Community engagement & fair benefit sharing in renewable energy projects
In this episode of the EU Projects podcast, host Areti Ntaradimou and Chris Vrettos, Financing Policy Advisor of Rescoop, discuss the motivations, challenges, and impacts of energy initiatives across Europe.
Chris opens our conversation with a simple truth that feels more urgent every year: the energy transition is already happening, and it needs to accelerate fast. The market is moving quickly; prices for renewables and storage continue to fall, making it economically viable to move away from fossil fuels. But while technology is racing ahead, social and political dynamics are struggling to keep pace.
The climate crisis is no longer just a topic of scientific conferences or policy debates, it’s right outside our doors. For Chris and many others living in southern Europe, the brutal summers are a reminder that we are running out of time. Therefore, the question becomes not if we transition, but how.
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28:23
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28:23
Unlocking flexibility and innovation for a decarbonised future
During the last edition of EU Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) Maria Laura Trifiletti and Edoardo Genova, both from Zabala, organised a very interesting session on electrifying the industry.
After listening to their interesting panel discussion during the event, our host Areti Ntaradimou felt compelled to ask them a few questions on the subject. Hence this podcast episode.
Their message is unmistakable: if Europe is serious about reaching climate neutrality, electrifying the industrial sector isn't just one strategy, it’s the cornerstone.
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34:20
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34:20
Securing Europe's energy future
As Europe accelerates its energy transition, the concept of security of supply has taken on new urgency. With rising geopolitical tensions, cyber threats and the physical impacts of climate change, energy resilience is no longer just a technical issue; it’s a strategic imperative.
Our host, Areti Ntaradimou had the privilege of exploring this critical topic with Elena Giannakopoulou, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at PPC, and Cillian O'Donoghue, Policy Director at Eurelectric, in a candid discussion that shed light on the profound challenges and real solutions facing Europe's energy sector.
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35:08
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Bridging the gap: How different visions shape the debate on energy flexibility
In the latest episode of the EU Energy Projects podcast series, our host, Areti Ntaradimou had the pleasure of discussing with Michael Villa, Executive Director of SmartEn, and Joachim Gruber, Staff Managing Director Technology at Netze BW GmbH. Our discussion centered around the evolving concept of flexibility in the energy system.
While both guests agree on its growing importance, especially considering increasing renewable integration, they approach the topic from different professional perspectives. Michael emphasizes the urgent need to activate demand-side flexibility through market-based mechanisms, whereas Joachim focuses on the physical and economic realities of grid infrastructure and the potential limitations of over-reliance on market solutions.
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29:52
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29:52
EU’s energy and transport need a digital backbone and BEGONIA might be it
Our host, Areti Ntaradimou recently had the pleasure of speaking with Niccolò Fattirolli, COO of Olivo Energy and a key figure in the EU-funded Begonia project, which aims to prepare the ground for digital transformation across Europe's energy and transport sectors.
What makes the project so intriguing is its role as a preparatory action. Unlike many traditional EU-funded initiatives that focus on implementation, BEGONIA is about coordination, support and groundwork. It's not building entirely new technologies from scratch. Instead, it’s scanning existing ideas, selecting the most promising ones, and preparing them to be scaled across Europe through operational digital platforms (ODPs).
The EU Energy Projects Podcast is an insider’s look into the world of EU-funded projects transforming the energy sector in Europe.
Every fortnight we focus on a new topic in the energy transition and talk to representatives from projects that are enabling the transition to green energy by finding solutions to the sector’s most pressing problems.
The EU Energy Projects Podcast s brought to you by Enlit Europe and is curated and hosted by EU Projects Zone Editor and Director Areti Ntaradimou.
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