Summer School in Thessaloniki / Greece
28-30/June/2022 - the citizen energy movement in the Balkans
Organized by: EUCENA project, COMPILE project
- Thessaloniki, Greece
- 28/06/2022 - 30/06/2022
- Duration: 3 days
- Participants: Citizens, community leaders, institutions, municipalities, supporting organizations
CC4.0-Photo by Dockashi
Description
The key themes of the training are networking, capacity building and knowledge transfer.
What is included?
- Free of charge participation in all sessions of the summer school
- Travel expenses
- Accommodation on 27, 28 and 29 June
- Breakfast, coffee breaks and lunch on 28, 29 and 30 June
- Dinner on 28 June
- "Balkan citizen energy ambassador" accreditation
- Free access to training material
The citizen energy movement is evolving all over Europe, crystalizing the need for citizens and local communities to access renewable and affordable energy, such as solar and wind energy, and to contribute actively to the transition to a just, democratic and inclusive energy system across Europe.
This summer school will foster networking at the Balkan level and cross-country exchange of ideas, tools, knowledge, and good practices. It will also begin consolidating the community energy movement in Eastern Europe, where citizen energy is just developing, and foster collaboration with partners from Central Europe and Western Europe, which already has a strong tradition of citizen energy.
The overarching objective of the summer school is to start forming a Balkan Community Energy Network through a growing community of practitioners/ambassadors and to support the growth of energy communities in the Eastern region of Europe.
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Application
If you are interested in participating in the summer school, you can send your application through the link below.
Due to limited venue capacity, not all applications will be successful. Applicants will be chosen on a range of criteria including, but not limited to, country of origin, gender, and background. Successful applicants are expected to stay for the whole 3-day duration of the summer school.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The application period has ended.
Day 0 - 27/06/2022
- Venue: Ypsilon hub
- Starting from 17:00
Session: Informal get together meeting (prior to the official
launch of the summer school)
Description: Welcome Space
- Venue: Warehouse C, Thessaloniki port
- 09:00 – 10:45
Session: PLENARY 1
Description: Summer school opening session
Facilitator: Chris Vrettos (ELECTRA energy coop)
- Introduction and welcome (20’)
- Antonia Proka, PhD (REScoop.eu / EUCENA project), Valbona Mazrecu (Milieukontakt Albania), Dimitris Kitsikopoulos (ELECTRA energy coop), Katharina Habersbrunner (WECF)
- Tomi Medved (Uni. of Ljubljana / COMPILE project)
- Pia Ahmed (GIZ / European Climate Initiative – EUKI)
- Michael Koupkas, Deputy Mayor & chief resilient officer (City of Thessaloniki)
- Keynotes (70’)
-
Dirk Vansintjan (president REScoop.eu): Challenges, opportunities and next steps for citizen energy in Europe -
Prof. Nikos Hatziargyriou (National Technical University of Athens): The role of citizens in the energy transition
-
Krisztina André (German Citizen Energy Alliance BBEn): Growing the citizen energy movement in the Balkan -
Prof. Konstantinos Tsitselikis (University of Macedonia): Social, geographical and cultural bonds among Balkan countries
- Venue: Warehouse C, Thessaloniki port
- 10:45 – 11:00
Coffee Break
- Venue: Warehouse C, Thessaloniki port
- 11:00 – 12:45
Session: P1.1
Description: Gender justice
Challenges and proposals.
The present session will provide a structural gendered analysis of energy systems, presenting key challenges and opportunities towards achieving gender justice in the (community) energy sector.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Antonia Proka, PhD | Rescoop.eu
Sukhveen Kaur, Kiara Groneweg, Katharina Habersbrunner | WECF
Session: P1.2
Description: Just transition in coal regions
The present session will explore how a just transition in coal regions can be achieved, emphasizing the role of energy communities. On the ground, best practise examples and practical experiences will be discussed.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Ioanna Theodosiou | The Green Tank
Apostolos Agrafiotis | Energy Community of Kozani Municipality
Lefteris Ioannidis | Ofelos Network
Vlad Catuna and Marian Mandru | Greenpeace Romania
Irene HongPing Shen | Trade Unions for Energy Democracy
Ignacio Navarro Guzman | Greenpeace Greece
- Venue: Warehouse C, Thessaloniki port
- 12:45 – 14:15
Lunch Break
- Venue: Warehouse C, Thessaloniki port
- 14:15 – 16:00
Session: P2.1
Description: Energy poverty
The present session will explore the overarching topic of energy poverty, while delving into some of its specific components including a) a gendered analysis of the topic, b) the importance of building renovations and c) the importance of engaging Municipalities to tackle the phenomenon.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Sukhveen Kaur, Kiara Groneweg, Katharina Habersbrunner | WECF
Valbona Mazreku | Milieukontakt Albania
Despoina Boulogiorgou | SEALAB
Alice Corovessi | INZEB
Session: P2.2
Description: Energy markets and the role of citizens
This session will explore how energy markets work. Participants will be informed about different submarket prices, long and short term trading, balancing markets, cross-border electricity trade etc. Local markets will be the subject of the second part of the session, where the transactive energy will be thoroughly analysed.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Nasos Vasilakis, Konstantinos Michos, Victoria Chatziargiriou, Aris Dimeas, Nikos Hatziargyriou| ICCS
- Venue: Warehouse C, Thessaloniki port
- 16:00 – 16:15
Coffee Break
- Venue: Warehouse C, Thessaloniki port
- 16:15 – 17:45
Session: P3.1
Description: Citizen energy and the role of Municipalities – How would a “citizen energy friendly” city look like?
This session will provide a theoretical overview, and a facilitated exercise on the different steps Municipalities can take to promote community energy.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Dimitris Kitsikopoulos, Chris Vrettos | Electra Energy Cooperative
Daniel Bannasch | Metropolsolar
Todor Popov | Gabrovo Municipality
Marina Filipposka | Karposh Municipality
Michael Koupkas, Andreas Karadakis | Thessaloniki Municipality
Giorgos Dimarelos | Sykies Municipality
Katerina Marcu | Tirana Municipality
Session: P3.2
Description: Social impacts of citizen energy projects
Understanding and measuring the social impacts of citizen
energy projects.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Kyriaki Metaxa | Heinrich Boell Stiftung (Thessaloniki Office)
Antonia Proka, Dirk Vansintjan and Stavroula Pappa | Rescoop.eu
Chris Vrettos | Electra Energy Cooperative
Sara Gollessi | ENOSTRA
Krisztina Andre | Bündnis Bürgerenergie e.V.
- 20:00
Dinner at taverna “To Dixti”.
- Venue: MOMus, TIF
- 09:00 – 10:45
Session: P4.1
Description: HOW TO START: Building a citizen energy initiative
The session is dedicated to community building and the building blocks of community creation. The session will cover key principles of community organizing, the construction of an organization and communication.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Dirk Vansintjan, Stanislas d’Herbemont and Antonia Proka | Rescoop.eu
Session: P4.2
Description: Citizen energy European directives, strategies, policies and frameworks
The present session will provide an overview of the Clean Energy for all Europeans Package provisions for energy communities, the transposition process in the EU and non-EU neighbouring countries, as well as enabling frameworks.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Stavroula Pappa and Josh Roberts | Rescoop.eu
Biljana Grbic | Energy Community Secretariat
Axel Berg | Eurosolar Germany | Berg@energiewerk.org
- Venue: MOMus, TIF
- 10:45 – 11:00
Coffee Break
- Venue: MOMus, TIF
- 11:00 – 12:45
Session: P5.1
Description: WHAT TO DO (PART I): Citizen energy projects, services and business models
The present session will discuss in detail community energy business models including: Self-consumption, energy generation (wind, solar, biomass), district heating, energy sobriety and management, citizen led renovation, flexibility and demand-response, energy saving and efficiency, electric mobility and car-sharing.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Dirk Vansintjan and Stanislas D’Herbemont | Rescoop.eu
Käthe Fromm | Windfang energy cooperative
Vasilis Filippou | Karditsa Energy Cooperative
Imogen Sykes | Carbon Coop
Jan de Paw | Ecopower
Lukas Reichel | The Mobility Factory
Nasos Vasilakis (ICCS) and Chloé Fournely (UL)
Session: P5.2
Description: Citizen energy policy making and advocacy.
The present session will discuss the importance of network building for collective action and advocacy. Through a practical, facilitate exercise, participants will brainstorm and strategize around national campaigns to promote community energy.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Stavroula Pappa, Josh Roberts and Dirk Vansintjan | Rescoop.eu
Chris Vrettos | Electra Energy Cooperative
Meglena Antonova | Greenpeace Bulgaria
Ana Rita Antunes | Coopernico
- Venue: MOMus, TIF
- 12:45 – 14:15
Lunch Break
- Venue: MOMus, TIF
- 14:15 – 16:00
Session: P6.1
Description: WHAT TO DO (PART II): Citizen energy projects, services, and business models.
The present session will discuss in detail community energy business models including: Self-consumption, energy generation (wind, solar, biomass), district heating, energy sobriety and management, citizen led renovation, flexibility and demand-response, energy saving and efficiency, electric mobility and car-sharing.
Technologies (solar, hydro, wind, green hydrogen, biomass, biogas).
Available models in different east-European countries.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Sara Gollessi | ENOSTRA
Dirk Vansintjan and Stanislas D’Herbemont | Rescoop.eu
Käthe Fromm | Windfang energy cooperative
Vasilis Filippou | Karditsa Energy Cooperative
Imogen Sykes | Carbon Coop
Lara Trudec and Valentina Kuzmic | ZEZ
Jan de Paw | Ecopower
Lukas Reichel | The Mobility Factory
Nasos Vasilakis (ICCS) and Chloé Fournely (UL)
Dimitris Pallatzas | Hellenic Passive House Institute
Session: P6.2
Description: HOW TO FINANCE IT (PART I): Financing citizen energy projects
The purpose of this session is to develop with the participants methods and tools to realize a good fundraising strategy and a strong financing plan.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Suzanne Renard | Energie Partagée
Jan de Paw | REScoop Vlaanderen
Ignacio Navarro | Grenevest
Stanislas D’Herbemont and Antonia Proka | Rescoop.eu
- Venue: MOMus, TIF
- 16:00 – 16:15
Coffee Break
- Venue: MOMus, TIF
- 16:15 – 17:45
Session: P7.1
Description: HOW TO FINANCE IT (PART II): Financing citizen energy projects
This session, building on Session P6.2 will be dedicated to fundraising for cooperatives – and specifically about the experiences of raising capital from members.
Speakers and Facilitators:
Bertram Fleck | Ex district
administrator. Chairman of the Environment Committee of the
Rhineland-Palatinate and German County Councils
Suzanne Renard | Energie Partagée
Jan de Paw | REScoop Vlaanderen
Ignacio Navarro | Grenevest
Stanislas D’Herbemont and Antonia Proka | Rescoop.eu
- Venue: M. Anagnostakis room, Thessaloniki Town Hall
- 09:00 – 10:30
Session: PLENARY 3
Description: Citizen energy projects development: Key findings
Building on and combining P4.1, P5.1, P6.1, P7.1
- Venue: Thessaloniki Town Hall
- 10:30 – 10:45
Coffee Break
- Venue: M. Anagnostakis room, Thessaloniki Town Hall
- 10:45 – 12:45
Session: PLENARY 4
Description: Summer school summary and next steps
- Keynote speaker: Dr. Axel Berg (Eurosolar Germany): Summer school closing remarks and cornerstones of the future energy autonomy
- Summer school summary
- Balkan Citizen Energy Ambassadors – building a pool of citizen energy experts in the Balkans (accreditations to be awarded)
- Next steps
- Venue: Thessaloniki Town Hall
- 12:45 – 13:15
Lunch Break
- Starting from Thessaloniki
- Departure 13:15
Trip to Halkidiki (optional)
- Field trip to WenCoop solar park
- Closing event: Networking and wine at a beach hotel in Halkidiki.
We will arrange the return trip back to Thessaloniki on the same day at a time that will be decided closer to the day of the event. Please note that it is the participant’s responsibility to arrange departures from Thessaloniki back to their home countries, or accommodation for the night of the 30th of June either in Thessaloniki or Halkidiki.
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