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SHARING SUSTAINABLE ENERGY KNOWLEDGE WITH EASTERN EUROPEAN UNIVERSITIES
Together with Universidade da Coruña in Spain and Politecnico di Milano in Italy, KU Leuven, Ghent Campus is joining forces for a new European project focused on sustainable energy solutions in higher education in Georgia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan. They aim to promote energy savings and the production of green energy in these Eastern European countries. The project, known as the “European Energy Efficiency towards Mutually Reinforcing Partnership with Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine,” or simply the “3E-Partnership,” aims to enhance knowledge and infrastructure by sharing European expertise.
The project focuses on two key aspects of energy management: increasing the production of green energy and improving energy efficiency,” notes Geert De Lepeleer, head of the Internationalization Office at KU Leuven, Ghent Campus. “Our role in this project is to share our know-how and best practices with the involved non-EU universities, enabling them to enhance their capacities and contribute to a sustainable energy future. At the start of the project, we saw a spike in energy prices due to the war in Ukraine, which only underscores the importance of this collaboration.”
Origin
The initiative for the 3E-Partnership originated from a proposal by the ‘Business and Technology University’ in Georgia, with which Ghent Campus, had previously collaborated successfully on HEIn4.0, another European project. Thanks to the support of Ghent Campus and other European partners, this proposal expanded into broader cooperation with several universities in Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
Ghent Campus contributes to the 3E-Partnership through two research groups: the Electa Ghent energy research group, led by Professor Jan Cappelle, and the Building Physics and Sustainable Design research group, led by Professor Chiara Piccardo, in collaboration with PhD student Camille Steinik.
Three phases
The 3E-Partnership is divided into three phases, with both theoretical knowledge transfer and practical applications at the core. “In the first phase, we organized webinars where the participating countries shared their existing measures and best practices in energy management,” explains Geert De Lepeleer. “These webinars, with more than sixty participants, including both business professionals and students, were an important first step in the knowledge transfer.”
“In the second phase, the partners from Georgia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan visit European universities to observe practical examples,” he continues. “This will include company visits and campus activities. In September, we welcomed the delegations to our campus in Ghent, where they toured our laboratories and visited some of our partner companies. “
The final phase focuses on one of the main objectives of the 3E-Partnership: adapting university curricula in the Eastern European countries. “These regions still have a long way to go in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable building practices,” states Geert De Lepeleer. “There is much to gain in areas such as insulation, CO2-neutral construction projects, and investments in wind and solar energy.”
The ultimate goal of this phase is to develop an innovative curriculum that will enable hundreds of students from the involved countries to acquire modern competencies, skills, and up-to-date knowledge about energy efficiency and green energy solutions.
Sustainable future
The 3E-Partnership paves the way for better energy efficiency and sustainability in Georgia, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan –countries that have traditionally been dependent on fossil fuels.
By fostering dialogue between government, academia, and industry in these countries, and by introducing European best practices, the project contributes to the transition towards sustainable and innovative energy solutions.
Tine Desodt
