The EUA Energy and Environment Platform (EUA-EPUE), in collaboration with EIT InnoEnergy, organised a two-day conference on the topic "European Universities for a Clean Energy Future: Interdisciplinary Education, Training and Research". More than 90 participants attended the event, hosted by the Université de Lorraine in Nancy, France. The conference was kindly supported by the Lorraine Université d’Excellence programme, the Conférence des présidents d'université (CPU) and the Métropole Grand Nancy.
The event aimed to discuss opportunities for building European partnerships for the delivery of innovative interdisciplinary education and research programmes. The event took as a starting point the recommendations elaborated in the recently published report “An Action Agenda for European Universities”, a strategic document that arose from the work of the UNI-SET project. The report intends to provide a framework for universities across Europe to take initiatives and develop interdisciplinary cooperation in the energy and environmental field, based on an analysis of skills required by the business sector.
In this context, the conference in Nancy featured several sessions on energy education and research in the fields of energy efficiency, renewables integration and storage, smart energy systems and Carbon Capture Storage and Use (CCU/S). The participants were also able to interact to develop and test ideas for innovative programmes and tools in a world café setting. A mix of speakers from higher education, industry and public administration ensured a rich and engaging dialogue among the attendees.
Professor Torbjørn Digernes, Chair of EUA-EPUE, stated: "During the two days of discussions at the Université de Lorraine, EUA-EPUE could make important progress in supporting universities to develop state-of-the-art education and research programmes. We could also listen to a range of perspectives and ideas which will help define the next activities of the platform in the context of the SET-Plan. We strongly believe in the role of universities to create an energy clean and sustainable Europe and wish to support this endeavour through the EUA-EPUE platform.”
“Université de Lorraine is proud to contribute to building a real community of universities involved in clean-energy topics and able to cooperate. The next phase will be the implementation of the actions discussed during the event in Nancy”, added Professor Fabrice Lemoine, leader of the ‘Energies for the Future Challenge’ of the Lorraine Université d’Excellence programme, and local host of the event.
For EUA-EPUE, the conference was another step towards consolidating its own portfolio of activities in the energy and environment field and tofurther promote the outcomes of the UNI-SET project (2014-2017), which it carried out in collaboration with KU Leuven and EIT InnoEnergy. The partnership between EUA-EPUE and EIT InnoEnergy will continue by providing future support to universities and frameworks for further cooperation with the business sector.
In collaboration with
Prof. Pierre Mutzenhardt, Rector, University of Lorraine; President of Research, Commission of CPU
Prof. Torbjørn Digernes, Chair of the EUA Energy and Environment Platform; former Rector, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Dr Frederic Ravel, Scientific Director of the Sector Energy, Sustainable, Development, Chemistry and Processes; Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation
Prof. Fabrice Lemoine, Energies for the future, Lorraine Université d'Excellence
Introduction to the event objectives
Prof. Torbjørn Digernes, Chair of the EUA Energy and Environment Platform; former Rector, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Dr Lidia Borrell-Damian, Director for Research & Innovation, European University Association
Insights from innovative practices in industry-education collaboration
Prof. Josep Bordonau, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya; MSc School Director, EIT InnoEnergy
Prof. Juan Jess Perez , Vice-Rector for International Policy, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Insights from the Action Agenda report
Dr Douglas Halliday, Durham Energy Institute, Durham University
Prof. Fabrice Lemoine, Energies for the future, Lorraine Université d'Excellence Programme
Prof. Mihaela Albu, Politehnica University of Bucharest
Dr Wim Melis, Greenwich University
1) Energy Efficiency
Dr Jay Sterling Gregg, Technical University of Denmark; EERA JP “Economic, environmental and social impacts”
Dr Sjoerd de Vries, University of Twente
Prof. Vincent Chevrier, Computer Science Lab, University of Lorraine
Moderator: Prof. Fabrice Lemoine, Energies for the future, Lorraine Université d'Excellence
Rapporteur: Dr Wim Melis, Greenwich University
2) Renewable Integration and Energy Storage
Dr Kristin Guldbrandsen Frysa, University of Bergen
Prof. Carlos Del Caizo, University Politehnica of Madrid
Prof. Michel Deshaies, Geography Lab, University of Lorraine
Moderator: Dr Douglas Halliday, Durham University
Rapporteur: Ms Kamila Kozirog, EUA
3) Smart and Flexible Energy Systems
Prof. Annuka Jokipii, University of Vaasa
Prof. Kjetil Uhlen, NTNU
Prof. Frank Eliassen, University of Oslo
Prof. Jerme Dinet, Psychology Lab, University of Lorraine
Moderator: Prof. Mihaela Albu, Politehnica University of Bucharest
Rapporteur: Ms Borana Taraj, EUA
4) Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage
Prof. Hanna Knuutila, NTNU
Mr David Nevicato, Total
Dr Pawel Gladysz, Silesian University of Technology
Prof. Eric Favre, Process Engineering Lab, University of Lorraine
Moderator: Prof. Xavier Gimenez, University of Barcelona
Rapporteur: Dr Andrzej Adamski, Jagiellonian University
Reporting of the parallel sessions on Day 1
Prof. Joo Serra, University of Lisbon
Dr Isabelle Schuster, PhD School programme director; InnoEnergy
Mr. Grard Griffay, Energy Program & Free Innovation Program Leader, Arcelor-Mittal
Moderator: Prof. Fabrice Lemoine, Energies for the future, Lorraine Université d'Excellence
Part 1) Frameworks and barriers for the development of education and research programmes
Part 2) Tools and mechanisms to deliver innovative education and research programmes
Summary of sessions– Key messages from session moderators and/or rapporteurs