European Grid Master Class Capacity Building for the European Energiewende
Facing climate change and energy security, the EU and its member states have decided to fully decarbonise their power system by rapidly increasing renewable energies.
In the electricity sector, a big challenge is to adapt the power grid in time. Besides regulatory barriers, public opposition against new transmission lines contribute to very long and conflict-ridden planning procedures. While increased participation is now being introduced and tested in the plan ning procedures, distrust between citizens and grid developers is casting a shadow on these efforts.
Knowledge gaps and lack of mutual understanding make it difficult to find a common ground. The objective of the Grid Master Class is to build the capacity of stakeholders to enable a widely supported grid development, in line with today’s possibilities and expectations.
“Understanding the Grid” is an intensive course on grid basics: technology – impact on health and environment – legal framework conditions – planning procedures – participation opportunities. “Understanding the Public” is an intensive course on public perception and participation: public and local opposition – the value of collaborative approaches – media coverage of grids – grassroots campaigns. Would you like to host a Grid Master Class anywhere in Europe or stay updated on next opportunities to participate? Don’t hesitate to contact us. Grid Master Class is a project by Lucile Barras THEMA1 GmbH Berlin, Germany
+49 30 7790 779 14 barras@thema1.de
www.gridmasterclass.eu
Past Grid Master Class “Understanding the Grid”
Premiere in Berlin, Germany, 9-10 May 2012
“Understanding the Public” Premiere in Berlin, Germany, 23 May 2012 “Understanding the Public” at “L’ENERGIA SPIEGATA – Festival dell’Energia” in Perugia, Italy, 15 June 2012
Feedback from Participants “For the first time, a grid-related event offers the right conditions to ask questions in a relaxed way and receive factual answers instead of just enabling a political debate.” “I’ve learned a lot. Finally, I have the feeling of understanding the grid. I’ll clearly recommend this crash course to my colleagues.” “The speakers were really competent and able to transmit facts in an unbiased way. I appreciated this a lot.” “The mix of participants was very valuable: various participants could contribute with highly relevant questions and additional knowledge. This also gave me with a better comprehension of the scene.” “Realizing the European context has significantly broadened and changed my view on grid development.” “Many thanks for this workshop. It was definitely worth missing two days of parliamentary session.” www.gridmasterclass.eu
Guido Axmann THEMA1 Managing Director
Initiators of Grid Master Class Grid Master Class is a project of THEMA1, an independent think-dotank specialised in accelerating the shift towards a low-carbon society. THEMA1 strives for win-win solutions by fostering pioneering new forms of cooperation and promoting better communication among business, civil society and public policy leaders in Europe. THEMA1 is co-initiator and close partner of the Renewables-GridInitiative bringing together NGOs and transmission system operators, which support the full integration of renewable electricity into the grid. www.thema1.de Grid Master Class is kindly supported by SEFEP (Smart Energy for Europe Platform), a European NGO committed to the goal of a fully de-carbonised, reliable and predominantly renewable power supply in Europe before 2050, and a 70% share of renewable electricity by 2035. SEFEP was founded by the European Climate Foundation and the Stiftung Mercator in 2010. SEFEP activities across Europe aim at strengthening individual stakeholders, broadening and deepening the knowledge base on European energy issues, and promoting open-minded and solutionoriented dialogue and cooperation between different groups. www.sefep.eu
Lucile Barras THEMA1 Project Leader
Antonella Battaglini SEFEP Programme Director & RGI Executive Director
Kristina Steenbock SEFEP Managing Director
www.gridmasterclass.eu
Capacity Building for the European Energiewende www.gridmasterclass.eu