The SHAREs+ project, contributed to the event “Decarbonising Energy Systems: Modelling, Pathways and Community Action”, held at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technologies in Skopje, by participating in a programme dedicated to key aspects of the clean energy transition.

The session brought together researchers, energy experts, institutional representatives and practitioners to discuss how modelling tools, climate pathways and citizen-led initiatives can support the transition towards low-carbon energy systems.

The first part of the event featured an invited lecture titled “Navigating the 1.5°C Challenge: Energy System Modelling, Climate Overshoot, and Policy Action”, delivered by Felipe Feijoo, IPCC AR7 Lead Author and Elsevier’s Editor. The lecture addressed the importance of energy system modelling in understanding possible pathways for achieving climate targets, with particular attention to the 1.5°C goal, climate overshoot and the policy actions needed to guide long-term decarbonisation.

The second part of the event included a panel discussion titled “Building Energy Communities: Bridging Science, Policy and Practice”. The discussion explored the role of energy communities in North Macedonia and highlighted the importance of connecting research, regulation, business models and practical implementation experience. The panel brought together representatives from academia, research organizations, energy community initiatives, programmes and independent experts. Moderated by Vladimir Gjorgievski, the discussion included contributions from Felipe Feijoo, Verica Taseska Gjorgievska, Aleksandar Gjorgievski, Dragan Minovski, Liljana Alceva and Simon Uzinov.

Through this exchange, the event supported dialogue on how energy communities can contribute to broader decarbonisation efforts, while also addressing the policy, technical and organizational conditions needed for their development. The discussion reinforced the importance of cooperation between science, policy and practice in creating an enabling environment for citizen participation in the energy transition.

Insights from the event will contribute to the ongoing SHAREs+ activities related to stakeholder engagement, barrier identification and the development of practical pathways for supporting energy communities in North Macedonia.

The event was jointly organized within the framework of the SHAREs+ (LIFE), INITIATE and IEE PES projects.