Conferences

Energy
Efficiency Policy
Conference 2026

26 February 2026
in Wels

Programme

Register now!

Energy Efficiency Policy Conference

DATE

Thursday, 26 Februar 2026

VENUE

Stadthalle, Pollheimerstrasse 1,
4600 Wels/Austria

LANGUAGES

English, German

What is it all about?

  • New EU Policies
  • Funding & finance
  • Market updates
  • Energy security
  • Energy flexibility, digitisation and AI 

2026: Energy efficiency = energy independence

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Find out more!

Conference Fees

  • 65 Euro for the Energy Efficiency Policy Conference (26 February)
  • 420 Euro for all WSED conferences (24 - 27 February)
  • further details on conference fees

All fees include an entrance ticket to the tradeshow and conference documentation. All fees plus 10 % VAT.

PROGRAMME

Thursday
26 February

09.00 Policy Session: Energy independence through clean and affordable energy

What is new in Europe? This session provides practical perspectives on policy and market developments that help to understand future trends. It also highlights the latest developments in financing energy efficiency. The speakers demonstrate that the energy transition is the best pathway to affordable energy and energy independence, and present narratives that build acceptance for this transformation.

  • Opening and welcome
    Gerhard Dell, OÖ Energiesparverband, Austria
     
  • New EU Policies: Affordable and clean energy for Europe
    Nikolaos Kontinakis, European Commission, DG Energy
     
  • The European Energy Transition Outlook
    Seán Collins, Irena
     
  • The 650 billion Euro EU Recovery and Resilience Facility – impacts on the energy transition
    Guillaume Débarbat, European Commission, Secretariat-General
     
  • Best Young Energy Efficiency Researcher Award
     
  • Energy independence powered by renewable energy
    Alexander Kirchner, Energie AG, Austria
     
  • Europe’s energy security and climate neutrality
    Krisztina Zálnoky, Agora Think Tank, Germany
     
  • What's the story? Narratives for the energy transition
    Christiane Egger, OÖ Energiesparverband, Austria
     
  • How LIFE projects support the energy transition
    Michele Sansoni, European Commission, CINEA
     
  • Financing solutions for energy efficient buildings
    Angeliki Konstantinopoulou, Sustainable Energy Finance Association
     
  • The Vilnius One-Stop-Shop: The energy renovation of over 250 multifamily buildings
    Lina Bubulyte, Amiestas, Lithuania

Innovation Session: Energy flexibility, digitisation and AI for the energy transition

This innovation session shows how our energy systems can become more dynamic and intelligent. It explores how energy flexibility, digitisation and artificial intelligence can enable more energy efficiency and a better integration of renewables. Through practical examples, participants will gain insights into energy efficient data centres, demand response, VPPs, and grid flexibility.

  • Energy-efficient data centers
    Marina Köhn, Umweltbundesamt, Germany
     
  • Flexible homes, flexible grids
    Marisca Zweistra, ElaadNL, the Netherlands
     
  • PowerSmart: Creating Virtual Power Plants
    Brian F. Keane, Smart Power, US
     
  • Smart energy systems powered by AI
    Ramona Iske, Fraunhofer IEE, Germany
     

13.00 Conference lunch and networking
 

This conference is organised in the context of the LIFE project "Energy Efficiency Watch 5": www.energy-efficiency-watch.org

Interested?

Mark your calender, register today and come join us in Wels at the Energy Efficiency Policy Conference 2026!

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