17. Apr. 2025

From 12–16 May 2025, CRETE VALLEY showcases renewable energy solutions across the island of Crete.

On the occasion of the European Sustainable Energy Week, the Region of Crete (RoC) and the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) teams up with the 41 partners of the EU-funded project “CRETE VALLEY” and brings renewable energy solutions to the citizens of Crete, from Monday, the 12^th of May to Friday, 16^th of May 2025.

Throughout the week, citizens in Crete will be able to walk around the exhibition designed to present solutions to alternative forms of energy in a comprehensive way and to try the VR experience designed for the CRETE VALLEY project.

The Renewable Energy Days will start on Monday (12 May) with the kick-off event in Heraklion, where stakeholders and project partners will have the opportunity to discuss the project progress, and to exchange views on challenges faced with introducing renewable energy technologies in the local community.

On Tuesday (13 May) and Wednesday (14 May), the team will bring the technology to the people of the island and meet their needs. On Tuesday morning, technical partners like EUNICE, MINOAN and HMU will organize guided tours to the exhibition, explaining to high school and university students the renewable energy technologies that will be applied to the pilot sites in Crete (Arvi, Atherinolakos, Arkalohori and Lasithi Plateau), ushering the future of the island to the future citizens. In the afternoon, grassroot organizations and citizens that live in the pilot areas will be called to discuss on how they understand energy diversity in the context of the CRETE VALLEY program and co-design the energy solutions with the lead partners in each area, taking into account all the needs that local communities have (access to reliable and cheap energy sources, optimal use of public space, continuity of the energy supply in the future, etc.).

The next day (Wednesday, 14^th of May), entrepreneurs in Crete will have the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops that will help them learn and incorporate renewable energy solutions to their businesses.

All activities are part of the European Commission’s Sustainable Energy Days initiative. Sustainable Energy Days are events and activities held globally to promote clean energy and energy efficiency. Featuring a variety of formats - from civil society meetings to educational forums and even artistic interventions - these events provide a platform for individuals, organisations, and communities to inspire behavioural change and accelerate innovation towards achieving the EU’s energy and climate goals. With the current global focus on energy transition and energy independence, Sustainable Energy Days play a key role in fostering sustainable energy solutions in the EU and around the world.

For more information, please visit the project’s website: https://cretevalley.eu/

CRETE VALLEY aims to create a Renewable Energy Valley 'Living Lab' (REV-Lab) in Crete. It is envisioned as a decentralized renewable energy system that combines leading-edge ICT technologies, open digital solutions, social innovation processes, and sound business models that are easy to adopt. CRETE VALLEY will demonstrate a digitalised, distributed, renewable, low carbon landscape that is affordable for all and fully covers the local energy needs on an annual basis, utilizing multiple renewable energy carriers and leveraging energy storage technologies.

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Tags: #CRETE_EUSEW2025, #CRETE_RED2025, #CreteValley, @Energy4Europe, #EUSEW2025