White Research organized a panel discussion as part of the “Re-Energising Europe” event, which aimed to facilitate a discussion on a more democratized energy transition across Europe. The panel was moderated by Dr. Dimitris Chapizanis, senior project manager, leader of White’s Energy and Environment Unit and coordinator of the BECoop project. The panel included a series of discussion rounds and presentations from 4 EU-funded projects: BECoop, W4RES, UP-STAIRS, and NRG2peers. These Horizon-funded research projects have developed new tools, resources, policy briefs and knowledge towards a cleaner energy future. Their generated insights were broadcasted and practically supported initiatives to drive this transition. Yet, as these projects come to an end, the question that arises is “What comes next? Do we start from scratch?”. Thus, the panel delved into the heart of a mission to replicate existing projects’ findings and pave the way for a more sustainable future.

Key Insights from the Panel: 

Dr. Chapizanis illustrated examples and underscored the significance of leveraging past project experiences to inform current and future initiatives, thereby enhancing efficiency, avoiding duplication of effort, and accelerating progress toward socially accepted and sustainable energy systems. Representatives from the four projects showcased valuable insights and digital assets developed during their projects, addressing critical aspects of the energy transition. Experiences were shared in areas such as innovation management, capacity building, and sustainable business and governance models toward a decentralised clean energy transition. Focus was also placed on societal impact, community empowerment, and innovative and smart energy solutions of their projects. Specifically: 

  • Yannis Konstas (W4RES) shared insights into an inclusive energy transition, drawing on his extensive experience in research, education, and international projects. 
  • Kostas Dasopoulos (BECoop) presented an Adjusted Business Model Canva for RESCoops, showcasing innovative solutions for sustainable development and renewable energy. 
  • Paco Carrasco (UP-STAIRS) showcased the project’s One Stop Shops for enabling energy communities, highlighting efforts to alleviate energy poverty and promote community energy initiatives. 
  • Stefan Kop (NRG2peers) shared his expertise on the development of digital tools to enable the uptake of energy communities, emphasizing the social dimension of sustainability transitions. 

Valuable perspectives were provided on a series of raised questions, such as the impact on stakeholders’ skills development, strategies for generated tools exploitation, and replicability of projects’ methodologies. The main discussion revolved around advancing a democratized energy transition through the integration of renewables, smart technologies, and community engagement and empowerment. The panellists emphasized the importance of clear communication, local adaptation, and defining ownership in the early stages for effective project outcomes. The panel attracted a significant audience, including distinguished speakers and representatives from CINEA and DG ENER. The caliber of discussions moderated and facilitated by White Research reflects the company’s expertise and a strong capacity for a vigorous debate regarding a more democratized energy transition.  

White Research’s Expertise 

Our commitment to facilitating dialogues on hot topics underscores our dedication to advancing sustainable energy transitions and solidifies our reputation as a dynamic and engaged partner in shaping Europe’s energy future. 

White Research’s involvement in diverse energy projects reflects the organisation’s strong expertise in renewable energy, sustainable development, and community engagement. The organization’s active participation in projects like BECoop, where White serves as project coordinator as well as W4RES, RE4INDUSTRY, WENDY, SkillBill, ALFA, and Agrobioheat reflects its commitment to knowledge transfer and addressing various aspects of the evolving energy transition landscape. This legacy of energy-related projects solidifies the company’s position as a research consultancy but also paves the way for new opportunities for collaboration and growth. Over these years, White has especially focused on, among else, community empowerment, skill development, business model innovation, identification of stakeholder needs, acceptance of new technologies, policy analysis as well as exploitation and IPR management, showcasing its versatility and ability to tackle a wide range of challenges and opportunities within the energy sector. By disseminating the projects-generated insights and experiences, White amplifies their impact, contributing to sector growth and development. The diverse range of connections established through our projects’ synergistic networks offers numerous new opportunities for further collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the formation of valuable partnerships for future endeavours. 

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