The aim of the STENEO project implemented by the University of Ostrava is to increase regional resilience and preparedness for the energy transition. Researchers will map the current situation in a region with a high incidence of energy poverty and a strong dependence on coal and propose solutions that impact stakeholders, including the most vulnerable groups of the population.

In the project funded under the Jan Ámos Comenius Operational Programme (OPJAK), researchers from the University of Ostrava and the involved research as well as public and private sector institutions are primarily concerned with finding and designing energy-saving models in the areas of housing and energy consumption. They want to explore what are termed Positive Energy Districts, i.e. model packages of innovation (technical and social) for specific parts of the city. Based on the residential data collected, they will propose possible solutions for the transition to cleaner energy, with an emphasis on the overall acceptability for residents as well as preventing energy poverty.

The project connects academic and public and private sector partners, including the University of Ostrava, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, the Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CzechGlobe), CTP Invest, and other entities. The interdisciplinary approach includes the analysis of social and psychological aspects of the energy transition, mapping the impacts on vulnerable groups, and developing innovative strategies for their adaptation.

The key areas of the project are:

• Research on the impact of the energy transition at regional and social levels
• Support for education and awareness in the field of sustainable energies
• Cooperation with the public and private sectors to implement innovations
• Use of advanced methods from the field of geoinformatics and data analysis

STENEO contributes to the creation of long-term strategies for sustainable development and ensures the transfer of scientific knowledge into practice with the aim of creating effective and socially responsible energy solutions for the future.