The conference, held on 19-20 October, gathered professionals and opinion leaders from the region to collectively design a path for energy transition by 2050. The high-level event with 25 speakers highlighted the roles of different sectors, and success stories from low-carbon community projects and innovations.
Participants gained insight into the many processes that are needed to push for sustainable communities, such as Sustainable Energy Planning and designing roadmaps. Further issues were effective approaches towards Stakeholder Engagement as well as funding and building public support towards renewables.
ConPlusUltra is a founding member of CEESEN.
Highlights of the conference:
Sébastien Occhipenti from DG Energy, European Commission gave an overview of the European policy context and showed the steps to achieve sustainable energy transition at local level. He stressed on the importance of citizens in a shared Energy Union where they take ownership of the transition, benefit from new technologies to reduce their costs, participate actively in the market, and where vulnerable consumers are protected.
Andreas Karner from ConPlusUltra introduced and emphasised regional energy roadmapping as effective approach for giving shape to the regional/local energy transition. He illustrated the benefits of long-term energy planning by speaking from first hand experience working with municipalities and model regions.
Frédéric Boyer, speaking on behalf of the Covenant of Mayors emphasized the role that cities and local authorities should play, and the actions they can take. Their commitment to reduce the CO2 emission with 40% by 2030 indicates the steps that should be taken. Because these organizations seek to work closely with citizens, they can affect behaviour change, while also having an impact on companies and other key potential contributors to energy transition.
Josef Wolfbeisser from ConPlusUltra spoke on community grants and alternative finance mechanisms for local energy projects, presenting how funding schemes can support local communities in implementing a localised energy transitions and how alternative financing mechanisms can be a tool to encourage and involve citizens and local stakeholders.
More about the CEESEN network and the project see at: www.ceesen.org
For detailed programme and speakers, please visit: https://ceesen.org/conference/