LIFE at the World Sustainable Energy Days

With over 650 participants from more than 60 countries, the World Sustainable Energy Days 2024 (WSED) aimed to accelerate the energy transition in response to price fluctuations, geopolitical instabilities, and the climate crisis. The event presented how to implement high policy ambitions and strengthen clean energy markets. It offered six dedicated conferences, including the European Energy Efficiency Policy Conference and the European Pellet Conference.  

WSED 2024 formed a platform for sharing work, projects, research results, achievements, ideas, and insights with the worldwide sustainable energy community. It was an opportunity to learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions that ensure competitiveness and decrease energy costs. 

Anette Jahn, representing the European Commission's CINEA, spoke on 7 March at 11.15 about how the energy transition can effectively unfold. Her session, titled "How the energy transition can work – examples from different sectors," highlighted various initiatives empowering energy consumers. Additionally, the event showcased the LIFE Energy Efficiency Watch 5 project, which contributed to the European Energy Efficiency Policy Conference. 

Also, the LIFE project EENOVA participated in WSED 2024, showcasing their initiative during an event launch through a poster presentation on 7 and 8 March, as part of the Energy Efficiency Conference. The project's primary objective is to reimagine the food industry, prioritising both energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. Through targeted interventions across critical stages such as food processing, logistics, and packaging, the project aims to significantly diminish the carbon footprint of the agri-food sector, contributing to a more sustainable future for all.

Other LIFE Projects and initiatives attending WSED 2024 included:

Managenergy, a European Commission initiative dedicated to regional and local energy agencies. It aims to support these agencies in becoming leaders in the energy transition and accelerating sustainable energy investments in regions and cities.

In-plan, which aims to develop, test, and implement a long-lasting support structure enabling local and regional authorities to effectively implement their sustainable energy, climate, and spatial plans.

Regio1st, which raises awareness about the Energy Efficiency First principle (EE1st) among regional governments and their agencies, and supports them in making related decisions in their planning.

DEESME 2050, building on the developed DEESME multiple benefits approach, seeks to capacitate, assist, and motivate companies to overcome obstacles in energy efficiency measures uptake in the furniture sector and its value chain, mainly in Bulgaria, France, Italy, and Poland.