Powering the future: key takeaways from the energy policy labs across Europe

The journey toward a sustainable energy future is gaining momentum across Europe! Recently, policy lab workshops facilitated by WEnnovate project partners in the Netherlands, Hungary, Ukraine, and Slovakia brought together experts to validate and refine co-created policy recommendations. Here’s a snapshot of the inspiring outcomes and forward-thinking strategies emerging from these collaborative discussions. 

The Netherlands: Pioneering Digitalisation in Energy 

The Dutch Policy Lab kick-started discussions on digitalising the national energy system, with a strong commitment to ongoing cooperation among key players. The focus is on aligning efforts across all levels of governance and leveraging seven best practices that have propelled the Netherlands forward, including: 

• Congestion Transparency using digital twins to visualise and manage electricity grid capacities. 

• Standardising Charging Networks and developing a reference architecture to unify digital energy frameworks. 

• Sandbox Areas for testing innovative solutions under regulatory-free conditions, fostering local community support. 

These initiatives set an excellent foundation for cross-country collaboration in the joint action plan! 

🔋 Hungary: Emphasising Security and Stakeholder Engagement 

Hungary’s discussions honed in on cybersecurity and the development of strategic digitalisation documents for the energy sector. Key takeaways included: 

• Prioritising a collaborative platform to address sector-specific cybersecurity and interoperability challenges. 

• Establishing innovation hubs to bring together public authorities, industry, and academia, facilitating experimentation and co-creation. 

• Promoting public education for consumers and prosumers to better understand energy transition complexities and dynamic pricing. 

Together, these efforts aim to build an inclusive energy transition that considers the needs of all stakeholders. 

⚡ Ukraine: Action-Oriented, Innovation-Focused 

Ukraine’s Policy Lab underscored the importance of maintaining a deep-tech focus amidst pressing challenges. Participants highlighted the need for a supportive financial and educational framework to drive innovations. Policy labs are viewed as an effective tool for formulating, coordinating, and funding key initiatives within the national Action Plan, ensuring a forward-looking approach to energy transition. 

🤝 Slovakia: Setting Strategic Priorities for a Digital Energy Future 

Slovakia’s Policy Lab prioritised aligning the energy agenda with the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), workforce reskilling, and cross-border partnerships: 

• Developing reskilling programs to address the skills gap in green and digital technologies. 

• Market mapping and knowledge-sharing platforms to centralise best practices and inspire regional collaboration. 

• Engaging regulatory bodies and creating a cybersecurity task force to secure the evolving digital energy infrastructure. 

Slovakia’s action plan sets a precedent for regional cooperation, focusing on public awareness, regulatory reform, and the adoption of digital solutions in energy. 

Stay tuned for more updates as these joint action plans continue to evolve, shaping the energy future of Europe! 

Thank you for your continued commitment to a sustainable future.