Güssing is a word that has lately been associated with the sustainable use of local renewable sources in order to create jobs and opportunities for local rural population. However, the word Güssing is also very closely linked to knowledge, research and transfer of knowledge. Under this motto, the Slovenian-Austrian partnership launched a joint EU project Pemures which started in 2012 and was completed in 2015. The core of the project is transfer of knowledge and good practices from the Austrian city of Güssing, which is one of the most developed cities in use of renewable energy sources, to Pomurje, specifically to the Municipality of Ljutomer, which is a project partner and represents a local community on a very similar developmental stage like Güssing was 20 years ago, when the decision came about to focus on energy self-sufficiency from locally available sources. In the framework of this project, a renewable energy centre was established in Ljutomer, modelled according to successful competence centres from the Austrian Burgenland, and innovative business plans will be drawn up to utilize identified renewable energy potentials. The PEMURES project will analyse, among other things, the untapped opportunities of sustainable use of fast-growing plants over the next three years, analysing the potential of an indigenous species black poplar that is at risk and could “gain new momentum” as a result of use for energy purposes.

The project is co-financed under the JR OP SI-AT 2007-2013, cross-border cooperation Slovenia-Austria, Objective 3 European Territorial Cooperation.