The meeting will take place at Hotel Ederer and the Weizer Energie Innovationszentrum, both located in the scenic town of Weiz, known for its commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
The JETforCE project aims to drive a just transition towards sustainable energy in the region by fostering the deployment of innovative technologies, promoting energy efficiency, and ensuring inclusivity for citizens in the energy transition. This meeting serves as an opportunity for partners to align on key actions, share updates, and discuss how the project can continue to lead the way in energy transition strategies.
Day 1: Setting the Stage for Strategic Action
On the morning of December 3rd, the meeting will kick off with a welcome address from Günther Maier, Managing Director of Weiz, followed by an introduction to the project activities and the agenda. The day’s sessions will focus on key activities involving the Transnational Just Energy Transition Alliance (T-JETA).
Learnings from the recent T-JETA meetings will be discussed, highlighting the developments and results of the collaborative efforts, including the strategy construction process, which will focus on sustainable financing schemes and investments. Partners will also present their identified thematic areas, which will be used to develop action plans for the project’s upcoming phases.
Following this, the 3rd Transnational Monitoring and Evaluation Session will take place, managed by IRENA. This session will evaluate the performance of the two JETforCE tool pilots through presentations from each partner; specifically, partners will present on their activities related to the Transnational Pilot 1 (Mapping energy transition challenges with citizens) and Transnational Pilot 2 (Evaluating and deploying Just Energy Transition responsive technologies). This is a crucial session that will provide an in-depth understanding of the pilot activities and their impact on local communities.
In the afternoon, attendees will be treated to a presentation and site visit to the biomass district heating plant in Weizberg. The Schlosssgasse Weizberg project is a perfect example of the region’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions. The visit will provide partners with a first-hand look at how district heating plants can contribute to local energy resilience and reduce carbon footprints, providing valuable insights for future initiatives.
The first day will conclude with a dinner at Hotel Ederer, where partners can network and continue discussions in an informal setting.
Day 2: Technological Innovations and Capacity Building
The second day of the meetingwill start with a focus on Transnational Pilot 2, which aims to evaluate and deploy Just Energy Transition responsive technologies. Partners will present their expectations for the 2nd phase of Transnational Pilot 2, discussing the testing of validated technologies through specific case studies. The partners from IRENA, EIfI-Tech, and Innovationszentrum W.E.I.Z. will provide updates on the three JETforCE pilot demo sites to be evaluated, where new technologies are being trialled to assess their feasibility and scalability in real-world settings.
Day 2 will continue with a session on capacity enhancement, focusing on technology evaluation tools. EIfI-Tech will provide training on how to use these tools to evaluate technologies effectively. This session is designed to equip partners with the knowledge and skills they need to assess the impact and performance of energy technologies in their respective regions.
To conclude the two-day meeting, the 5th Steering Committee Meeting will take place, including discussions on project management, financial procedures, and communication.
The meeting will conclude with a session on the next steps and conclusions, summarizing the key takeaways from the two days of discussions and setting the course for the next phase of the project.
The JETforCE project is at a crucial stage in its mission to promote a sustainable and inclusive energy transition across Central Europe. This meeting in Weiz will play an important role in driving forward the project’s activities, especially as the partners focus on developing action plans, evaluating pilot projects, and testing new technologies. By the end of the meeting, the partners will have refined their strategies for ensuring that energy transition efforts are just, equitable, and accessible to all, particularly vulnerable communities.
The transnational partner meeting and site visit to the Weizberg biomass district heating plant exemplifies the kinds of sustainable projects that JETforCE is promoting throughout the region. By leveraging innovative technologies and fostering partnerships, the project is helping to lay the foundation for a greener, more sustainable future for all citizens.