On Thursday 14th and Friday 15th November 2024, PEDvolution partners convened in Kranj, Slovenia for the 2nd General Assembly. The hybrid event hosted by Elektro Gorenjska d.d. gave partners the opportunity to assess progress, align key objectives and plan for the up-coming activities, while reinforcing collaboration.

The 1st day of the General Assembly opened discussions on on-going work packages including the results and detailed analysis of the user-centered system. This analysis, particularly valuable for PED Managers, provides key insights for the development of the PEDvolution solutions.

During the afternoon sessions, partners engaged in dynamic discussions and exchanges, focusing on use case elaboration, while addressing technical implementation aspects of the PEDvolution solutions.

Day 2 began with planning the up-coming Work Packages and tasks, with particular emphasis on the development and demonstrations of the 7 key PEDvolution solutions. The sessions aimed at initiating the planning and on-boarding of knowledge from the completed tasks and to set the stage for the development phase. Additionally each Solution Provider presented an initial demonstration of their respective tool, showcasing their vision and approach.

Following a highly productive 2nd General Assembly, PEDvolution partners had the opportunity to visit the Slovenian PED demonstration site. Situated in the industrial zone of Labore in Kranj, the Planina residential neighbourhood was originally built in the 1970s and 80s. Today it consists of 140 apartment buildings and is home to approximately 12,500 residents. The area has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2015, spearheaded by the municipality’s efforts towards modernization and sustainability.

During the visit, PEDvolution partners had the opportunity to explore key facilities showcasing innovation in energy management and renewable energy production. Specifically, partners got insights of the Planina Boiler House, and Gorenjske elektrarne's two hydroplants, providing invaluable insights for PEDvolution’s next steps and highlighting the importance and potential of smart solutions integration for acceleration of the energy transition.