Greek Community of Practice

The 1st CoP session was held in person on March 9, during the final self-assessment activity. It brought together 20 participants from various regions of Greece, all working in municipal administration. The session began with an overview of the ENTRACK project, presenting key information such as its duration, objectives, and main activities. This was followed by an introduction to the CoPs, outlining the concept of forming a collaborative group where participants could exchange ideas and practical solutions.

Next, an open discussion was held on the key issues surrounding Greece’s energy transition policies. Participants were invited to freely share the challenges they face and their personal experiences. The aim was to document these issues for deeper exploration in future CoP meetings. The discussion focused on several critical themes, including the role of EU-funded projects and their potential impact on rural areas and the role of municipalities in managing and implementing social energy plans that ensure tangible benefits for local communities

The 4th CoP session was held on 14th of November via Zoom, titled “Energy Poverty: Diagnosis, Causes, and the ENTRACK Approach.” A total of 13 participants attended, including both returning attendees from previous sessions and new participants from public administration and universities. poverty.

The concept of energy poverty was analyzed in depth, including its definition, main causes, and impacts. Statistical data were presented to illustrate the situation in Greece and the European Union, placing the issue within the broader framework of energy justice and the fundamental right of all individuals to access energy. The discussion also emphasized the importance of participatory governance in designing effective energy policies. In this context, the ENTRACK methodological approach in ethnography was introduced, along with findings from ENTRACK reports.

The session concluded with an interactive Mentimeter activity, where participants shared their perspectives. This activity started a broader discussion on the current situation in Greece, the role of participatory governance, and the national measures already in place to address energy poverty.

The 2nd CoP session was held on April 30 via Zoom, titled “The ENTRACK Approach in Energy Transition.” A total of 16 participants attended, including a mix of returning attendees from the first session and new participants from public administration, the private sector, and universities.

The session focused on the project’s approach to energy transition, with a detailed presentation and analysis of the ENTRACK methodology to give participants a clearer understanding of the actions being implemented. Special emphasis was placed on the Greek pilot cases, the MRPs, and the importance of the co-designed social energy plans that will be developed throughout the project’s lifecycle.

Overall, the session provided valuable insights into how energy transition is perceived by professionals working in the sector and helped identify key themes for future exploration.

The 5th CoP session was held on 23rd of January via Zoom, titled “Innovative measures in energy transition”. A total of 8 participants attended, including both attendees from previous sessions and new participants from universities and organizations.

The session then focused on innovative measures supporting the energy transition at both EU and local levels, with particular attention to the measures being adopted in Greece. The discussion also addressed the challenges Greece faces in implementing such measures at the local level, as well as factors that could help overcome barriers and ensure that the transition does not negatively affect local communities. The session concluded with a short discussion on how local authorities can better involve citizens in shaping environmentally responsible measures, highlighting the importance of information, education (e.g., through workshops) and formal training. 

Participants identified infrastructure gaps, limited local authority preparedness and rural inequalities as key barriers to a fair transition, emphasizing the need for targeted technical support, capacity building and citizen involvement and engagement. Overall, the discussion highlighted that alongside technological solutions like energy storage, a successful energy transition will depend on strengthening local governance, skills and participation.

The 3rd CoP session was held on August 29 via Zoom, focusing on the topic “Energy Communities: Possibilities and Challenges.” A total of 12 participants attended, representing municipalities, research centers, companies, and NGOs. Most of the attendees were new to the initiative, with this session marking their first involvement.

The presentation provided essential information to help participants understand the concept, including how energy communities operate, the national legal framework, relevant statistical data, and practical examples. These elements were framed within the broader theoretical context of energy democracy, with references to key European Union policies in the energy sector.

To foster interaction and open dialogue, an engaging activity was conducted using Mentimeter. This icebreaker aimed to encourage participants to share their thoughts and prepare for a group discussion. Following the Mentimeter activity, a group discussion took place that further explored the topic. This exchange revealed a strong interest among participants in the concept of energy communities, particularly their potential to build local resilience. However, it also highlighted a significant lack of awareness and exposure to existing initiatives, both within Greece and across Europe.

The 6th CoP session was held on 31st of March via Zoom, and it focused on SECAPS in municipalities around Greece. A total of 14 participants attended. In this CoP we invited the ESCALATE LIFE Project which aims to help municipalities of over 45.000 inhabitants achieve energy transition and prepare local heating and cooling plans.

We explained what the SECAPs are, how they can succeed, and what benefits they offer. We also presented examples from Greek municipalities (Piraeus, Orestiada, and Karditsa) and discussed what has been implemented there so far, such as sustainable mobility measures, the replacement of public lighting with LED systems, and the increased use of renewable energy sources. We also referred to the actions taken by one of our pilot municipalities, Avdira. In addition, we discussed several challenges faced by municipalities, such as extreme weather conditions and the lack of appropriate technical staff within municipal administrations to support and implement such initiatives.

Afterwards, the invited speaker from Sustainable City, Penny Kazaki, which is a partner in the ESCALATE project, presented the project and explained that they have developed a handbook for completing the standard Heating and Cooling Plan, as well as an interactive platform. This platform covers several thematic areas, including process and data management, technical analysis for heating and cooling planning, and strategies and measures.

Following this presentation, it emerged from the discussion that many SECAP measures have often been neglected or not implemented in several municipalities. This may be due to a lack of time and personnel, factors which are often interconnected, as the implementation of such measures typically requires the involvement of specialized experts.

Through this meeting, we concluded that there are projects with similar initiatives in Greece and that municipalities are trying to advance the energy transition through such programmes. However, for this transition to be more effective, the necessary commitment and dedication must be ensured.