The Jean Monnet Chair in Energy and Innovation Strategies examined company and government strategies around energy technologies and policy innovation in the EU. The Chair was held by Professor Michael LaBelle, Associate Professor, who is also a joint appointment in the Economics and Business Department and the Environmental Sciences and Policy Department. The duration of the Chair was from September 2017 to February 2021.

The intent of this EU Erasmus+ program supporting the Jean Monnet Chairs are to support teaching posts with a specialisation in European Union studies for university professors or senior lecturers.

Jean Monnet Chairs can:

enhance the teaching of EU studies at your institution through the curriculum
conduct, monitor and supervise research on EU matters at all education levels
be a mentor and advisor to the next generation of teachers and researchers
provide expert guidance to future professionals about European matters

For further information see: Jean Monnet Chairs | Erasmus+ (europa.eu)

There were four main deliverables: 1) Courses designed around energy innovation strategies in the EU; 2) Development and publication of case studies; 3) Invited speakers for classroom interactions, speaker’s series, and roundtable events; and 4) Publication of a book about CEE energy systems operating under EU market rules. The Chair and the events and outputs were done with the support co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union.

Key Deliverables:

Courses

Energy and Sustainability in Business

Energy Markets

Energy Markets and Policy Lab

Policies for Energy Innovations (PEI)

Energy Cultures and Transitions

Smart Energy, Big Data and Innovation Strategies

Energy Transitions and Climate Change

Events

Over thirty events were hosted by the Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG) in conjunction with the Jean Monnet Chair. These events brought together around 700 attendees (listed in these pages and in the EPRG page) and numerous class speakers between September 2017 and February 2021.

EPRG Facebook page (Includes JMC events)

Book

Publication of the book 'Energy Cultures: Technology, Justice, and Geopolitics in Eastern Europe', published by Edward Elgar in 2020.

Energy Cultures Book

Case Studies:

Two case studies were produced, in addition to the three case studies in the Energy Cultures book. The first case study described below is a written case study about the political risk Ethanol Europe faced in a changing regulatory environment in the EU. The second is how former coal miners in the Jiu Valley perceive the opportunities in the EU's Green Deal. This is an audio case study that was produced as part of the Energy and Innovation podcast, hosted at CEU.

Innovating Ethanol in Europe: The story of political risk and diversification By Michael LaBelle, Eli Cloonan, and Zivar Mammodova, 2019
Exploring a Just Transition in the Jiu Valley of Romania, by Michael LaBelle and Roxana Bucata

Description: The Jiu Valley, is the oldest coal region in Romania. It is one of the 18 coal regions in Europe that joined the EU’s Just Transition Platform that oversees alternative and sustainable projects for the communities. Over 750 million euros are expected to be invested in Jiu Valley over the next seven years through the Just Transition Mechanism, part of the EU’s Green Deal.

Podcasts

Seven episodes of the Energy and Innovation podcast, hosted at CEU are also part of the main deliverables with their focus on the EU.

Energy Leader Profiles

Another deliverable was the creation of 'energy leader profiles', these were created in cooperation with the MyEnergy2050 podcast that Professor LaBelle also produces.

Team involved

Ana Stojilovska, Varvara Aleksic, Veronika Csapo, Tunde Veronika Szabolcs, Krisztina Szabados, Marta Jombach, Ildiko Rull, Aleh Cherp, Roxana Bucata, John Szabo, Steffen Bettin, Brian King, Frida Kobor, Lucia Krajcovicova, Sabrina Rossi, Eli Cloonan, Flora Borek, Neringa Stropute, Zivar Mammadova, Madhubanti Anashua, Bea Perdon