CoLab: Challenges Related to Renewable Energy Sources in the Era of Fossil Fuels

CoLab: Challenges Related to Renewable Energy Sources in the Era of Fossil Fuels.

Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa (JDU) is organising a CoLab, which will take place in Czestochowa, Poland.

Programme: soon

Date: November 25, 2026 - November 27, 2026

Topic: Green Transition

Venue: BLAZE HARMONY, LLC, Bohaterow Katynia Str. 148, Czestochowa, Poland

Event type: Hybrid (On-site and Online)

Status: Open

The aim of CoLab Challenges Related to Renewable Energy Sources in the Era of Fossil Fuels is to conduct an interdisciplinary analysis of the challenges of expanding renewable energy in systems that still rely heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas. This dependence shapes how electricity, heating, and transport are supplied and how the costs and benefits of the energy transition are distributed. The analysis will examine how variable wind and solar generation can be integrated into electricity grids, with particular attention to grid modernisation, energy storage, and flexibility in electricity demand. It will also consider how permitting procedures, access to investment, land use, and impacts on biodiversity influence the development of renewable energy projects. These issues will be examined in the context of climate goals, energy security, and affordability, taking into account the roles of public authorities, energy companies, households, and local communities.

Energy education and public participation will be among CoLab’s main themes. The expert panel will provide a space to exchange knowledge and practical experience, present examples of effective renewable energy projects, and discuss how residents can take part in decisions that affect their communities. Particular attention will be paid to community energy initiatives and to the needs of workers and regions whose economies depend on fossil fuel industries. Experiences from Poland and elsewhere in Europe will provide a basis for discussing which approaches can be adapted to different local conditions.

The collaboration will bring together researchers and practitioners in engineering, environmental science, economics, spatial planning, and law, alongside policymakers, representatives of local authorities, energy companies, grid operators, non-governmental organisations, and educational institutions. By combining research with experience in planning and implementing energy projects, CoLab may help identify proposals for regulatory and policy changes that support the deployment of renewable energy, improve its integration into energy systems, and broaden participation in the transition.

Who is this event for?

The event is aimed at all researchers, students, and staff at universities that are partners in the COLOURS project, as well as all individuals from civil society organizations (including associations and foundations), business, politics, and public administration in the COLOURS partner regions who are involved in this topic and would like to establish contact with European partners in this field.

Please note: Registration is mandatory for all participants (on-site and online) via the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd5cpipEgJO74nCu1Q7TtlfIw0l2g5gj18_PkF3Mw-AXRfyNQ/viewform?usp=dialog 

Registration deadline: November 19, 2026

The event will be held in Polish with simultaneous English interpretation.

Plenary sessions and selected workshops and the expert panel will be streamed live (with English translation).