Beyond the Horizon: Eight LIFE Projects Shape Europe’s Fair and Smart Energy Future, including the GIGA Regio Factory project, of which GreenWin is a partner

If you were among the 220+ passionate participants at last month’s “Please Look Up!” conference in Brussels, the energy in the room was palpable. Picture the scene: policymakers and industry experts, start‑ups and researchers, all eager to crack the code for a European energy transition that leaves nobody behind.

This was no ordinary conference, but a unique gathering marking the grand finale of eight pioneering EU LIFE projects. Each project brought its own vision—ranging from reimagining our power grids, to tackling rural energy poverty, to scaling up renovation at an industrial level. The unifying aim? To ensure Europe’s future energy systems are efficient, resilient, fair and smart.

Day one buzzed with breakthrough ideas as the InEExS team showcased how smart clusters and business models can help regions make better use of their energy, right down to the demand side. Regional planning discussions then took centre stage, with Regio1st offering local leaders practical blueprints to put energy efficiency first—no longer a theoretical goal, but a concrete step forward. CoolLIFE kept the conversation grounded, proving that clever heating and cooling strategies will be essential for communities weathering ever fiercer climate extremes.

Yet, as the second day dawned, it was fairness that stole the show. RENOVERTY and EP-0 put a spotlight on the ongoing struggle faced by vulnerable families and rural communities living in energy poverty. The message rang clear: solutions like accessible One‑Stop Shops (courtesy of REVERTER) and large‑scale industrial renovation (the Giga Regio Factory model) must be made available to all, not just the privileged few.

No blog about this event would be complete without mentioning ENSMOV Plus, which wrapped up the proceedings by asking just how well Member States are delivering on their energy savings obligations. The takeaway? Progress is happening, but if Europe wants to hit its 2030 targets, it needs smarter finance, greater accountability, and a much quicker pace.

Vlasis OIKONOMOU, Managing Director of IEECP, summed it up perfectly:

“The strength of this conference lies in its collaborative spirit. We gathered eight distinct LIFE projects, each with unique solutions, proving that shared knowledge really does pave the way to a sustainable energy future—for everyone.”

The toolkit of materials and practical insights created here won’t gather dust. They’ll be deployed widely, helping local authorities, businesses and communities innovate and adapt as the journey towards climate neutrality accelerates.

Discover More:

> Explore the projects: InEExS, Regio1st, CoolLIFE, RENOVERTY, REVERTER, EP-0, Giga Regio Factory, ENSMOV Plus

> Visit the event page: https://ieecp.org/events/

>Browse conference highlights: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gNAMTff6kihtRTpoiyvaqd0ZME6kXYCf?usp=sharing

> Watch for new resources and event materials, coming soon!