Sunny Schools Initiative
Just Green Transition
Date 1 December 2025
The Sunny Schools Initiative not only promotes sustainable energy practices but also empowers communities and fosters local participation, paving the way for a greener and more resilient future in the Western Balkans. The project has piloted a philanthropic investment model, funding school-roof PV electricity production capacities and promoting energy democratization and community-level learning.
About the Project
The Sunny Schools Initiative is an operational project by OSF Western Balkans promoting energy democracy by transforming public schools into energy-neutral entities – through the development of photovoltaic rooftops. The initiative is currently implemented in Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Bosnia Herzegovina. With an overall budget of $975,500.00, it prioritizes community-level renewable energy production and the establishment of energy communities.
Local Impact
Beyond financial gains, the initiative fosters community engagement by involving 32 municipalities in the Western Balkans, transforming schools into hubs of renewable energy production. By developing small-scale photovoltaic social enterprises owned by public school stakeholders, the initiative aims to widen the income base for schools, reinforce self-governance, and enhance social inclusion in education.
Regional Impact
By empowering local communities, enhancing education, and accelerating the green transition, Sunny Schools contributes to the development of a local energy economy, distributing energy transition benefits more fairly, whilst strengthening the resilience of public schools in coping with emergencies. By boosting community participation in energy governance not only it makes schools self-sufficient in energy, but it can serve as a pilot for upscaling investments at national, regional, and EU levels.
Progress to Date
Since 2021, Sunny Schools has expanded to 111 schools across 39 municipalities in the Western Balkans, generating annually around 2.5 million kWh and $250,000 in community savings. In 2025, 46 municipalities applied in an OSF-WB open call for expansion with their co-funding, while 19 municipalities established the Green Mayors Alliance to scale the model.
The Initiative Ecosystem
The GMA connects three mutually reinforcing initiatives that together span infrastructure, governance, and digital innovation:
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Foundation
Sunny Schools
Since 2021, Sunny Schools has brought solar energy to 111 schools across 39 municipalities in the WB, generating around 2.5 million kWh and $250,000 in community savings annually. In 2025, 46 municipalities applied in an OSF-WB open call for expansion with co-funding. Schools serve as the primary entry point: they create trust, civic engagement, and visible proof that the green transition can work at the local level. |
Regional Platform
Green Mayors Alliance
Launched in September 2025 in Durrës, the GMA brings together 19 municipalities across the Western Balkans under a Joint Declaration. It serves as a shared platform for project development, peer learning, and collective advocacy – helping municipalities build investment pipelines and ensuring that smaller municipalities can access support they could not access alone. With support from NALED and an AI-based project development tool by Aitema, members are better equipped to prepare high-quality proposals aligned with EU and regional financing instruments. |
Digital Innovation
AI4Society
Embedded within the GMA, AI4Society connects youth digital innovators with real municipal challenges – particularly in energy monitoring and public services. Through hackathons, development sprints, and structured validation, youth-developed tools are matched with GMA municipalities for deployment. Partners include Belgrade Open School, Bonevet, Reputeo, and EIT Community Hubs. By the end of 2026, the initiative aims for 2-3 validated tools and at least 3 municipalities committing to adoption. |
Sunny Schools Initiative
Green Mayors Forum
Sunny Schools – Map Visualization
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