We are thrilled to share the success of the joint final event of the HESTIA, ACCEPT, and SENDER sister projects, which recently took place during Sustainable Places 2024 from September 23-25, 2024, at the European Convention Center Luxembourg.
This milestone event, held in a hybrid format, showcased the remarkable outcomes of our projects and offered valuable insights through presentations and workshops.
The event saw participation from around 400 attendees, both in-person and online, and featured 60 workshops and paper sessions. The research and solutions presented were aimed at supporting cities and buildings in achieving the 2030 sustainability targets, with a focus on creating a net-zero environment through the use of new technologies and digitalization.
Sustainable Places 2024 served as tangible evidence of the European Union’s commitment to decarbonizing the built environment and optimizing processes. The innovative research presented at the event will influence the future of industry and establish best practices for local institutions, companies, and decision-makers in pursuit of their sustainability goals.
The event featured three key sessions:
1
Tuesday 24 September 2024 | 09:00 – 10:30
Scaling Up User Engagement Strategies for Sustainable Energy Transition
Format: Live stream
This session focused on practical approaches to enhancing consumer involvement in energy transition initiatives, drawing on the HESTIA, ACCEPT, and SENDER projects. Aniol Esquerra Alsius from Ecoserveis shared insights on engaging users and overcoming barriers, while Aggeliki Aggeli from Aalborg University presented strategies for involvement. Moderated by Marten Boekelo from DuneWorks, the session was attended by 50 people onsite and 26 online.
2
Tuesday 24 September 2024 | 11:00 – 12:30
Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Energy: Lessons Learnt from HESTIA, ACCEPT & SENDER
Format: Live stream
Moderated by Stephane POUFFARY from ENERGIES 2050, this session showcased the achievements of the HESTIA, ACCEPT, and SENDER projects in advancing renewable energy and demand response across Europe. Christian Kunze from Smart Innovation Norway spoke on energy management for Renewable Energy Communities, community engagement, and home automation. The workshop addressed key performance indicators (KPIs) and integration challenges, highlighting the projects’ impact on cost savings and sustainability. It was attended by 50 people onsite and 26 online.
3
Tuesday 24 September 2024 | 14:00 – 15:30
Energy Communities for the Smart Energy Transition: The Examples of HESTIA, ACCEPT & SENDER
Format: Live stream
In this session, Christian Kunze, Project Manager from our project coordinator Smart Innovation Norway, participated as a speaker and contributed to the discussion on the role of the HESTIA, ACCEPT, and SENDER projects in fostering energy communities. His presentation emphasized the importance of renewable energy adoption, demand flexibility, and community-driven energy trading. Additionally, the SENDER project’s proactive approach to demand response was spotlighted as a key innovation, contributing to a more stable, flexible, and sustainable energy grid. Moderated by Georgios Giannakis from Que Technologies (SENDER partner), the session was attended by 45 people onsite and 21 online.
Zoom On Our Sister Projects
Funded by the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Research & Innovation programme
About the SENDER Project
SENDER aims to develop and test cutting-edge energy service applications with a focus on demand response, home automation, and enhanced user convenience.
About the HESTIA Project
HESTIA aims to develop cost-effective demand-side response services, promote consumer engagement in flexibility sharing, and support a new, open energy marketplace.
About the ACCEPT Project
The ACCEPT project fosters local energy communities, providing a digital toolbox for innovative services to reduce fossil fuel use and energy costs, demonstrated in pilot sites across Europe.
Sustainable Places 2024
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all participants and contributors for making this event a resounding success. The collaborative efforts showcased at Sustainable Places 2024 have laid the groundwork for future advancements in energy innovation and sustainability.
Funding Acknowledgment
The SENDER project has been funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 957755.