On 5 September, project AURORA joined members of Universitetets Energifællesskab F.M.B.A (UEF) and project partners to celebrate the inauguration of the crowdfunded rooftop solar installation.
In 2023, UEF was established in Aarhus by 6 founding members. Thanks to the work carried out by AURORA, UEF managed to enter a collaboration framework with Aarhus University and building owner FEAS Erhverv P/S to make energy community at the university a reality.
UEF carried out a crowdfunding campaign from November 2023 to summer 2024 to raise funds for the installation of photovoltaic system on the rooftops of 2 buildings at AU. The project received warm welcome from students and staff from AU, as well as citizens in Aarhus. As a result, 120 people joined UEF as members and together they co-own 98 kW solar photovoltaic installation at the university.
At the inauguration event, Marta Victoria, project lead for AURORA in Aarhus and founding member of UEF, says, “it was not an easy way to get to this important milestone, but we hope the project will become an inspiring case for the others, so they do not encounter as many challenges.”
About 45 people attended the event. “I very much like the AURORA project because they take the citizens with them from the start. They are not waiting until they are done with their research, they take them with from the early beginning so they have a say and are involved. I am also proud to be part of this initiative.” says Gabriele Torma, a researcher at Aarhus University and member of UEF.
