Kristianstad, a small town in the south of Sweden, is reimagining its relationship with energy, starting with the design of a collaborative energy system for its neighbourhood Näsby. While the project is still in the making, municipalities like Kristianstad show the will to head towards a more social and ecological energy system.
Energy Communities
Mitigation
Energy Poverty
Kristianstad, a small city of 40 thousands inhabitants in the south of Sweden, combines a rich historical heritage and access to nature. Between its efforts toward a climate-neutral and resilient future, Kristianstad is now exploring how to create an energy community in one of its neighbourhoods.
A project in the making
In 2025, two students at the Lunds Tekniska Högskola chose to focus their master's thesis on the possibility to create an energy community in Näsby, a neighbourhood of Kristianstad. The purpose of the study was to determine the best form for an energy community in the area from a technical, regulatory and organisation standpoint.
Building on this initial feasibility study, the Municipality of Kristianstad decided to go further, and commissioned a concrete technical feasibility study. Based on its results, the Municipality developed a project proposal for "Collaborative Energy Systems in Näsby for Societal Benefit". The aim was to develop and optimise the energy community.
While the project proposal was not granted funding, the Municipality considered the social benefits of the eventual energy community to be big enough to keep trying, and is now currently exploring for other fund-streams.
Challenges
While the project is still in the making, the Municipality already faced several challenges.
From a technical and legal point of view, the difficulty in designing a concrete proposal is due to an unclear legislation on the topic, as well as technical challenges with the connection to the national grid.
From the economical point of view, as well, the unclear legislation is reason of unclear incentives for energy communities. This situation makes the search for funding in the country quite difficult, thus slowing down the expansion of the sector.
Kristianstad, Sweden
Collaborative Energy System in Näsby
Stage of implementation: Submitted technical feasibility study, looking for funding
Type of support from the Municipality
- Direct involvement: part of the project
Covenant Figures
- Signatory to the Covenant of Mayors since: 2009
- Emission reduction ambitions:
% GHG emissions reductions by 2030: not committed
Related links
Contact
Rebecka Bergh, climate strategist: rebecka.bergh@kristianstad.se