On the 10th and 11th of April 2024, a workshop on energy communities will be held in the city of Arnhem, The Netherlands. The event, is the third of a series of 6 workshops which will be held in 6 different cities within the SSH CENTRE project (Social Sciences and Humanities for Climate, Energy aNd Transport Research Excellence): Čačak, Serbia; Grenoble, France; Arnhem, The Netherlands; Porto, Portugal; Valencia, Spain; Rijeka, Croatia.
The project aims to enhance the contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) to accelerate the EU’s transition to carbon neutrality by better engaging SSH researchers with stakeholders across research, policy, and business.
Under the project, Knowledge & Innovation (K&I) and Energy Cities launched a programme on Social Sciences and Humanities knowledge brokerage for regional-level governance, involving 6 cities in 6 different key topics.
The city of Arnhem, in collaboration with a dedicated team of researchers, is strategically directing its efforts towards the development of energy communities. Recognizing that the most sustainable form of energy is the energy not consumed, the city is placing emphasis on locally generated renewable energy at the community level. Beyond enhancing overall system efficiency, this approach grants citizens control over their energy sources, fostering empowerment within local communities and mitigating energy poverty. Maximizing the utilization of available rooftops, repurposing land, and tapping into underutilized waste or resources for community energy production stands as a pivotal strategy. This not only bolsters economic and social resilience but also fortifies the capacity to withstand geopolitical shocks.
The workshop will be the occasion for diving in the topic together with the team of researchers, local administrators, and stakeholders from other cities. It will include a city tour with local stakeholders to get feedback on the work done by the team so far.
The workshop is open to the participation of 8 representatives from 8 European cities. If you are interested in sharing your experience and learning from other cities, contact us to get more information on the programme!
The SSH CENTRE project (Social Sciences and Humanities for Climate, Energy aNd Transport Research Excellence) is a project funded by the European Commission and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme.