ZAVOD ENERGETSKA AGENCIJA ZA SAVINJSKO SALESKO IN KOROSKO

Their core work

KSSENA is a regional energy agency in northeastern Slovenia (Savinjska, Šaleška, and Koroška regions) that helps local municipalities and public authorities plan and execute building energy renovations, develop Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), and transition toward nearly zero-energy buildings. They act as a bridge between EU-level energy policy directives and practical on-the-ground implementation by local governments. Their work spans energy performance contracting, district heating improvement, bioenergy supply chains, and capacity building for public sector energy management. Most recently, they have stepped into pre-commercial procurement of innovative renewable energy solutions for buildings.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), KSSENA focused on foundational energy efficiency work: building renovation strategies, energy performance contracting, and translating national energy efficiency directives into local action plans for municipalities. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward peer learning between local authorities, monitoring and verification of energy savings, SECAPs, and civil engagement — suggesting a move from planning to implementation and accountability. The biggest leap came in 2020 when they took the coordinator role on procuRE, a major PCP project targeting 100% renewable energy supply in buildings, signaling ambition to move from advisory support into driving innovation procurement.

KSSENA is evolving from a policy advisory role into an active innovation procurer, positioning itself to lead demand-side energy transitions for public buildings.

How they like to work

KSSENA operates predominantly as a participant (7 of 8 projects), contributing regional implementation expertise to larger consortia, but their coordination of procuRE — a EUR 7.3M PCP project — shows growing ambition to lead. With 61 unique partners across 28 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators. Their typical contribution is as a regional implementation partner who brings municipal-level access and practical energy planning experience to Central and Eastern European contexts.

KSSENA has collaborated with 61 distinct partners across 28 countries, indicating a well-connected pan-European network with particular strength in Central and Eastern Europe, consistent with their focus on energy transitions in CEE municipalities.

What sets them apart

KSSENA occupies a specific niche: they are one of the few regional energy agencies in Slovenia with deep H2020 experience specifically in translating EU energy directives into practical municipal action. Their rare combination of public authority access, renovation policy expertise, and now pre-commercial procurement capability makes them an ideal partner for anyone needing a Central European implementation site or municipal engagement pathway. The procuRE coordination role (EUR 7.3M) demonstrates they can manage large-scale innovation projects, not just participate in them.

Highlights from their portfolio

• procuRE
  Their only coordinator role with by far the largest budget (EUR 7.3M) — a pre-commercial procurement project for 100% renewable energy in buildings, signaling a major step up in ambition.
• EXCITE
  Combines the European Energy Award framework with SECAP development and public entrepreneurship — uniquely positioned at the intersection of energy certification and municipal governance.
• ENERGee Watch
  Peer-to-peer learning network for regional authorities on energy monitoring and verification — directly builds KSSENA's role as a knowledge broker between municipalities.