Just a year ago, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Ljubljana\u2014where the Laboratory of Photovoltaics and Optoelectronics is based\u2014didn\u2019t 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what about a real solar power plant\u2014one 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AURORA connects five demo sites: Aarhus University (Denmark), University of \u00c9vora (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\u2014it became an opportunity to build a community around energy<\/strong>. At universities, this kind of local energy community wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Ljubljana, we built a relatively large plant\u2014206 kW\u2014spread across four rooftops of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. Unfortunately, students weren\u2019t financially involved in the investment, but that didn\u2019t stop us from building a strong and vibrant student energy community<\/strong> around the idea of sustainability and producing your own electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We gave the community a name: \u0160EK \u2013 the Student Energy Club<\/strong>. And it\u2019s now one of the most active student clubs at our faculty. \u0160EK has been the heart of the AURORA project in Ljubljana. It\u2019s what connected the solar power plant with the students, and gave the project a human face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Through \u0160EK, we\u2019ve discovered that building an energy community is not about ownership\u2014it\u2019s about belonging<\/strong>. Even without financial stakes, students took ownership of the vision. And that, we learned, is just as powerful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we got to the community part, we first had to build the plant. The public procurement was European\u2014strict, 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\u2019t know which one is best, but because we wanted to measure how they perform under different real-life conditions\u2014different roof angles, orientations, and shading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Construction started in July 2024. Summer. Heat. Roof D was finished quickly. Roof C was bigger and more complex. Roof B\u2014divided into seven separate sections. And Roof A\u2014the last, but just as important. Coordination was key\u2014between contractors, engineers, electricians, faculty management\u2026 and us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2019s using it? The students, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When people hear \u201cenergy community,\u201d they usually imagine a group of co-investors sharing both the costs and the benefits. That\u2019s not the case here. The University couldn\u2019t do crowdfunding due to legal restrictions on public\u2013private partnerships in higher education. But that doesn\u2019t mean students were left out. Quite the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u2014sometimes, it just needs curiosity and commitment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most impactful experiences was the Erasmus BIP (Blended Intensive Programme)<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What did we learn? That energy systems may be technical, but solutions must be human. Students worked in multicultural teams, challenged each other\u2019s assumptions, and explored how energy communities function in different legal, cultural, and infrastructural contexts. It was about more than knowledge\u2014it was about mutual respect, empathy, and designing together. Friendships were made, networks were built, and minds were opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And yes, there was time for Trojane doughnuts, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Over the past four years, \u0160EK organised excursions (to solar plants, hydro plants, pumped-storage facilities, labs, factories\u2026), student workshops, competitions, hackathons, photo contests, and even integrated some of AURORA\u2019s content into regular lectures and assignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best strategies we had for engaging students was launching monthly prize draws<\/strong> 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\u2014each draw its own short story. If you got picked? Instant campus fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We learned that building an energy community starts long before the solar panels are installed<\/strong>. It starts with people\u2014sharing 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also learned that tech is only one side of the coin. The real energy\u2014the kind that drives long-term change\u2014comes from trust, shared purpose, and a willingness to experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our solar plant is up and running. The monitoring screen is live in the lobby. The community is real. And we\u2019re just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n See live data: https:\/\/se.fe.uni-lj.si\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Explore our journey: https:\/\/www.aurora-h2020.eu\/ul-news\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Join \u0160EK: https:\/\/www.s3k.si\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow us on social media:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u0160EK \u2013 where energy meets people<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
From procurement to participation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A community without co-investment?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Learning across borders \u2013 Erasmus BIP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Activities that spark awareness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
So what did we really learn?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWant to follow along?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n