Pilot 8 contribution to the European O-CEI Horizon project took a decisive step forward on Friday 14 November. The partners convened the Polygones community for an in-depth participatory workshop dedicated to the future of smart energy systems.

The session had a clear objective: to understand how citizens perceive Local Energy Communities and to collaboratively shape solutions that can genuinely be adopted by the public. Behind the technical ambition lies a human challenge: ensuring that innovation aligns with daily realities.

What emerged from the workshop was a central message: the energy transition cannot succeed through top-down implementation alone. It requires dialogue, transparency, and the active involvement of the communities expected to live with these new systems. Participants voiced concerns, shared expectations, and contributed creative insights during scenario-based exercises facilitated through a Service Design approach.

By placing residents at the heart of the conversation, Pilot 8 seeks to redefine how energy solutions are developed and tested in Switzerland. The aim is not only to innovate but to ensure that innovation feels accessible, trusted, and grounded in real needs.

This first workshop marks the beginning of a broader national effort. The next step will take the project to another partner: Val d’Anniviers (in collaboration with Anniviers Tourisme SA and local stakeholders). There, the discussion will continue in a mountain setting, offering an opportunity to explore how Alpine communities envision their energy future.