One of the important aspects of regional energy planning is to enhance local acceptance towards the use of renewable energy sources. In the project COACH BioEnergy several activities focus on fostering local acceptance of innovative technologies for biomass utilization.

In Budapest, on the 4^th May the annual information day of the project COACH BioEnergy was held, with participation of about 70 people; local government decision-makers, professionals and company representatives.

After a little overlook of the newly presented National Energy Action Plan of Hungary, the Ministry of National Development explained that the creation of a Sustainable Energy Management law is in consideration following Germany’s example.

In the frame of project COACH BioEnergy the Energy Research Center of the Technical University of Ostrava has finalized a renewable energy strategic plan. The objective of the strategy is to increase energy autonomy of the settlement, coordinate local energy issues and increase energy efficiency and production of renewable energy production.

On the 14^th of June in Szada the Institute of Environmental and Landscape Management of the Szent István University presented the renewable energy strategy plan developed in the framework of the COACH BioEnergy project. Participants of the forum included members of the local government and residents. The first part of the event consisted of presentations of the most important parts of the energy strategy, followed by suggestions for the potential continuation. Possibilities of energy efficiency were proposed as well as the use of solar energy and biomass. There are good options for providing biomass locally; both the Gödöllő forestry and the local energy plantation could produce enough raw materials to satisfy local heating needs. In the second part of the evening there was an unrestrained discussion about opportunities of the municipality both in the field of energy management and the related creation of jobs and food self-sufficiency.