Webinar ‘Lessons learnt when switching from coal to renewables’

Switching to renewables is a key pillar of the energy transition, offering both challenges and opportunities to local communities. In the sixth webinar in the series ‘Just energy transitions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine’, we will explore lessons learnt from regions currently undertaking the ambitious task of replacing coal with renewable energy sources.

During the webinar, we will take a detailed look at how the region of Western Macedonia (Greece) has moved from political commitment to active implementation in just a few years, and what the potential is for further accelerating the transition. We will also zoom in on the experience of the Municipality of Velenje (Slovenia), where the restructuring and diversification of its extensive district heating system became a green transformation priority.

Agenda

Moderator

• Sonja Risteska, Senior Manager, Business and Development – Eastern Europe, Green Enesys

Opening words

• Kostiantyn Krynytskyi, Head of Energy Department, Centre of Environmental Initiatives ‘Ecoaction’, Ukraine

Speakers

• Konstantina Togaridou, Member of Western Macedonia's Just Transition Territorial Committee; Just Transition Communication/Stakeholder Engagement Researcher at DCN Southeast Europe Hub, Greece
• Karla Sitar, Head of Development and Economy Department, Municipality of Velenje, Slovenia

Contact: webinarsWBUAcoalregions [dot] eu (webinarsWBUA[at]coalregions[dot]eu) 

Recording

Presentations

Background

The webinar series ‘Just energy transitions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine’ is part of the Initiative for coal regions in transition in the Western Balkans and Ukraine.

From March until July 2023, the webinars will explore opportunities and lessons learnt on the way to the coal phase-out. In considering how to make a just energy transition a reality, the series takes a coal region's viewpoint and analyses examples from the EU, Western Balkans, and Ukraine. Each webinar will feature several experts working on implementing just energy transitions, including representatives from the coal regions in focus.

For social media: #CoalRegionsWBUA and @Energy4Europe

Related links

• Coal regions in the Western Balkans and Ukraine
• Webinar ‘Planning for a just transition in light of energy (in)security’
• Webinar ‘Engaging stakeholders in just transition planning: who and how?
• Webinar ‘Energy transition and air quality: solutions and good practices’
• Webinar ‘Opportunities to finance energy transitions’