EnTRA Energy Transition Talks #1: Will energy communities provide affordable energy and save the world?

Description

Agenda

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  Time
  Item
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  14:00 - 14:10 (CEST)
  Introducing the EnTRA webinar series, its Knowledge Community, and the StartSun project
  
  » Elis Vollmer, StartSun project's Communication Manager, Central and Eastern European Sustainable Energy Network (CEESEN). 
  
  Elis Vollmer is a project manager at the Institute of Ecology, University of Tartu, and works as the head of the Centre of Renewable Energy at the Estonian University of Life Sciences (EMU). She has MSc in environmental protection. She leads the UN SDG workgroup as part of the Green University initiative at EMU. In 2018-2019, she was Estonian representative in the International Energy Agency. She has extensive experience in leading renewable energy projects (both national and EU level), project coordination, trainings and communication. During the past twelve years, she has improved the cooperation network with local municipalities and policy makers in Estonia and CEE region. Currently she is the board member and president of the international Central and Eastern European Sustainable Energy Network (CEESEN).
  
  » Oliwia Kaniak, European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (NOVUM). 
  
  Oliwia Kaniak is an International Projects Specialist at EUWT NOVUM sp. z o.o. Within the EnTRA project, she is responsible for the development and coordination of the Knowledge Community, including stakeholder engagement and communication activities. Her work also involves coordinating the EnTRA Energy Transition Talks webinar series and mentoring activities, supporting knowledge exchange, networking, and the dissemination of project results.
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  14:10 - 14:45 (CEST)
  Panel discussion: Will energy communities provide cheap energy and save the world?
  
  Moderator:
  
  » Kirils Gončarovs, Tartu Regional Energy Agency (EE).
  
  Kirils Gončarovs is an Expert at the Tartu Regional Energy Agency and a Doctoral Researcher at Uppsala University. Both his professional and academic work focuses on enabling equal opportunities of participation in energy communities through institutional cooperation. At the Tartu Regional Energy Agency, Kirils manages the Enercracy Baltic Sea Region project to provide municipalities with frameworks for upscaling energy communities and prosumerism.
  
  Speakers:
  
  » Nele Ivask, Tartu Regional Energy Agency (EE).
  
  Nele Ivask is an expert at the Tartu Regional Energy Agency who supports the development of citizen-led energy communities in Estonia. Drawing on practical experience from local energy community pilots, her work explores how shared energy projects can become a tool for stronger cooperation, greater local capacity and more self-reliant communities.
  
  » Krista Pētersone, Society Green Liberty (LV). 
  
  Krista Pētersone works on policy development, stakeholder engagement and public support measures for the formation of energy communities. She contributes to the StartSun project at Green Liberty, one of Latvia’s oldest and largest environmental organisations.
  
  » Izabela Szostak-Smith, City Hall of Warsaw (PL).
  
  Izabela Szostak-Smith is the deputy Director at the City of Warsaw’s Infrastructure Department, responsible for strategy, sustainable development, and city engineering. Former Deputy Mayor of Warsaw’s Praga-Południe District, where she oversaw key portfolios including environmental protection and climate, architecture and construction, entrepreneurship, and public procurement. A qualified lawyer specialising in energy, projects, and construction law. She holds a Master of Laws and Administration (LL.M.) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA). She is an alumna of the University of Warsaw, the University of East Anglia, the University of Cambridge, the University of Florida Levin College of Law, and the College of Law in London (LPC).
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  14:45 - 14:55 (CEST)
  QnA session with questions from the live chat.
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  14:55 - 15:00 (CEST)
  Wrapping up.