On July 26, 2023, the final event of the CONGREGATE project was held at the Cultural Centre “Christos Tsakiris” in Stavroupoli, Thessaloniki, attracting a wide audience of local stakeholders, co-organised by INZEB and the Municipality of Pavlos Melas, which is one of the beneficiary municipalities of the project. Despite concluding in March 2023, the project’s momentum continues to soar, as participants eagerly gathered to celebrate its resounding success. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the new legislative framework for Energy Communities, which has been in effect since March 2023, setting the stage for transformative energy initiatives in the region.
Alice Corovessi, Managing Director of INZEB and Vice President of the European Campaign Renovate Europe 2022 & 2023, took the stage to provide crucial insights into the innovative Energy Communities legislation. The framework’s application from March 2023 has paved the way for empowering local communities to actively participate in the energy sector, fostering sustainable practices and reducing their carbon footprint.
The event also featured a captivating presentation by Thanasis Manoloudis, INZEB’s Mechanical Engineer, who unveiled the study’s outcomes for the Municipality of Pavlos Melas. This presentation offered a glimpse of the promising prospects it revealed for establishing an energy community within the municipality. With a vision for a greener and more sustainable future, the Mayor of Pavlos Mela extended an invitation to all attendees to embark on this transformative journey together. The CONGREGATE project has undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the local community, inspiring collaborative efforts towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.
The event provided a platform for knowledge-sharing, empowering participants with the tools and inspiration to embrace the new legislative framework and actively contribute to the establishment of energy communities in their respective municipalities. As the project’s success continues to ripple outward, the event stands as a beacon of hope for similar initiatives worldwide, showing that united action can bring about positive change for the environment and society at large.