The design of the Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster and its transition from idea to functional infrastructure exposes policy and regulatory changes needed to advance similar decentralized energy-waste reuse systems in the Baltic Sea Region.
- The locked-in position of large traditional fossil-fuel based energy companies presents serious challenges to the integration of distributed, renewable energy sources. The Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster is required to construct a parallel energy distribution network for its partners. National policy changes are required to provide new local producers of renewable energy better access to the existing energy market.
- All levels of government can do more to stimulate cooperation platforms such as the Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster, especially through incentives for developing local energy production from renewable sources. For example, encouraging the integration of waste recycling in the energy production system through enhanced tax system incentives would help guide the energy sector toward more circular economy solutions.
- Beyond the local level, faster and effective implementation of European Union regulations, such as the “RED II” directive (2018/2001) “on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources”, and initiatives such as the Clean Energy for all Europeans Package or so-called “Winter Package” into national legal and implementation systems would ease the scaling up of models such as Słupsk Bioenergy Cluster. There is presently a gap between supportive and aspirational goals in EU policy and local innovation.
