SHREC stakeholders met in Vilnius

The first SHREC stakeholder meeting in Vilnius was organised on the 12th December at Vilnius Gediminas technical university (VGTU). VGTU is one of the partner universities in SHREC project.

The stakeholder group was formed from the following organisations: Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania, Lithuanian Energy Institute (LEI), Lithuanian Solar Energy Association, Ignitis Group (Lithuanian Energy), Sunrise Valley Science and Technology Park, BOD Group Digital Energy hub and the Public Investment Development Agency, university researchers working in the field of energy efficiency and alternative energy, Lithuanian Wind Energy Association, and Lithuanian Confederation Of Renewable Resources.

The SHREC project was presented to the stakeholders: the goals and objectives, partners, upcoming plans and future meetings. The project was very well received by the stakeholders and active discussions took place. It was discussed that many actions have already taken place within the Lithuanian ecosystem towards the energy transition, however there is a lack of systematic and integrated approach. Thus, developing and fostering the more integrated approach between different ministries and organisations towards energy transition has been recognized as one of the main influence points were the stakeholders can contribute to the project development.

SHREC stakeholders discussing the project activities and future plans

During the meeting it was proposed to include the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania, Ministry of the Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania, Ministry of Transport and Communications and The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the stakeholder group of SHREC in Lithuania. The efforts and actions of key ministries and different sectors should be joined working towards the policy formation of energy transition. It is important that the Ministry of Transport and Communications would be included regarding the issues of mobility and CO2 reduction in transport.

Stakeholders expressed strong interest in joining the project activities and international partner meetings, discovering the good and bad practices, of partnering countries and sharing their own experience. In order to move forward with these plans, it was agreed that VGTU will share the information from the SHREC kick off meeting with the stakeholders as well as keep informing the stakeholders through the whole project period. The next partner and stakeholder meeting in March has been disscussed and stakeholders have been invited to join. It was agreed that stakeholder meetings in Vilnius shall be organized 2 times per year.

The SHREC project aims to improve regional and national policies to increase the share of energy from renewable sources in the overall energy, to promote and facilitate the production and use of renewable energy for businesses, communities and households seeking to reduce carbon emissions.