A comprehensive reflection on the objectives and achievements of the AURORA initiative from the viewpoint of engaged university students.
Just a year ago, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana—where the Laboratory of Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics is based—didn’t really have a solar power plant worth mentioning. Well, not entirely true. There was a 17 kW system installed back in 2010, but for an institution of this size, that’s barely anything. There was a test site on the roof with dozens of photovoltaic modules, inverters, and other equipment. But the main goal of that setup was testing, not actual production.
So what about a real solar power plant—one that would cover all the roofs of the faculty and significantly reduce our electricity bills? That idea became reality through an H2020 project called AURORA.
Building together—beyond the technical
AURORA connects five demo sites: Aarhus University (Denmark), University of Évora (Portugal), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), Technical University of Madrid (Spain), and the Forest of Dean District Council (UK). Each demo site took the solar power plant as more than just a technical task—it became an opportunity to build a community around energy. At universities, this kind of local energy community wasn’t really a thing before. So trying to launch one made up of students? Somewhere between impossible and unbelievable. But all demo sites eventually managed to set up their own solar systems, even if that meant making detours, facing bureaucratic delays, and adapting to local challenges.
In Ljubljana, we built a relatively large plant—206 kW—spread across four rooftops of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. Unfortunately, students weren’t financially involved in the investment, but that didn’t stop us from building a strong and vibrant student energy community around the idea of sustainability and producing your own electricity.
ŠEK – where energy meets people
We gave the community a name: ŠEK – the Student Energy Club. And it’s now one of the most active student clubs at our faculty. ŠEK has been the heart of the AURORA project in Ljubljana. It’s what connected the solar power plant with the students, and gave the project a human face.
Through ŠEK, we’ve discovered that building an energy community is not about ownership—it’s about belonging. Even without financial stakes, students took ownership of the vision. And that, we learned, is just as powerful.
From procurement to participation
Before we got to the community part, we first had to build the plant. The public procurement was European—strict, but fair. We invited serious contractors and set clear conditions: the plant had to be at least 150 kW, use high-efficiency modules (20%+), cover all four roofs, and comply with structural standards. From a research perspective, we wanted variety in the inverters: string, microinverters, and optimisers. Not because we don’t know which one is best, but because we wanted to measure how they perform under different real-life conditions—different roof angles, orientations, and shading.
Construction started in July 2024. Summer. Heat. Roof D was finished quickly. Roof C was bigger and more complex. Roof B—divided into seven separate sections. And Roof A—the last, but just as important. Coordination was key—between contractors, engineers, electricians, faculty management… and us.
By the end of October 2024, the system was fully installed. The rest was paperwork, inspections, connection to the grid, and setting up monitoring systems. We developed our own digital platform, hosted and maintained by the faculty. And who’s using it? The students, of course.
A community without co-investment?
When people hear “energy community,” they usually imagine a group of co-investors sharing both the costs and the benefits. That’s not the case here. The University couldn’t do crowdfunding due to legal restrictions on public–private partnerships in higher education. But that doesn’t mean students were left out. Quite the opposite.
Through AURORA, we redefined what it means to participate. Students helped shape the conversation, drive awareness, and explore how energy choices influence our environment, our habits, and our future. In the process, we learned that participation doesn’t always require capital—sometimes, it just needs curiosity and commitment.
Learning across borders – Erasmus BIP
One of the most impactful experiences was the Erasmus BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) student exchange. In spring 2024, we hosted participants from all five demo sites in Ljubljana for an intensive week of learning, sharing, and co-creating. The programme combined academic lectures on decentralised energy and citizen science with real-world activities like lab visits, excursions to renewable energy sites, and group projects.
What did we learn? That energy systems may be technical, but solutions must be human. Students worked in multicultural teams, challenged each other’s assumptions, and explored how energy communities function in different legal, cultural, and infrastructural contexts. It was about more than knowledge—it was about mutual respect, empathy, and designing together. Friendships were made, networks were built, and minds were opened.
And yes, there was time for Trojane doughnuts, too.
Activities that spark awareness
Over the past four years, ŠEK organised excursions (to solar plants, hydro plants, pumped-storage facilities, labs, factories…), student workshops, competitions, hackathons, photo contests, and even integrated some of AURORA’s content into regular lectures and assignments.
One of the best strategies we had for engaging students was launching monthly prize draws for users of the AURORA mobile app. Students could log their sustainable actions (like biking instead of driving, or reducing electricity consumption) and get entered into a draw. Prizes were small, but meaningful. The draws were recorded on video, shared on social media, and became a fun tradition—each draw its own short story. If you got picked? Instant campus fame.
So what did we really learn?
We learned that building an energy community starts long before the solar panels are installed. It starts with people—sharing ideas, stories, and values. It starts with education, collaboration, and a bit of chaos. We learned that students want to be part of the solution, but they need space to contribute meaningfully.
We also learned that tech is only one side of the coin. The real energy—the kind that drives long-term change—comes from trust, shared purpose, and a willingness to experiment.
Our solar plant is up and running. The monitoring screen is live in the lobby. The community is real. And we’re just getting started.
Want to follow along?
See live data: https://se.fe.uni-lj.si/
Explore our journey: https://www.aurora-h2020.eu/ul-news/
Join ŠEK: https://www.s3k.si/
Follow us on social media:
Testimonials
Sašo Domadenik:
»I enjoyed being a part of ŠEK, because there were many fun activities. Somewhere along the way, I became the camera guy and recording the monthly draws was always fun. You wouldn’t believe the things that happen behind the scenes.«
Matej Poljanšek:
»Solar energy fascinates me. It’s peaceful, silent, and still incredibly powerful. It’s such a contrast to how most people imagine energy—loud, fiery, chaotic. We need to change that perception.«
Jaša Vid Meh Peer:
»ŠEK has this fun kind of energy – organized chaos, I’d call it. It may seem a bit hectic sometimes, but that’s part of the charm. In reality, we know what we’re aiming for and are working hard to achieve our goals in many different ways.
