Located in the North West of Greece (Region of Western Macedonia), at the border with Albania, the municipality of Nestorio counts 2,646 inhabitants (2011) and is spread on 618,46km². The territory is caracterized by its mountains, in particular Mount Grammos that culminates at 2,520m. The population is organized in 23 settlements and the main economic activities are agriculture, livestock farming and forest logging. The municipality focuses its actions on 3 main axis towards a more sustainable development: clean water, nature & culture and organic farming.

The Comunidade Intermunicipal do AVE (CIM do AVE) is located in the North of Portugal and composed of 8 municipalities, some very rural, others more urban. CIM do AVE supports its municipalities in the conduct of the energy transition and the implementation of climate action. In 2020, CIM do AVE defined a Climate Change Mitigation Strategy for the 8 municipalities, a plan composed of actions at the municipal and intermunicipal level. CIM do AVE is also active at the EU level and involved in EU projects, such as the COLEOPTER project with RURENER.

Terres de Vie en Lozère is a Local Action Group, involved in the LEADER programme (EARDF funding). It is located in the Center South of France and counts 59 municipalities organized in 4 associations of communities, for 32,865 inhabitants in total (1,905km²). The territory is mainly rural, preserved for industrialization, with a large tourism potential, in particular to promote its incredible environment. The Action Programme of the LAG seeks to promote sustainable activities, attract new populations and develop services on the territory.

First member in 2014 with the launch of its initiative "Citizen Climate Assembly", the Province of Luxembourg has come a long way since then, developing more projects on energy efficiency and renewables and supporting citizens and municipalities in their commitment.

Created in 2019, the Syndicat mixte fermé Est Creuse operates the energy and climate programme for two Associations of communities in the Eastern part of the Creuse department, Creuse Confluence and Marche et Combraille en Aquitaine. This very rural territory does not lack imagination to overcome its everyday challenges and is more and more committed to the energy transition: an opportunity for local development.

The actions of rural communities can and do make a difference, and Prespes is a good illustration of it. The energy transition is a driver of the local policies and projects. Prespes is and has been involved in many European projects, especially with the neighboring countries facing similar challenges.

The Village of Nagypáli is located in the Western part of Hungary, in the region of Zala. With about 500 inhabitants, Nagypáli is a small rural community that develops renewable energy projects to achieve carbon neutrality. Thanks to the commitment of its mayor, Tibor Köcse, the energy transition is well underway in Nagypáli.

The association of Communities Les Monts du Lyonnais is a rural territory with a strategic location, 45 minutes away from the large city of Lyon. The territory is facing challenges of mobility but also energy efficiency of buildings leading to energy insecurity for many households. Their commitment to the energy transition opened new opportunities for the territory such as European projects benefits and funding.

The Diputacion de Avila is in the center-west of Spain, a region divided by the mountains of the Sistema central. Energy has taken a place more and more important over the year for the Diputacion conscious of the potential of its rural territories. For this reason, the Diputacion de Avila is active at the European level to speak up for its rural territories, and joined RURENER in 2019.

The association of towns Ouest Rhodanien (West ou the Rhône river) gathers 34 municipalities for a total of 50, 162 inhabitants living on a territory of 577km2. Mainly rural, the area has a great potentiel for renewable energies such as wood and farm wastes. Local representatives are sensitive to the energy transition and numerous projects have been implemented for energy savings and efficiency, production of renewable energy, sustainable mobility and creation of local added value.

The association of municipalities of Le Mené recently became the New Town Le Mené (encompassing 7 communities). Le Mené is spread on a territory of 163,23km2 and counts 6500 inhabitants. Pilot in terms of renewable energy innovations, Le Mené achieved the energy transition and produces as much (even more) energy from renewable sources as it uses. The strong political committment is and has been a key success factor for the energy transition.

The region of Gaume is located at the very South of Belgium, on the boarder with France and Luxembourg. The territory is very much active for the energy transition and presents a coherent territorial development strategy, including energy challenges but also local food and agriculture, culture and much more. Even though it is facing tough conditions in terms of development of agriculture, its location turned out to be an advantage, promoting quality over quantity of long time ago, and working hand in hand with its neighbors.

The covers a vast territory in the South of France that decided to commit to the energy transition and to support the local communities. Urban planning, Climate Action Plan, ease access to energy renovation... are few of the actions and strategies conducted by the PETR to boost its territory in a sustainable way.

The town of Peyrelevade has been committed to the energy transition for quite a few years and took part in many projects such as "Isole Toit" for the refurbishment and isolation of buildings with local materials. Located in a very remoted area of central France, Peyrelevade is the perfect example of a community with wide access to renewable sources of energy, but lots of constraints to promote their use. Refurbishment of public and private buildings from local eco-sourced materials is a success as it meets both the needs of the population and boosts the local economy. Other dimensions of the energy transition have been developed such as the production of renewable energy (heat and electricity).