Youth for Renewable Energy Communities

Background
Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) play a pivotal role in accelerating the energy transition, fostering local generation and consumption of renewable energy. An REC operates as a localized, participatory, and integrated system, primarily focusing on renewable energy generation, distribution, and consumption, while underscoring community benefits and involvement. The concept of a “Energy Community” is central to this approach, aiming to optimize local energy systems through improved efficiency, flexibility, and local generation from renewable sources. REC development hinges on the collaboration of various key stakeholders, including public administrations, utilities, energy producers, and users, encompassing both consumers and prosumers.

Workshop Overview
The platform 'Youth for Renewable Energy Communities' will present the following topics at KEY 2024. Since September 2023, at Politecnico Torino, 60 Master Students in Sustainable Architecture from diverse countries, including Afghanistan, China, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, India, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, Kosovo, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, have engaged in a comprehensive workshop on “Energy Transition and Low Carbon Architecture”. This initiative aimed at creating Renewable Energy Communities across Europe, focusing on 8 selected sites for design, analysis, and portrayal. The 4-month workshop underscored the significance of promoting sustainable development models to enhance quality of life and investing in local economies. It adopted a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to addressing urban and rural development issues.

Format
The 'Youth for Renewable Energy Communities' series is structured into four sets of duets, each representing different community types:

• Urban Communities: 2 in The Netherlands
• Sub-urban Communities: 2 in Northern Italy
• Countryside Communities: 1 in Central Italy and 1 in Hungary
• Island and Remote Communities: 1 in Southern Italy and 1 in the United Kingdom

Tutors and international experts will discuss the workshop's outcomes, presenting their insights in the final session.

Key Features
The workshop's key outcomes include:

• Exploration of renewable energy potentials: solar, biomass, biogas, wind.
• Analysis of end-use balance and Reference Energy System across sectors: housing, tertiary, transportation, industrial, agriculture.
• Innovative solutions in green hydrogen generation using PV, wind, and geothermal energy.

Programme

11:30   Workshop Introduction

Empowering Youth for Renewable Energy Communities | Roberto Pagani (IT)
Future buildings for future Renewable Energy Communities | Enrico Fabrizio (IT)
Concepts for Renewable Energy Communities in Europe | Chiel Boonstra (NL)

12:00  Youth for Renewable Energy Communities: the Workshop

The Worshop on 8 Renewable Energy Communities in Italy, The Netherlands, Hungary, UK.
Slide Show by University Master Students: | 1.Process | 2.Plan | 3.Project | 4.Performance |

12:20   Youth for Renewable Energy Communities: The Vision

The Vision clarified by University Master Students

Expert Insights on Youth for Renewable Communities

Chiel Boonstra (NL), Corrado Carbonaro (IT), Maria Ferrara (IT), Loredana Torsello (IT)

12:50  Reflections and Considerations  | Gianni Silvestrini (IT)

13:00  Wrap up