collaboration with Higher School of Ecology and Management started postgraduate studies "Local Energy Manager - LEM", which are addressed to local government officials, employees or candidates for employees for municipal offices and organizational units of local self-government of the Mazovia Region as well as municipal enterprises. The aim of postgraduate studies is to acquire and develop legal, technical, economic, organizational and environmental knowledge of the production, distribution, storage, monitoring and marketing of conventional and renewable energy, as well as energy security at local level, including primarily planning, management and financing of energy in the municipality. Each eddition last app. 200 working hours, where 15-20 specialist conducted courses and exercises on the subjects of e.g. energy market, innovative financial instuments, legal conditions of energy sector, environmental conditions of the power industry etc. MAE managed to successfully finish three edition of postgraduate studies with high interest of local governments and enterprises. The education of studies competences allowed graduates to efficiently and professionally fulfill the tasks of the Local Government Energy Manager, as well as support and initiation of local projects in the field of energy. MAE is still in contact with course participants and works with many of them on new projects and investments in the field of low-carbon energy.

Resources needed

The studies were 85% co-financed by the Voivodship Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management in Warsaw fund, 15% paid by course participants. The total costs of one edition were app. 35 000 Euro. The one edition of the studies took 200 hours of lectures and exercises led by 15 experts.

Evidence of success

Mazovia Energy Agency (MAE) managed to successfully finish three edition of postgraduate studies with high interest of local governments and enterprises. More than 200 people have been trained. Most of the participants still work in the field of low-carbon energy and due to the training they build their capacity to effectively work in their job and face new challanges.

Potential for learning or transfer

The postgraduate LEM study package can be imported and implemented in other European Regions to develop a network of Local Government Energy Managers to support and initiation of local projects and investments in the field of low-carbon energy