On December 3, 2024, in the RiHub premises, the Association Without Borders presented the project DISCOVER and the topic of civic energy with special reference to the role of entrepreneurs in citizen entrepreneur communities.
Davorka Medved presented the project, objectives and expected outcomes. The previous work on the project was summarized and it was stated which activities will be implemented in 2025 and 2026.
Damir Medved spoke about the topic of energy communities from a technical point of view. He presented to entrepreneurs existing examples of good practice both in EU countries and in Croatia.
Damir Juričić spoke about the financial effects of association in energy communities and presented the financial benefits for entrepreneurs and citizens.
After the lecture, the audience asked more questions about this topic. They were interested in practical problems and, most of all, administrative obstacles, which are still a reality in Croatia. The lecturers invited the attendees to additionally contact and inquire about energy communities through all channels of the association, and soon at the OSS at Drenovski put 138A in Rijeka.
In cooperation with the City of Rijeka, the Association Without borders Invites you to a lecture
What benefits do entrepreneurs gain by joining up in energy communities
which will take place 3 December 2024 at 2 p.m.
in space RiHuba at Ivana Grohovca 1a in Rijeka.
The lecture is part of the project DISCOVER funded by the programme LIFE of the European Commission It provides support in the process of establishing energy communities.
The lecture will cover the following topics:
LIFE DISCOVER project – status, methodology and tools available
What are energy communities and why are they important to entrepreneurs?
Legislation – state of play, how can energy communities be mobilised, what changes will happen at the beginning of 2026 and what are the reprecussions?
Technology – why is data collection important and what requirements does it impose on potential members of the community?
Finance – how energy communities work operationally, what are the benefits for citizens, businesses and public administrations if connected to the EC.
The lecturers are members of the LIFE DISCOVER - Davorka Medved project team, Damir Juričić and Damir Medved.
After the lecture, time is provided to answer the questions of the participants.
In cooperation with the City of Rijeka, the Association Without Borders invites you to a presentation
What benefits do entrepreneurs gain by joining energy communities
which will be held on December 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM in the RiHub space at Ivana Grohovac 1a in Rijeka.
The presentation is part of the DISCOVER project funded by the LIFE programme of the European Commission, which provides support in the process of establishing energy communities.
The following topics will be covered at the lecture:
LIFE DISCOVER project – status, methodology and tools available
What are energy communities and why are they important for entrepreneurs?
Legislation – current status, how can energy communities be launched, what changes will occur in early 2026 and what are the repercussions?
Technology – why is data collection important and what requirements does it place on potential community members?
Finance – how do energy communities operate operationally, what are the advantages for citizens, entrepreneurs and public administration if they join in an EC.
The example of the North Adriatic Energy Community – experiences and first results.
The presenters are members of the LIFE DISCOVER project team – Davorka Medved, Damir Juričić and Damir Medved.
After the presentation participants can ask questions about topics.
10:00 - 10:40 UNIRI Block (Centre for Smart and Sustainable Cities + EDIH ADRIA)
EDIH and regional cooperation potentials (Damir Medved) – 20 min
What is EDIH and how do we work
Examples of how we have helped small municipalities and cities
New technologies that can help with the energy transition (Damir Medved) – 20 min
What is the BECKN protocol
Examples from practice
10.40 – 11.00 Refreshment break
11:00-12:00 Block "Without Borders & ECSJ"
LIFE DISCOVER project – presentation of the project and results achieved so far (Davorka Medved) – 15 min
Energy transition in partner countries
Instructions for the operation of support centres for energy communities
Establishment of OSS on Drenova
Energy transition – energy communities, benefits of connectivity, new models of financing activities, opportunities and barriers (Damir Juričić) – 20 min
Social Energy Communities
the Civic Energy Community
ESG - Energy communities to support the achievement of objectives
Presentation of the ECSJ (Damir Juričić) – 10 min
Q&A – 15 min
12:00 – 12:30 PORIN and 3D platforms tour
We look forward to exchanging experiences and future cooperation!
Yesterday, in the Italian Community in Cres, a lecture was held for citizens on the topic of energy communities. Namely, the LIFE ISLET project, whose partners are the Island Movement and the City of Cres, aims to educate the local population and establish an energy community in our area in order to provide multiple benefits to the owners of solar power plants.
The lecture was opened by Dr. Ugo Toić with a short presentation of the LIFE ISLET project, and then by mr. Ivan Zoković from the Island Movement explained the differences between individual legal definitions of energy communities in Croatia and the EU. In addition, mrs. Davorka and mr. Damir Medved presented the DISCOVER project within which an energy community is established in Rijeka. We are sure that this topic will become very important and that in the future more and more islanders will become involved in energy communities.
Learn more about energy communities, benefits and get inspired by best practices!
You will find out why and how to take energy production into your own hands.
How to reduce energy consumption costs and increase energy independence.
What are the benefits of joining energy communities and how to implement projects?
What are the challenges?
How do energy communities help reduce energy poverty?
We will present successful examples from practice in Croatia!
Panellists:
mr. sc. Damir Medved, UNIRI, Director of the EDIH Adria project (University of Rijeka)
dr. sc. Damir Juričić, Innerga d.o.o., North Adriatic Energy Community - Energy Independence through Civic Energy Initiatives in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County
Moderator: Nikolina Oršulić, Forbes Croatia
You can also send questions to the panellists in advance via this link: https://lnkd.in/ePHU4mws
The webinar is free to participate. The webinar is being filmed.
The Association Žmergo, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka, the Northern Adriatic Energy Community and the Association Without Borders invite everyone interested in the topic of renewable energy sources to a round table where relevant experts will talk about trends, actualities and potentials of renewable energy sources, the role of local self-government units, its accessibility to citizens, with a special emphasis on energy poverty and how we can eliminate (or reduce) it.
We're at an energy junction. A proactive approach to ensuring energy independence is more important than ever. The round table is an exceptional opportunity to hear experts with experience in this field who will present many of the research and opportunities provided by the launch of public-citizen projects, such as the local civic energy initiative led today by the Energy and Climate Office of the City of Križevci, the first of its kind in Croatia. Cooperation of cities and municipalities with associations and citizens is extremely important and possible, in order to successfully implement the transition to the benefit of the local community.
Guest speakers
M.Sc. Anamari Majdandžić, DOOR – Presentation of Centres for Combating Energy Poverty and Example of Cooperation with Good Practice from Križevci, as well as Solutions for Energy Independence in the EU and Croatia
M.Sc. Hrvoje Keko, Grid One d.o.o., Association My Energy Community – Services in the field of advanced networks and energy transition and modernization and optimization of energy infrastructure, connecting research organizations, energy startups and local communities.
dr.sc. Damir Juričić, Innerga d.o.o., North Adriatic Energy Community - Energy Independence through Civic Energy Initiatives in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Innovative Models of Organization and Financing of Energy Communities and the Impact of the Electricity Market Act on the Implementation of Civic Initiatives
Moderator:
M.Sc. Damir Medved, Director of the EDIH Adria project (University of Rijeka), Association Without Borders
Introductory Lecture - Energy Poverty in the EU and HR
The call for participation is open to all interested citizens without prior notice, and refreshments will be organized for those present.
The activity is organized by the Žmergo Association and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Rijeka as part of the Community-based action for a green transition (CO-GREEN) project, which is implemented with the financial support of the European Union within the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme.
In front of the full hall, Saša Ukić, Damir Medved and Damir Juričić spoke to interested citizens of the Kantrida Local Committee in Rijeka about theoretical and practical topics related to energy communities and energy transition.
When you read the title of the event Solar grill you must have wondered what it is and how it works. Those who came (and even those who would look at the pictures from the event) probably thought that the barbecue would be connected to solar panels or something like that, but when the visitors heard the lecture, they realized that the solar was not so simple.
The problem, that is, the complication is not of a technical nature at all, but of course administrative.
Lecture
Damir Medved from the association Without Borders made a simple and concrete introduction to what are photovoltaic power plants, renewable energy sources and what is the percentage of use of these resources in Croatia and in the rest of Europe.
The technical side of photovoltaic power plants and solar panels told Saša Ukić from 3t Cable, our local company from Ičići. The work in progress on the family house of Damir Medved served as an example.
In order for such a project to be financially stable, it is necessary to make a good calculation. Everything that needs to be included in such a calculation as a cost is explained by Damir Jurčić the University Support Centre for Smart and Sustainable Cities.
There were also a lot of direct questions from the audience to which the lecturers responded very competently. It is a real refreshment to hear that with a good company and technical support, everything is possible even though there are certain obstacles to installing a photovoltaic power plant.
The conclusion is that it is not very simple, it should be equipped with knowledge and information and patience in always difficult and complicated administration. Despite all the problems and still vague laws with these alternative energy sources, demand is high.
Mini-jam session
After an hour and a lot of technical, financial and statistical information, electric grills and mini jam session gigs started. In the band (yet) without changes played: Benedikt Perak guitar, Siniša Babić bass guitar, guest from Graz Saša Mitrović trumpet, and as the second surprise guest joined Stipe Bilić on the piano. Pleasant sounds of light jazz filled the courtyard of the Drenova Social Center to the visible satisfaction of the audience. After a break and refreshment with food and drinks, the band played several popular tunes, so the audience was given the opportunity to sing.
From left to right: Stipe Bilić, Siniša Babić, Saša Mitrović, Benedikt Perak
Recording of the lecture
Be sure to watch the video of the technical presentation of the Solar grill on our you tube channel:
The next Solar Grill II is on Friday, July 29 at 6 p.m. where energy communities will be discussed.
As part of the joint activities to establish the energy communities of Drenova and Veprinac, we organized lectures entitled Energy Communities – Theory and Practice of Solar Power Plants, which explain a little deeper the technology of photovoltaic systems, the benefits of introducing sensors in our houses, how to finance the energy community and the currently open tenders for co-financing.
Theory and practice of solar power plants - lecture by dr.sc. Josip Zdenković, Schrack Technik
Schack Technik is one of the most renowned companies in the field of technical solutions in energy and telecommunications, and dr.sc. Josip Zdenković has been in the company Schrack Technik in Zagreb since 2008, where he is still the director. His main area of expertise is electric motor drives and renewable electricity sources – especially batteries (Be sure to check out his lecture on battery dimensioning).
Lecture by Josip Zdenković
It was really great to listen to the lecture of the doyens of renewable energy sources dr.sc. Josip Zdenković, and especially to flip through his book Photovoltaic island systems which we can freely call the Bible of solar technologies. We can certainly recommend that you get your free copy if you are interested in examples of good practice and a handful of technical information.
Processes, Sensors and Finance
10 STEP from design to grid connection of own small PV plant – Saša Ukić, 3t.Cable
Smart Home Solutions (Efficient Energy Management) - Damir Medved, EZ Drenova, Association Without Borders
Opportunities for alternative sources of financing: Damir Juričić, Center for Support to Smart and Sustainable Cities of the University of Rijeka,
Available sources of financing photovoltaic plants from HR and EU projects, Tina Ragužin, 3t.Cable
Lecture Ukić, Medved, Juričić, Ragužin
This is only the first in a series of joint lectures that we will organize at Drenova and Veprinac in order to promote the concepts of civic energy, which should result in the formation of the Drenova Energy Cooperative and the Veprinac Energy Community – these two peripheral settlements of larger cities really share a lot of common interests. Only together we can make some progress – we look forward to working together!
English (UK)