Annual reports
According to the association’s statutes, TRION-climate focuses on five key areas: facilitating networking among energy and climate stakeholders, organising cross-border exchanges, supporting businesses, helping to develop exemplary projects, and compiling trinational data.
These activities are funded through a combination of public core funding, Interreg project grants, membership fees, corporate sponsorship, and, to a lesser extent, entry fees. To achieve its objectives, TRION-climate carries out a wide range of activities in close collaboration with its members and partners.
Main activities (2016-2025)
Events
- 10 Trinational Climate & Energy Congresses mandated by the URC
- 11 Symposia organised within Interreg projects
- 24 Conferences organised with partner institutions
- 11 General Assemblies with structured programmes
- 18 Visits to exemplary facilities and projects
- Over 6,000 participants across these 74 events
- 580 political, economic, and scientific speakers
Interreg Projects
- RES-RMT: Regional energy and storage solutions
- CO2InnO: CO₂-neutral Upper Rhine region
- Atmo-Rhena-PLUS: Air-Climate-Energy Observatory
- Clim'Ability: Adapting the economy to climate change
Interactive Maps
- Map of renewable energy facilities with over 1,000 entries
- Hydrogen map presenting around 80 facilities and projects
- Map of cross-border energy infrastructure
- Map of sustainable mobility initiatives in local communities
- Best-practice map for climate change adaptation
"Energie vis-à-vis" review
- Issue 1: Renewable energy in the Upper Rhine Region
- Issue 2: Climate policy in urban areas
- Issue 3: Solutions for sustainable mobility in the Upper Rhine
- Issue 4: Innovative photovoltaic facilities in the Upper Rhine
- Issue 5: Results of the RES-RMT Interreg project
- Issue 6: Green hydrogen: flagship projects and perspectives
- Issue 7: Evolution of renewable energy production
- Issue 8: Deep geothermal energy and lithium prospects
- Issue 9: Hydrogen for sustainable mobility
- Issue 10: Climate policy from a trinational perspective
- Issue 11: Funding tools for climate-energy cooperation
- Issue 12: CO2InnO – Summary of project results
2025 Annual Report
In 2025, the association celebrated its 10th anniversary, attended by prominent figures from politics, science, and industry. In addition to the 10th Trinational Climate & Energy Congress commissioned by the Upper Rhine Conference, two symposia were co-organised as part of the Interreg CO2InnO and Clim’Ability projects in collaboration with the respective consortia.
TRION-climate was also a partner in the Agrivoltaics Congress organised under the auspices of the Regierungspräsidium Freiburg, the Trinational Hydrogen Forum of the H2-Hub Switzerland, and the European Energy Transition Conference of the Eurométropole of Strasbourg. As part of these events, the association organised a workshop on geothermal energy, followed by a tour of EnBW’s geothermal plant in Bruchsal.
To implement the Interreg projects Atmo-Rhena PLUS and Clim’Ability Care, the interactive map of electricity generation facilities in the Upper Rhine was updated, and a new map focusing on cross-border energy projects was created. In addition, exemplary projects and initiatives for climate change adaptation were documented and presented on interactive maps in partnership with GeoRhena.
Following the completion of the CO2InnO Interreg project, two special editions of the ENERGIE vis-à-vis review were published: one on funding opportunities for cross-border projects, and the other showcasing the project’s results. Furthermore, at the request of the Upper Rhine Conference, the TRION-climate team compiled a trinational inventory of climate change adaptation projects.
2024 Annual Report
TRION-climate’s work is guided by the 2013 Climate-Energy Strategy for cross-border cooperation, which was updated in 2024. The new strategy identifies hydrogen, geothermal energy, photovoltaics, CO₂ storage, and the circular economy as priority areas. Several cross-border project ideas were developed through thematic groups supported by TRION-climate.
In 2024, TRION-climate took part in three Interreg projects. For these projects, which involve significant scientific input, the association acts as a bridge to the business community and the Upper Rhine Conference.
Organising events and publishing special issues of the "Energie vis-à-vis" review help to share the project results with a wider audience. In addition, inventories with cartographic representation were created as part of these projects.
Membership remained stable at 104 in 2024. However, TRION-climate’s LinkedIn presence experienced significant growth.
The year ended with 3,283 followers, approximately 750 more than the previous year (around 2,530 in 2023 and 1,980 in 2022). In total, 39 posts were published during the year (up from 29 in 2023), including 18 on Interreg projects, 13 on TRION-climate’s other activities, and 8 on partner initiatives.
2023 Annual Report
In 2023, TRION-climate’s membership reached triple digits for the first time, totalling 104 members. Staff resources were also expanded, and for the first time, a fifth employee was hired. The network’s growth and increased staffing are reflected in the wide range of activities carried out throughout the year.
In 2023, TRION-climate organised the 8th Trinational Climate-Energy Congress on geothermal energy and the 9th Trinational Climate-Energy Congress on hydrogen, both commissioned by the Upper Rhine Conference. The association also co-organised the Climate Forum of the Strasbourg-Ortenau Eurodistrict and the first symposium of the Co2InnO Interreg project.
Three site visits took place in 2023 to Vulcan Energie Ressourcen’s Zero-Carbon Lithium facility in Insheim, the decommissioned Fessenheim nuclear power plant (as part of the General Assembly), and the R-HYFIE and LabHYnovateur facilities of R-GDS in Strasbourg.
TRION-climate produced a map of hydrogen projects as part of the Co2InnO Interreg project, and a map of cross-border energy facilities for the Atmo-Rhena-Plus Interreg project.
Two new issues of the “ENERGIE vis-à-vis” review were published, covering the evolution of renewable energy production facilities, deep geothermal energy, and prospects for lithium extraction.
Within the framework of the Upper Rhine Conference, TRION-climate provided technical advice to the climate-energy expert group and organised two energy workshops during the exchange between the environmental commissions of the Rhineland Council (Oberrheinrat/Conseil Rhénan) and the Upper Rhine Conference.
Finally, the number of followers on the association’s LinkedIn page increased from 1,980 followers in 2022 to 2,530 in 2023.
2022 Annual Report
Following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, TRION-climate’s activities were able to resume fully in 2022. Membership numbers continued to rise, reaching 96 last year!
Many activities were held again, allowing participants to join both in person and online and offering valuable opportunities for members to reconnect and engage directly. Three trinational conferences were held in Basel, Freiburg, and Strasbourg, alongside three site visits to Wyhlen, Strasbourg, and Offenburg.
The "ENERGIE vis-à-vis" review, which has been very successful, was continued in 2022 with three issues focused on solar energy, hydrogen, and the results of the RES-RMT project. Several association members had the opportunity to present flagship projects.
Notably, an interactive map of energy facilities in the Upper Rhine region was developed as part of the Interreg RES-RMT project, showcasing nearly 1,000 facilities.
TRION-climate also continued its involvement in Interreg projects, including CO2InnO, Atmo-Rhena PLUS, and Clim’Ability.
Looking ahead, TRION-climate will play an important role within the Upper Rhine Conference’s Climate-Energy Expert Committee. Following a change in the committee’s presidency, TRION will take on a coordinating role and provide its expertise to support the committee’s work.
2021 Annual Report
Despite a challenging public health context, TRION-climate’s membership increased in 2021, reaching 95 by the end of the year. This demonstrates the network’s added value, even during a difficult period for cross-border cooperation.
To continue promoting cross-border exchange, the ENERGIE vis-à-vis dialogue was introduced as a new online forum. The first dialogue, focused on citizen-led energy initiatives, was well received, with over 100 participants. The 6th trinational climate congress, mandated by the Upper Rhine Conference, brought together 150 participants to discuss "Planning as a Tool for Climate Protection." The "ENERGIE vis-à-vis review", first published in 2020, was further developed in 2021, with a broader range of topics.
A positive sign for the future was the 2021 signing of a new funding agreement by the state and local authorities of the Upper Rhine Conference. This core funding, together with membership fees and various project-specific grants, allowed the TRION-climate team to be strengthened with the recruitment of two new project managers. With the steering committee, also (re-)elected in 2021, the team is prepared to carry out its upcoming missions with energy and enthusiasm!