From 12th to 16th May 2025, the Region of Crete (RoC), in collaboration with the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI) and partners from the European project CRETE VALLEY, hosted the Renewable Energy Days in Heraklion, Crete. This event, part of the wider European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) initiative, showcased pioneering renewable energy solutions developed locally and beyond, while fostering dialogue on key themes such as energy justice, diversity, and sustainability for decarbonisation of the island of Crete.
CRETE VALLEY aims to establish a Renewable Energy Valley operated via a “Living Lab” (REV-Lab) in Crete, integrating four local Community Energy Labs (CEL) that follow a holistic social, technological, and business approach to energy transition. The CV project combines different energy sources as well as AI-driven planning tools, blockchain marketplaces, and digital twins to optimise operation, enhance citizen participation, and enable replication and scaling of the tested solutions.
The Renewable Energy Days brought together policymakers, energy experts, businesses, citizens, pupils, and non-governmental organisations to explore diverse facets of the renewable energy transition. The week began with a kick-off session of the Atherinolakkos-CEL on the 12th of May bringing together stakeholders, presenting the approach of the Energy Lab and highlighting the project’s progress.
On 13th May a guided exhibition at the Foyer of the Municipal Hall of Heraklion open to the public engaged over 50 high school pupils and citizens with presentations and with hands-on introductions from the technical partners to the technologies employed in the project’s pilot areas. This activity was followed by a Thematic Event in the evening hosted by RoC and contributed by project partners with focus on energy transition and diversity and a Feedback Loop led by ZSI on the progress of the project.
Deloitte hosted a dedicated Business Briefing event for local entrepreneurs on the 14th of May, focusing on the adoption and benefits of renewable energy technologies within business operations.
The Renewable Energy days were concluded with the official project review meeting and some site visits, where partners from across the EU got to see the different energy production units and sites, such as a geothermal station and windmills based on traditional Cretan design.
