ESEIA 13th Lecture Review & Key Takeways: The Uptake of Renewables in European Local Communities

ESEIA’s 13th Lecture about The Uptake of Renewables in European Local Communities took place online on 3 April 2025, bringing together 38 participants from 11 countries — Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Finland (FI), Latvia (LV), Morocco (MA), Nigeria (NG), Netherlands (NL), Portugal (PT), Romania (RO), Slovenia (SI), and the United Kingdom (UK) — representing 21 organisations. The session offered a timely and thought-provoking discussion on how to accelerate the uptake of renewable energy solutions in European local communities.

The event featured the keynote lecture by Dr. Frans H.J.M. Coenen, Associate Professor at the University of Twente, Netherlands. Drawing on more than 35 years of research experience in environmental policy planning and energy transition governance, Dr. Coenen identified key barriers, including insufficient policy support, limited financial incentives, and planning gaps in local infrastructure. He shared demo cases from various EU countries and India, and offered practical tools and guidelines for empowering communities, stakeholders, and policymakers to drive market upscaling.

The discussion was enriched by responses from Manuel Casquiço (Adene, Portugal), providing insight into the Portuguese perspective on energy innovation, and Günter Getzinger (TU Graz, Austria), who chaired the session. The event was hosted by the ESEIA Director, Brigitte Hasewend.

Key Takeaways:

  • Renewable energy adoption at the local level requires a combination of governance reform, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Community participation and capacity building are essential for long-term impact.
  • The lecture provided actionable insights and real-world examples for overcoming barriers in the transition to sustainable energy systems.

Missed the live session? The full lecture is now available to watch on our official YouTube channel: @ESEIAAlliance. Don’t forget to subscribe for more content on sustainable innovation!

More information about the ESEIA Lecture Series is available at the ESEIA Lecture Series Web page.

For any further questions,  contact the ESEIA Team at: office@eseia.eu

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