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About the RLS- Energy Network
The RLS-Energy Network was the pilot RLS-Sciences research group (est. 2013). Comprised of engineers, economists, geographers, and more, the interdisciplinary network focuses on topics around regional energy transitions. Researchers share data and best practices on emerging topics, including renewables, hydrogen, and energy security. The network generates international research projects, joint publications, and technical writings. Regular meetings (virtual and in-person) and student exchanges support networking.
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The Partners
Partners of the Energy Network include (listed alphabetically by region):
LMU-München (Bavaria)
Chair of Energy Systems at Technische Universität München (Bavaria)
TZ Energie at Hochschule Landshut (Bavaria)
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia)
Georgia Centers of Innovation (Georgia)
Réseau québécois sur l'énergie intelligente - RQEI (Québec)
Université Laval (Québec)
Université du Québec à Trois Rivières (Québec)
UNICAMP (São Paulo)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (Shandong)
Energie Institut Johannes Kepler Universität Linz (Upper Austria)
FH Oberösterreich (Upper Austria)
Click on any partner's logo to learn more. Interested in joining the RLS-Energy Network? Get in touch here.
LMU-München (Bavaria)
Chair of Energy Systems at Technische Universität München (Bavaria)
TZ Energie at Hochschule Landshut (Bavaria)
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia)
Georgia Centers of Innovation (Georgia)
Réseau québécois sur l'énergie intelligente - RQEI (Québec)
Université Laval (Québec)
Université du Québec à Trois Rivières (Québec)
UNICAMP (São Paulo)
Chinese Academy of Sciences (Shandong)
Energie Institut Johannes Kepler Universität Linz (Upper Austria)
FH Oberösterreich (Upper Austria)
Click on any partner's logo to learn more. Interested in joining the RLS-Energy Network? Get in touch here.
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News and Previous Activities
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RLS-Sciences Digital Week 2025
28-30 April, 2025, online
The RLS-Sciences April Digital Week 2025 took place from 28 - 30 April, 2025, hosted by Bavaria. In a renewed format, the network met virtually for two hours on three consecutive days. The first day was dedicated to the thematic groups, where partners met for parallel working sessions. Day two featured a cross-topic discussion on the topic of Generative Artificial Intelligence and Learnings Out of the Regions. On day three, contributions were made on “resilience” featuring Western Cape as the next hosting region of the political RLS summit 2025, with Premier Winde giving a live speech. Participants from the different regions engaged with almost thirty speakers on a range of topics. In the parallel sessions, the partners discussed themes like sustainable aviation, training of medical professionals and Innovation Zones driving regional energy transitions. Prominent across the projects was the importance of engaging with early-career researchers, joint publications as well as best-practices in data sharing. Key transversal aspects were revealed regarding Innovation Zones and Generative Artificial Intelligence, where a cross-topic dialogue was encouraged. Alan Winde, Premier of Western Cape, outlined how resilience is connected to several areas of high importance to the region - including climate change, renewable energy sources, circular economy, aerospace and agriculture. This bridges to the political summit in fall 2025 taking place in Western Cape. Premier Winde acknowledged that RLS-Sciences is not only creating benefits for the political level but also for the citizens of the regions. The Digital Week sessions are open to researchers from all RLS-Sciences thematic groups, fostering cross-topic exchanges that extend to RLS-Sciences Conferences and other formats. This year's Digital Week marks the fifth iteration of this virtual format, initially launched to maintain the continuity of RLS-Sciences activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since become a staple of the RLS-Sciences annual calendar. View the 2025 program here. 
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2024
RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2024
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15-18 September, 2024, Québec City
The RLS-Sciences Conference 2024 took place in Québec City from September 15th to 18th, 2024 at the invitation of the Québec Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie. The overall theme of the event was “Innovation Zones- A Regional Development Tool in the International Context”. Altogether, over 100 participants from six RLS partner regions joined to exchange within and between the RLS-Sciences themes (Renewable Energy, Aerospace, Small Satellites, Digitalization, and Digital Health). Each day, there were joint sessions with presentations and panel discussions, especially highlighting the four Innovation Zones in Québec, and the research and development ecosystem. Speakers included representatives from academia, industry, the Québec government, and funding agencies. Innovation management was a key theme throughout- how best to foster innovation, synergies, and economic development in specific areas and topics. Models from other regions, including those focusing on intersecorality, links with industry, and international collaboration, were also presented from Bavaria, Georgia, and São Paulo. Following the conference, participants were invited to join site visits to different parts of the province, where they were able to hear more about the actors and infrastructure supporting science and innovation for different fields: l’Institut de recherche sur l’hydrogène (IHR) and the Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour for energy and the Ville Longueil, École nationale d'aérotechnique and the new MET - Aéroport métropolitain de Montréal terminal with the Aerospace Innovation Living Lab (LIA) for aerospace. The Digital Health group had the chance to visit the CHU Sainte-Justine as well as the Command Centre at Jewish Hospital. These were arranged together with key partners like CRIAQ, Consortium Santé Numérique, and UQTR. 
Photo Credit: Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie, 2024
This marked the third iteration of the RLS-Sciences Overall Conference. The first was hosted by FAPESP and INPE in São Jose dos Campos, São Paulo in 2019. In 2022, Bavaria hosted the second conference in Herrsching. The conferences create an opportunity for the entire RLS-Sciences network to meet in person, deepening work in the parallel thematic sessions and exchanging with other groups in joint interdisciplinary sessions and during networking.
During the conference, the successors of two members of the RLS-Sciences presidency group were announced. Dr. Sebastian Goers, Upper Austria, who has served as RLS-Sciences president since 2019, was succeeded by Prof. Louis Gosselin, Québec. Prof. Kodjo Agbossou, Québec, who has served as one of the two RLS-Sciences Vice Presidents since 2019, was succeeded by PD Dr. med. Sebastian Bickelhaupt, Bavaria. The next RLS-Sciences Overall Conference will take place in 2026, in connection with the 10th Anniversary of RLS-Sciences. View the 2024 programme here. |
RLS-Sciences Digital Week 2024
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15-19 April, 2024, online
The RLS-Sciences April Digital Week 2024 took place online from April 15th to 19th, 2024. For two hours each day, the RLS-Sciences Network convened virtually to explore the theme "Science Adoption in Regional Innovation Ecosystems." This event served as a preparatory step for the upcoming third RLS-Sciences Conference in Québec, scheduled for September 2024. Participants from the seven RLS partner regions attended, engaging with 40 speakers who presented on a range of topics. These included regional initiatives to support sector-specific innovation in areas like digital health and aerospace, student-focused training opportunities with major companies and with new technologies using 3D printing and augmented reality, as well as networks to engaged stakeholders of all kinds from policymakers to citizens to industry. Transversal themes like artificial intelligence and sustainability featured throughout all five days. 
Image Credit: WKS Bayern-Québec/Alberta/International, 2024
The Digital Week sessions are open to researchers from all RLS-Sciences thematic groups, fostering cross-topic exchanges that extend to RLS-Sciences Conferences and the new RLS-Sciences Explore Sessions.
This year's Digital Week marks the fourth iteration of this virtual format, initially launched to maintain the continuity of RLS-Sciences activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has since become a staple of the RLS-Sciences annual calendar. View the programme here. |
2023
RLS-Sciences Funding Workshop: Spotlight on Québec
6 October, 15:00-17:00 CEST, online
On Friday, 6 October, around 40 members of the RLS-Sciences network met online for a workshop on funding. Speakers from the Fonds de recherche du Québec- Nature et technologies and from the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec presented insights into specific funding programmes like Driving Urban Transitions and PSO International during a special “Spotlight on Québec” section.
On Friday, 6 October, around 40 members of the RLS-Sciences network met online for a workshop on funding. Speakers from the Fonds de recherche du Québec- Nature et technologies and from the Ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie du Québec presented insights into specific funding programmes like Driving Urban Transitions and PSO International during a special “Spotlight on Québec” section.
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Partners were also taken through a live demonstration of the RLS-Sciences Funding Database, which showcased open calls of interest for the five RLS-Sciences research groups, including multilateral funding opportunities, such as those from Horizon Europe and international cooperation calls from funding agencies like FAPESP and DFG. Bilateral calls such as the BayLAT-FAPESP Workshops for Early Career Researchers were also among those showcased out of the funding database, as well as the new SPRINT mobility call.
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Partners from six partner regions attended the workshop. The panel discussion, which was comprised of RLS-Energy Network researchers who have applied for funding with RLS partners, was a particular highlight. Credit: WKS Bayern-Québec/Alberta/International, 2023
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Drawing on the diverse experiences within the RLS-Energy Network, a panel discussion moderated by RLS-Sciences Vice President São Paulo João Azevedo comprising researchers who have applied for funding with RLS-Sciences partners showcased different models and best practices for combining different funding opportunities. They shared challenges faced including how to manage different deadlines when combining different funding programs for the same project, the need to create linked but independent partner activities for different funding programs, and navigating complex program requirements with many partners. They also shared the value of communicating directly with funding agencies to save time, starting as early as possible, and asking for help – including within the RLS-Sciences network.
Review the programme here.
The workshop recording is available in the RLS-Sciences Resource Library.
Review the programme here.
The workshop recording is available in the RLS-Sciences Resource Library.
2023 RLS-Sciences Digital Week
24-28 April, 2023, online
The third RLS-Sciences Digital Week was held online from 24-28 April under the theme “Shandong in RLS-Sciences: Forward from Herrsching”. The 2023 Digital Week aimed to expand and develop the scientific exchanges and work started last September in Herrsching, Bavaria, and to and to create a platform for RLS-Sciences partners to learn more about the Shandong research and development ecosystem. The 2023 Digital Week had a special focus on the partner region Shandong. This year, Shandong is hosting the Regional Leaders Summit.
Over forty researchers shared insights with over one hundred participants into innovative research on new materials for aerospace and energy production, international projects on green hydrogen and artificial photosynthesis, clinical cooperation projects on machine learning and big data in healthcare, modelling for the future of regional air mobility, Earth observation missions to generate much-needed data on environmental changes, and more. These included seventeen Shandong experts from thirteen institutes, companies, and universities, who presented in dedicated blocks throughout the 2023 Digital Week. Participants joined from across the RLS partner regions, and all sessions included researchers from other thematic groups, carrying on the interdisciplinary exchanges which began at the 2022 Overall RLS-Sciences Conference in Herrsching last September.
The third RLS-Sciences Digital Week was held online from 24-28 April under the theme “Shandong in RLS-Sciences: Forward from Herrsching”. The 2023 Digital Week aimed to expand and develop the scientific exchanges and work started last September in Herrsching, Bavaria, and to and to create a platform for RLS-Sciences partners to learn more about the Shandong research and development ecosystem. The 2023 Digital Week had a special focus on the partner region Shandong. This year, Shandong is hosting the Regional Leaders Summit.
Over forty researchers shared insights with over one hundred participants into innovative research on new materials for aerospace and energy production, international projects on green hydrogen and artificial photosynthesis, clinical cooperation projects on machine learning and big data in healthcare, modelling for the future of regional air mobility, Earth observation missions to generate much-needed data on environmental changes, and more. These included seventeen Shandong experts from thirteen institutes, companies, and universities, who presented in dedicated blocks throughout the 2023 Digital Week. Participants joined from across the RLS partner regions, and all sessions included researchers from other thematic groups, carrying on the interdisciplinary exchanges which began at the 2022 Overall RLS-Sciences Conference in Herrsching last September.
Photo Credit: WKS Bavaria-Québec/Alberta/International, 2023
2022
RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2022
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The RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2022 took place in Herrsching, Bavaria from 18th- 21st September 2022, hosted by Bavaria. Altogether, 76 participants from five RLS partner regions joined to exchange within and between the RLS-Sciences themes (Renewable Energy, Aerospace, Small Satellites, Digitalization, and Digital Health). During the pandemic, the network created a transition scenario and met all together virtually in June 2021 and April 2022 for the RLS-Sciences Digital Weeks. This new format bridged the time between the in-person conferences. The RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2022 also marked the official launch of the “RLS-Digital Health Initiative” as the fifth RLS-Sciences group, after a preparatory phase and first exchanges in 2020 and 2021.
Photo Credit: WKS Bavaria-Québec/Alberta/International, 2022
The RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2022 followed in the model of the inaugural RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2019, hosted by FAPESP and INPE in São Jose dos Campos, São Paulo. The conferences create an opportunity for the entire RLS-Sciences network to meet in person, deepening work in person and exchanging with other groups in joint interdisciplinary sessions.
The next RLS-Sciences Overall Conference 2024 will be hosted by Québec. Review the 2022 program here. |
2021
New publication from the RLS-Energy Network on smart campuses
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31 August, 2021
Coordinated by Laval University and including authors from all seven RLS partner regions, the article "Smart Campuses: Extensive Review of the Last Decade of Research and Current Challenges" has been published in IEEE Access. The review assesses 182 publications from 2010 to 2020 and identifies seven aspects of "smartness" for smart campuses. According to the abstract, "seven categories of smartness: smart building, smart environment, smart mobility, smart living, smart people, smart governance and smart data. The main open questions and challenges regarding smart campuses are presented at the end of the review and deal with sustainability and energy transition, acceptability and ethics, learning models, open data policies and interoperability." Download the paper here. |
Prof. Kodjo Agbossou admitted to University of Québec Circle of Excellence
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26 August, 2021, Québec
Prof. Kodjo Agbossou, RLS-Energy Network researcher and RLS-Sciences vice president, has been admitted to the University of Québec's Circle of Excellence. This honour was awarded to him in recognition of his leadership qualities, the excellence of his work, and his exceptional contributions to the field of engineering, particularly in the management and integration of storage systems for alternative energy sources. Only ten appointments to the Circle of Excellence take place each year. In his tribute, Rector Christian Blanchette underlined the audacity, the vision, and the determination of Prof. Agbossou as a pillar of the Hydrogen Research Institute, referencing in addition his international cooperation work. Read more here. (French language article) |
RLS-Energy Network partner institute Technology Center Energy wins cross-border cooperation award
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12 August, 2021, Bavaria
The Lower Bavarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK) has honoured the Technology Center Energy (TZE) with the Cross Border Award for its outstanding cross-border cooperation in the three-country region of Lower Bavaria-Upper Austria-South Bohemia. For 2020, the award went to the Technology Center Energy at Landshut University of Applied Sciences for its work in the CompStor and FSTORE projects, each of which established cross-border centres of excellence for innovation and research on the energy supply of the future. The projects demonstrate "cross-border bridge-building from science with an impact on business practice in the three-country region," according to the IHK's laudatory speech. IHK said that with the FSTORE and CompStor projects, the basis for long-term joint research activities in the three-country region was created with an investment volume of 8.2 million EUR. Read more here. (German language article) |
RLS-Energy Network at the RLS-Sciences Online Conference 2021
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On Tuesday, 15 June, the RLS-Energy Network met as part of the RLS-Sciences Online Conference 2021 to exchange on ‘’Energy Modelling and Systems’’. The collection, curation, and analysis of data has long been a key topic for the Energy Network, making the connection between the Tuesday session and the overall conference theme of "Data as a Resource for the Regions" a natural fit. Experts from Bavaria, Georgia, Québec, São Paulo, Shandong, and Upper Austria provided “impulse presentations” on issues ranging from big data analysis for climate change and energy transitions to smart grids and new energy sources like hydrogen through to regional modelling with life cycle analysis tools and biofuels as well as macro and socioeconomic indicators. In a second part, the participants exchanged on the first steps to build a joint vision on a “data marketplace”. Such a marketplace would facilitate interdisciplinary exchange of data to build more comprehensive models and offer the opportunity for researchers to investigate questions in a more comprehensive way, through access to data that is created or held by other disciplines than their own. This work builds upon the SWOT Analysis and the Monitoring Report.
Read a summary of the RLS-Sciences Online Conference 2021 here. |
New publication: The Role of Renewable Energy in Regional Energy Transitions
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8 January, 2021
The RLS-Energy Network is pleased to announce the publication of an article in Sustainability, based on its SWOT Analysis. The paper identifies the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of renewable energy deployment in regional energy transitions for the seven RLS partner regions. The paper represents a significant output of the entire Energy Network, with co-authors from five regions, and contributions from all seven regions.
The Monitoring Report was presented to the Heads of Government at the 9th Regional Leaders Summit in Québec, and a summary of the SWOT Analysis Technical Report was presented at the RLS Virtual Symposium on COVID-19. The publication in Sustainability is in continuity with these efforts, as it includes recommendations for policy makers.
Read the paper here (PDF) or here (online version). Read the SWOT Analysis Technical Report here (PDF). |
2020
RLS-Energy Network at the 2020 Forum Econogy
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14 September, 2020, virtual and in-person, Linz, Upper Austria
The Energieinstitut at the Johannes Kepler University Linz hosted its 2020 Forum Econogy on 14 September, 2020 with a combined virtual-and-live event. This year's Forum Econogy was on the theme: "Big Challenges / Common Solutions -No recovery without a sustainable energy system". As part of this year's event, there was a dedicated RLS-Energy Network session, featuring presentations from Bavaria, Georgia, Québec, São Paulo, and Western Cape. The session was recorded, and can be viewed below (the RLS-Energy Network session starts at time 1:07:20).
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WSED 2020: Young Energy Researchers Conference
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4-6 March, 2020, Wels, Upper Austria
As part of its ongoing support for young researchers, the RLS-Energy Network invited young researchers from their networks to apply to the Young Energy Researchers’ Conference (YERC) at the World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED) in Wels, Upper Austria. The WSED is an event comprised of 6 parallel conferences, including the Young Energy Researchers’ Conference, a trade show, and workshops. Nineteen young RLS-Energy Network researchers from four RLS regions (Bavaria, Québec, São Paulo, Upper Austria) successfully applied to showcase their work as an oral or poster presentation during the YERC. At the invitation of the WSED organizers, the Upper Austrian Energy Agency, young researchers from the RLS regions met with representatives of the Upper Austrian government, RLS-Sciences, and the Upper Austrian Energy Agency. The young researchers were able to hear about the Regional Leaders Summit, RLS-Sciences, and the Energy Network, and exchanged their thoughts on the concept of a smart energy transition.
Review the work of the RLS-Energy Network young researchers by clicking on their name(s) below.
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2019
RLS-Energy Network meets in Québec for workshop with RQEI
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18-21 November, 2019, Québec City, Québec
As part of a follow-up to the 2018 Regional Leaders Summit in Québec, scientific and political partners of the RLS-Energy Network were jointly invited to Québec by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, the Ministry of International Relations and the Francophonie, and the University of Québec in Trois-Rivières. Researchers from across the RLS regions joined in person and virtually in collaboration with the Réseau québécois sur l’énergie intelligente (RQEI) to exchange on key energy topics with leading Québec experts and to share their progress on the regional SWOT analysis. |
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Photo Credit: Ministry of Economy and Innovation of Québec
The discussions identified new cooperation pathways, funding opportunities, and institutional mechanisms for supporting international projects and mobility in the RLS regions. A summary of the workshop, including information on the activities undertaken since the RLS-Sciences Conference in São Paulo, was also presented to political coordinators from all seven regions in a dedicated session. Moreover, partners from Québec and from abroad joined the 40th Québec Mines + Energy Congress, held from 18 until 21 November in Québec City.
Learn more about the workshop on international collaboration in energy research and the RQEI here. (French)
Learn more about the workshop on international collaboration in energy research and the RQEI here. (French)
RLS-Energy Network at the 2019 RLS-Sciences Conference
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27-31 May, 2019, São José dos Campos, São Paulo
The Energy Network met at the 2019 RLS-Sciences Conference in São José dos Campos. The group exchanged on a variety of interlinking topics, including climate change and energy, biofuels, smart energy grids and storage, and energy efficiency. These exchanges also addressed topics such as interdisciplinarity in research, and the social acceptance of new energy technologies. The group also discussed the progress of their Joint Roadmap, including the status of the SWOT analysis of the energy transition in the regions and a feedback round on the pilot matchmaking database for researchers on solar energy. The group will continue to progress along the Joint Roadmap, and is looking to develop joint project proposals in the coming months. Learn more about the RLS-Energy Network here. |
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Young Energy Researchers Conference
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27-28 February, 2019, Wels, Austria
As part of the World Sustainable Energy Days, seven young researchers from three RLS-Sciences regions participated in the Young Energy Researchers Conference. From Bavaria, Mr. Robert Bauer and Mr. Maximilian Mock, as well as Dr. Madhav Singh and Ms. Barbara Poisl (Technologiezentrum Energie at Hochschule Landshut) presented two posters. From Québec and Western Cape, Mr. Pierre-Olivier Lemire (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières) and Mr. Ashton Mpofu (Cape Peninsula University of Technology) each presented their research during the Young Energy Researchers Biomass Conference. Another young RLS-Sciences researcher from Bavaria, Ms. Amarachi Kalu (LMU Munich), also participated in the Young Energy Researchers Conference. The young RLS-Sciences researchers had the opportunity to meet with RLS and RLS-Sciences representatives from Upper Austria and Bavaria, as well as network with each other and other young researchers from around the world. With over 650 participants from over 50 countries each year, the World Sustainable Energy Days are one of Europe's largest annual conferences on sustainable energy. The conference has two tracks: energy efficiency and biomass. The posters, conference papers, and presentations from the young researchers from RLS-Sciences can be reviewed below.
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2018
RLS-Energy Network presentation at the 9th RLS Conference
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On Friday, 18 May, 2018 , Dr. Sebastian Goers presented on the topic of renewable energy in the RLS regions to the Regional Leaders Summit Conference at the Château Frontenac in Québec. This was part of the RLS-Sciences presentation segment of the conference. The presentation offered an overview of the recently published first Monitoring Report of the RLS-Energy Network.
Review the RLS-Energy Network presentation here, and review the Monitoring Report here. |
RLS-Energy Network presentation to Heads of Government at the 9th RLS Conference
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The RLS-Energy Network was presented to the RLS Heads of Government as part of the political programme. This presentation showcased the strengths of the RLS regions in renewable energy developments and research via a short video, which can be viewed below. Energy Network researcher Dr. Sebastian Goers then gave a presentation outlining one of the network’s latest outputs, the RRA Monitoring Report. This allowed the heads of government to have an overview of the current state of renewables across the RLS regions, which is key information for policy creation.
Photo Credit: Laurence Gosselin
Finally, Cristina Cavalcanti, a PhD student from São Paulo, presented one of the project proposals developed during the Energy Network summer school, addressing the water crisis in Cape Town, Western Cape. This was one of the proposals developed by groups of students in the inaugural RLS-Energy Network Summer school.
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RLS-Energy Network Workshop at the 9th RLS Conference
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The Energy Network held a meeting with external guests to facilitate exchange between the regions and with organizations in the renewable energy field in Québec. This exchange included presentations from existing bi-and multilateral collaborations, as well as illuminating the specific opportunities for further collaborations. The network then held an internal meeting to discuss next steps following the publishing of its first Monitoring Report.
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Review the presentations:
IREQ: Setting New Sights With Our Clean and Renewable Energy (Ahmed Daoud, Québec) CIRAIG: Supporting a successful energy transition (Sophie Fallaha, Pierre-Olivier Roy, Quebec) The BELT Biorefinery Project: The first Canadian renewable fuels biorefinery challenges and solutions (Patrice Mangin, Québec) TEQ: Québec's journey toward energy transition (Mathieu Payeur, Québec) Research on Power-to-X Concepts (Robert Tichler, Upper Austria) Monitoring on Renewable Energy in the RLS regions (Sebastian Goers, Upper Austria) Shandong Renewable Energy Outlook: Low Carbon Initiatives (Keng H. Chung, Shandong) ClimEx: The sensitive interface of climate change and energy systems- perspectives from the ClimEx-initiative (Alain Bourque, Québec, Ralf Ludwig, Bavaria, Anton Frank, Bavaria) |
Photo Credit: Véronique Baril
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Inaugural RLS-Energy Network Summer School 2018
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Ahead of the 9th RLS, the RLS-Energy Network co-organized its first ever summer school with the Université du Québec à Trois Rivières and the Fonds de recherché du Québec. The summer school was hosted in Shawinigan and Québec from 9 May until 18 May. Students from across the RLS regions collaborated on joint project proposals throughout the course of the summer school, which culminated in several presentations during the 9th RLS Conference. Read more about the summer school here.
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Regional Renewables Alliance releases first Monitoring Report
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The Regional Renewables Alliance (RRA) has published its first Monitoring Report ahead of the 9th Regional Leaders Summit in Québec. The report gives a preliminary overview of the renewable energy capacities across the seven RLS partner regions, based on existing data. It also describes ongoing research and development activities in renewable energy, as well as socioeconomic and geographic contexts of the regions. The report was prepared under the coordination of the Energieinstitut at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz.
Review the Monitoring Report here. |
Inaugural RLS-Energy Network Summer School announced
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The RLS-Energy Network is pleased to announce the inaugural international summer school on renewable energy from May 9 to 18, 2018, in Shawinigan City and Québec City (QC, Canada). The Summer School is jointly organized by the RLS-Energy Network, the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies (FRQNT) and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). Researchers and coordinators from each RLS region are invited to nominate students to attend.
Find more information here, or on the Summer School page from FRQNT here. Researchers or students from São Paulo may find additional information on funding for students to attend the school via FAPESP here. |
2017
RLS Energy Network at WindAc Africa 2017
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The paper “The regional roles and benefits of wind power – a monitoring process for the partner regions Bavaria, Georgia, Upper Austria, Québec, São Paulo, Shandong and Western Cape” was presented at the wind power conference WindAc Africa 2017 in Cape Town, in the session “Global Outlook” on 15 November. The report was generated in cooperation with RLS scientists from different institutions from Shandong (Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shandong University), Upper Austria (Energy Institute at the Johannes Kepler University Linz) and the Western Cape (Stellenbosch University) and presents wind power highlights, objectives, statistics, trends and research activities of selected RLS regions compiled during a monitoring process of the RLS Energy Network’s roadmap.
Review the presentation here. |
RLS-Energy Network meets in Montréal
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The RLS-Energy network met in Montréal from 9-10 April, 2017. Researchers and representatives from each RLS region were in attendance, and new members were welcomed. On 10 April, Québec Minister for Natural Resources Pierre Arcand, attended the meeting and spoke to the group.
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2016
RLS-Energy Network presentation at the 8th RLS Conference
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On Friday, 15 July, 2016 , Prof. Dr. Jürgen Karl, the Bavarian coordinator of the RLS-Energy Network, presented on the energy challenges of the future, and the next steps for collaboration within the Energy Network to the Regional Leaders Summit Conference at the Residenz in Munich. This was part of the RLS-Sciences presentation segment of the conference. Bavarian State Secretary for the Ministry of Economy and Media, Energy and Technology, Franz Josef Pschierer gave the welcoming address. Québec Minister for Economy, Science and Innovation and Minister Responsible for the Digital Strategy Dominique Anglade gave the closing remarks.
Review the RLS-Energy Network presentation here. |
RLS-Energy Network Panel at iSEneC 2016
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The Integration of Sustainable Energy Conference was held from 11 to 12 July, 2016 in Nuremberg, Germany. As part of the conference, the RLS- Energy Network held a panel from 14:00 - 16:00 on 12 July. Senior researchers from across the RLS regions offered presentations on innovative renewable energy research and regional perspectives on energy policy.
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2015
Energy Network meets in Québec
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November 23-25, 2015
Members of the RLS Energy Network met in Montréal, Canada, from the 23rd to the 25 of November, 2015. Topics of discussion included network management, structure, and roles. |
Energy Network hosted for internal workshop in Upper Austria
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23 June, 2015
In a collaborative effort, the Energy Institute at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz, the province of Upper Austria, and the Johannes Kepler University of Linz jointly hosted an internal workshop on, ''Economic and technological challenges of energy-system research in Upper Austria.'' Members of the Energy Network were invited to participate. The workshop was held 23 June, 2015, at the Johannes Kepler University of Linz. |
2014
Energy Network meets in Cape Town
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12 March, 2014
Members of the Energy Network met in Western Cape for a workshop on second generation biofuels and to explore the technical cooperation amongst the RLS member states. Expert presentations from researchers throughout the RLS regions were given, and cooperation opportunities were discussed. |
2013
Energy Network established
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The Energy Network was initiated as a follow-up to the Regional Leaders Summit (RLS) meeting in São Paulo in 2012. The representatives of São Paulo have been playing a leading role in the creation of this network. Soon afterwards, it was agreed amongst the participants that renewable sources of energy are a crucial issue that require extensive research. Due to their unique geographical composition over five continents, and also in accordance with their research profiles, the partner regions have strong potential in this field. Together they can cover the all aspects of energy, from production, to usage and monitoring, to efficiency strategies. The RLS network is used as a means to bring together complementary strengths in energy research to be shared and further developed in a joint effort.
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