Efficiency and Investment for the Energy Transition: Stuttgart welcomes Bălți

From June 3rd to 5th, the City of Stuttgart and the Renewable Energy Agency welcomed a delegation from the city of Bălți in the Republic of Moldova to Stuttgart’s Department of Environmental Protection to advance the energy partnership between the two cities as part of the “Energy Transition Town Twinnings 3.0” project, funded by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office. 

After nearly a year of project implementation, the Moldavian delegation arrived on the evening of June 3rd. Vitalie Balan, Deputy Mayor for Municipal Public Services, Energy, Transport, Architecture, and Mobility of the city of Bălți, and Veceaslav Zincovschi, Head of the Municipal Budget Department, were accompanied by Evgheni Camenscic, Energy Expert from the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Moldova. They joined their Stuttgart hosts in a relaxed atmosphere for a shared dinner featuring regional cuisine, setting the tone for the days ahead. 

Transnational Opportunities: Financing and Engagement 

On Wednesday morning, the program officially kicked off at the Department of Environmental Protection. Andreas Neft, Head of the Department, welcomed the guests and offered initial insights into the city’s and the department’s energy policy history. The first part of the workshop focused on Stuttgart’s best-practice experiences. Lea Mistele, employee at the department, demonstrated how the city has raised awareness and sensitivity for the energy transition and energy-saving measures over the years. Through workshops, educational materials, and interactive formats, the city targeted both municipal employees and school classes as multipliers to spread the knowledge widely. Her presentation sparked lively discussions and questions, highlighting that Bălți is well aware of the challenges and the need to raise awareness among its own population. 

Next, Augusto Acosta from the Luxembourg office of the European Investment Bank joined virtually to explain how Bălți could benefit from the City Climate Finance Gap Fund to continue implementing energy transition and climate protection measures even beyond the EWPS 3.0 project.

During lunch, Stuttgart’s Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning and the Environment, Peter Pätzold, took time for a conversation with his Moldovan colleague, Vitalie Balan. Dr. Frédéric Stephan, Head of the Department of External Relations, along with his colleagues Sakina Ramharak and Katharina Lenz—whose department initiated the partnership—also contributed to the workshop with their many years of experience in city partnerships and international relations.

Rosenstein and Neckarpark: Innovation & Inspiration 

In the afternoon, the delegation took a field trip to witness Stuttgart’s energy transition in practice. At the Rosenstein district showroom, they were given an impressive presentation on the urban planning opportunities made possible by the redevelopment of the main train station as part of Stuttgart 21. On the current rail site, 85 hectares will be transformed into green space and living areas through a sustainable urban development concept with four distinct neighborhoods. What’s already possible today was demonstrated during the visit to the Neckarpark district, another part of the city that combines sustainable urban development with green façades and a local heating network. The district, already in an advanced construction phase, will eventually provide 850 housing units and commercial spaces with heat via wastewater heat pumps.

The Moldovan delegation’s enthusiasm for Stuttgart’s innovative heat planning was evident at the concluding dinner and on Thursday morning during the second thematic block of the workshops, which focused on the successes and challenges faced by Bălți. Vitalie Balan, Veceaslav Zincovschi, and energy expert Evgheni Camenscic made it clear that while the ambition is there, a lack of financial resources is slowing down progress. The municipal representatives recognize the importance of flagship projects, public awareness, and dedicated personnel for energy management, but many initiatives fail due to limited financial and monetary capacity.

All parties agreed that a successful energy transition requires further collaboration and networking to finance and implement projects in the long term. Discussions about potential next steps continued even during the city tour in the afternoon—which concluded in impressive surroundings atop Germany’s oldest television tower. After two long and intensive days, the farewell dinner made one thing clear: The energy partnership between Bălți and Stuttgart is just beginning, because ideas and potential are in no short supply. So long, Stuttgart – see you in Bălți!