Energy Communities: Tracking Progress & Ambitions

Join us on February 6, 2025, from 13:30 to 18:00 at the Fondation Universitaire in Brussels (11 rue d’Egmont/Egmontstraat, 1000 Brussels) for an insightful workshop uniting researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore the evolving role of energy communities in Belgium’s electricity market.

Energy communities are meant to empower citizens to drive the clean energy transition, making renewables more accessible, lowering energy costs, and improving the functioning of the grid. They aim at strengthening public support for renewable projects and attract private investments, reshaping energy systems from the ground up. Yet, the question arises whether energy communities actually achieve or have the potential to achieve those ambitious aims. This question is at the core of the workshop.

• Keynote speech from DemandFlex researchers Marie Beudels and Elise Viadere (ULB).

• Panel 1: “Energy communities as key players: Will they be? Should they be?”

This panel will explore the current and potential role of energy communities within the electricity market, examining whether and how they should be considered key players.

Confirmed participants include Anton Gerits (REScoop Vlaanderen), Regis Lambert (Brugel), Luc Vercruyssen (Engie). The panel will be moderated by Estelle Cantillon (ULB).

• Panel 2: “The role of energy communities in technological advancements and electricity supply quality”

This panel will delve into how energy communities can contribute to technological innovations and the improvement of electricity supply quality, focusing on the tools and conditions necessary for these advancements

Confirmed participants include Daphné Benzennou (Sibelga), Michaël De Koster (Engie) and Cédric Pierrard (Haulogy). The panel will be moderated by Pierre Henneaux (ULB).

• Concluding remarks by Emmanuel Slautsky (ULB).

A networking reception will follow, starting at 18:00. Register now to engage with experts and stakeholders in shaping the role of energy communities.

The event is organised in the framework of the Demandflex project funded by the Energy Transition Fund and is coordinated by Estelle Cantillon, Pierre Henneaux, Emmanuel Slautsky and Elise Viadere (ULB).

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Fondation Universitaire Stichting, 11 Rue d'Egmont, Bruxelles, Belgium