EURegionsWeek close to you webinar

The Support service for citizen-led renovation projects is collaborating with the EU-funded LIFE Programme project RENOVERTY to organise a EURegionsWeek close to you webinar on 21 October 2024, 10.30-12.00.

Buildings account for over a third of the EU's GHG emissions and energy demand, yet they must become energy efficient and carbon neutral by 2050. Towards this goal, this webinar seeks to explore the initiatives that can empower communities and assist households in taking on energy renovations in buildings, thereby reducing their energy demand and emissions.

From understanding the journeys that existing and aspiring energy communities have taken to becoming prosumers and key stakeholders in the movement towards decarbonising urban areas to the implementation of building renovation activities leveraging energy communities in rural contexts, this session will showcase best practices of how energy communities can work towards achieving the Fit-for-55 goals across various geographic settings.

Follow along as our panelists discuss the benefits, barriers, and future opportunities of energy communities in the EU, and engage with our experts in an open discussion.

The session will be moderated by Mara Oprea, IEECP.

Agenda of the session:

1. Keynote on the importance of energy communities in advancing the EU’s decarbonization goals and increasing consumer autonomy, along with an introduction to the support service for citizen-led renovation projects

   Julien Tami, Policy Officer, Unit B3, Buildings and Products, DG Energy, European Commission 

2. Short presentations by panelists

   Stephanie Dickenson, Co-founder, Triple SEC – Presentation on the existing Triple SEC energy community and pilot from the support service for citizen-led renovation projects about the lessons learned and future activities

   Mihail Georgiev, Founder, Izgrei – Presentation on the existing Izgrei energy community and pilot from the support service for citizen-led renovation projects about the lessons learned and future activities.

   Raquel Rodriguez Martinez, CEO/Project Manager, ECOSERVEIS – Presentation on the practical implementation of renovation actions via energy communities based on collaborations within the RENOVERTY project.

   Sophie Loots, Co-founder and project coordinator of Energiecooperative ZuidtrAnt -  Presentation on the existing ZuidtrAnt energy community and pilot from the support service for citizen-led renovation projects about the vision for the upcoming support period.

   Katty Michielsen, Responsible Sustainability, Municipality of Schoten— Introduction to the neighbourhood renovation project in Schoten and the cooperation with the energy community.

3. Panel discussion and Q&A session with audience

   Discussion based on the previous short presentations on the benefits, barriers, and future opportunities of energy communities in the E