Renewable energy sources (RES) are being increasingly considered as key elements in future development strategies on a national, regional and local level. This paper discusses the methodological approach to local energy planning proposed by the authors and identifies the most important drivers for its application at the regional level. This approach is different to the previous 'top-down' or strategic assessments as seen many times in the past in Croatia and is expected to herald a new future for the local community ownership and 'buy-in' to renewable energy, resulting in the greater probability of individual project success where local stakeholder sympathy is retained. The implementation of the developed approach is demonstrated on Karlovac County (western Croatia), which has considerable potential for the utilisation of different RES. The main outcomes are described: approved Regional strategy for utilisation of renewable energy sources in the Karlovac County; number of individual projects identified, supported and launched; and a Regional energy agency created as the implementing body for future renewable energy projects. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.