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The Energy Cities Forum was held in Brussels on 21 and 22 April. Once a year, the European network of cities for energy efficiency meets to strengthen its ties and explore different ways to work together that can help not only fight climate change but also reinvent economies and come up with new policies for the future of cities. This year, the European forum focused on the role of mayors as local leaders and on sharing initiatives and exchanging experiences and learnings to ensure a liveable, sustainable future for cities and citizens (The European learning community for future-proof cities).
Viladecans took part in the forum, presenting its local energy project, Vilawatt, in the marketplace on 22 April. Arnau Alarcón, power systems technician, got the chance to exchange experiences, and explain and share the project’s key points with the other members of the European network. Participants were particularly interested in knowing how the Vilawatt project is being replicated through URBACT in three other European cities (Trikala, Seraing and Nagykanizsa), the model being used to implement energy communities and the pilot programme for energy refurbishment of homes.
Vilawatt – UTM, which is part of the European URBACT program, is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.