Renewable energy projects are often associated with engineering, environmental studies, and construction. Yet, before a single foundation is poured or a solar panel installed, another process has already begun - building relationships with the people and communities where projects are developed.
Today, Sunly develops renewable energy projects across four countries and dozens of municipalities. This experience has reinforced one important lesson: there is no universal approach to stakeholder engagement. Every community is different, and every project requires its own dialogue.
At Sunly, stakeholder engagement is an integral part of project development. Beyond meeting regulatory requirements, it helps the company understand local priorities, improve project planning, and ensures that communities have opportunities to participate throughout the development process.
While the approach differs from one country to another – and often from one project to the next – the objective remains the same: to ensure that stakeholders have access to timely information, opportunities to ask questions and clear channels for ongoing dialogue throughout project development. Once a project is completed, we aim to remain an active and committed part of the local community.
Over the past year, this commitment has taken different forms across the countries where Sunly operates. Here are a few examples of how stakeholder engagement looked in practice.
Estonia: Building dialogue through education and community initiatives
Throughout the last year, Sunlyin Estonia has organised and taken part in various community events, including joining in biodiversity initiatives that create opportunities for people to discuss renewable energy in an informal setting. One example was Sunly’s community event at the Kai Art Centre in Tallinn, organised alongside an exhibition exploring societal perspectives on renewable energy. The event brought togetherlocal residents, municipalities and independent experts, creating space for informed dialogue beyond traditional consultation formats. Our participation at Risti municipality family day took us among our closest stakeholders and gave us chance to engage with them directly. Sunly has also participated in Estonia’s traditional Opinion Festival (Arvamusfestival) in Paide. To combine our involvement with a focus on sustainability, the Estonian teamorganiseda bike ride from Tallinn to the festival.
Education also remains an important part of engagement. Sunly employees play an active role by delivering guest lectures, hosting study visits, and working with schools, universities and science centres. These activities reflect Sunly’s belief that improving understanding of renewable energy and engineering among younger generations contributes to more informed public discussion, encourages future community leaders and inspires careers in the energy sector.
Latvia: Understanding what matters locally
In Latvia, stakeholder engagement extends well beyond the formal consultation process required by legislation. With projects spanning different regions and communities, stakeholder engagement has evolved into a combination of different communication and engagement formats, recognising that no single approach is equally effective in every community. Dedicated project websites, local media, meetings with municipalities, landowners and neighbours are complemented by new engagement initiatives introduced as projects progress.
The Barkava pond restoration is one example of how stakeholder engagement can lead to outcomes beyond project development itself. Through ongoing conversations with local residents and the municipality, Sunly identified an opportunity to support the restoration of a valued community space. Although unrelated to the solar park itself, the initiative reflected an important principle: stakeholder engagement is not only about explaining projects, but also about understanding local priorities and responding where meaningful opportunities arise.
While each country applies these principles differently, the underlying objective remains the same: ensuring that renewable energy projects develop alongside open dialogue, local knowledge and long-term cooperation.
Lithuania: Cooperation beyond project boundaries
Stakeholder engagement also extends to close cooperation with institutions, shaping the future of renewable energy development.
In Lithuania, Sunly has worked alongside ministries, protection authorities and industry associations, contributing expertise on biodiversity, renewable energy legislation and spatial planning. This collaboration helps ensure that renewable energy development progresses alongside environmental protection and evolving regulatory frameworks.
One example is Sunly’s cooperation with the State Service for Protected Areas and the Ministry of the Environment, where the company contributed to discussions on balancing renewable energy development with the protection of birds of prey. By combining practical project experience with environmental expertise, these discussions supported the development of approaches that better align biodiversity conservation with the energy transition.
At the project level, this is complemented by consultations with neighboring landowners, public presentations and meetings with local communities, providing opportunities for residents to ask questions, share feedback and better understand how projects are being developed.
Poland: Long-term dialogue with communities
In Poland, stakeholder engagement is built on continuous dialogue that begins long before construction starts and is designed to continue throughout every stage of project development.
Being present in local communities goes beyond supporting individual projects. Renewable energy assets are built to serve society for decades, making it essential to understand local priorities, build trust and contribute to the long-term development of the places where they operate. This is why stakeholder engagement is seen not as a milestone in the development process, but as an ongoing commitment to the people who will live alongside our projects for generations.
Regular meetings with municipalities, residents, landowners and environmental experts provide opportunities to discuss project progress, answer questions, and better understand local perspectives. These conversations help shape projects while ensuring that stakeholders have clear and accessible channels for ongoing dialogue.
This long-term approach is also reflected in Sunly Poland’s everyday presence in community life. By participating in local harvest festivals, supporting educational initiatives, partnering with schools and organizing renewable energy workshops for children, Sunly creates opportunities to engage with people in informal settings, while encouraging interest in science, engineering and the energy transition among younger generations.
One example is the support for the 80th anniversary celebrations of the Primary School in Chotków (Żagań Municipality), where Sunly Poland also sponsored recognition awards for students with outstanding academic achievements. Together with educational workshops and school partnerships across project regions, these initiatives reflect Sunly’s belief that meaningful relationships with local communities are built over time.
Conversations do not end when construction begins
For Sunly, stakeholder engagement is not a standalone activity but an ongoing part of project development. Every project, community and region requires its own approach, while the principlesremainthe same: transparency, respect and a genuine willingness to understand local perspectives.
Stakeholder engagement does not end once a project is approved, construction begins or even after it is completed. It continues throughout the entire project lifecycle, supporting open communication, practicalcooperationand ongoing dialogue with the communities whereSunlyoperates.
To explore more examples of Sunly’s stakeholder engagement initiatives across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, read the Sunly Annual Report 2025 .