<< Objectives >>The aim of this project is to develop a competence reference framework which represents the professional skills required in the European electricity sector and serves as a common ground for the further development of training measures and opportunities across the countries and the sector.The competence reference framework will determine the technical and non-technical skills needed for each level of the European Qualification Framework (EQF) and structure them.<< Implementation >>The main activity is directly linked to the described project objective - the creation of a competence framework. It will include a large range of methods and tools: job descriptions, descriptions of trade related activities and associated technical, technological and energy efficiency skills, training objectives, programmes and contents, definition of training modules and elaboration of model curricula, instruments for skills needs analysis and training plans.<< Results >>Project result 1: Labor Market and training systems overview Project result 2: Elaboration of competence reference framework Project result 3: Implementation of skills assessment system and skills portfolio Project result 4: Implementation of online platform

The adoption of energy efficiency measures for buildings has created a strong demand for digital and green skills for smart metering and home automation technologies. Electricians, apart from technical proficiency, require a combination of digital and environmental skills to respond to the installation, maintenance, and programming of smart metering and energy efficiency home automation systems. SMARTEL aimed to tackle this challenge by delivering a modular VET course and OERs on smart metering and home automation to empower electricians across the member countries of the consortium with modern digital and environmental knowledge, skills and competences. In particular, project objectives involved 1) Enhancing the labour market relevance of VET for electricians, to address smart metering and home automation skill needs, 2) Introducing modern training delivery methods and open access innovative pedagogical resources, enabling learners to acquire and self-assess relevant skills,3) Facilitate mutual recognition of the developed learning outcomes across the EU.The partnership comprised 6 organisations from 5 countries, from the world of VET, the electrical installation sector, energy efficiency research, as well as learning innovation experts. The Panevezys College (PANKO), VSRC and XABEC brought the expertise in the design and delivery of engineering and electricians VET programs and courses; the European Association of Electrical Contractors (AIE) represented the needs and workplace realities of the electrical sector at EU-level; EXELIA contributed as an expert in R&D and delivery of innovative ICT-based methodologies for VET and Sofia Energy Agency (SOFENA) brought experience from the area of energy efficiency.Main project activities involved: analysis of current and future workforce training needs to develop updated and tailored to sectoral needs smart metering and home automation learning outcomes, development of modular learning units for a comprehensive VET programme in smart metering and home automation, development of pedagogical resources and assessment tools to be offered as Open Education Resources, development, testing, and delivery of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on smart metering and home automation, promoting the adoption of innovative practices in vocational training, involvement of authorities and stakeholders for the endorsement and mutual recognition of SMARTEL units of learning outcomes and sharing and validation of outputs with multiplier events, inviting target groups to uptake SMARTEL results and to act as further disseminators.The SMARTEL project led to the following results and impact: - VET world and sector validated learning outcomes for training provision in smart metering and home automation technologies for electricians in the building installation sector.- Formal VET learning units on smart metering and home automation and VET integration guidelines.- Pedagogical resources and assessment tools for smart metering and home automation technologies, offered as OERs.- SMARTEL Massive Open Online Course on smart metering and home automation for electricians.- A signed agreement on the validation, endorsement, and mutual recognition of the SMARTEL units of learning outcomes.- A sectoral recommendations paper to support decision-making and pave the way for future developments in VET and skill development policies.- Two demonstration workshops and three national information days to promote project results and validate all developed educational resources.Finally, long term benefits of the project involve: the uptake of project materials and open educational resources from relevant VET providers across the EU, participation of a growing number of initial and continuous VET learners in courses based on project outputs, expansion of the strategic partnership towards a network of collaborating VET and sector stakeholders, including electrical enterprises, in-house training centres, and large VET providers, and further maturing and development of national and European VET policies targeted to the construction sector influenced by SMARTEL recommendations paper.

INCREASE aims to contribute to a wider uptake of IPV by delivering innovations at module and system level, as well as for the design & operation phase. New encapsulants and coatings will be developed contributing to improved aesthetics, reduced glare, lower environmental footprint, improved behavior during fire, and improved antifoiling and antisoiling behavior. At system level, innovations focus on integrated facade and roof concepts, as well as noise barriers. Practical guidelines will further be delivered for bespoke infrastructure integrated projects, validated with a variety of complementary infrastructure integrated PV projects. Elaborate testing is foreseen at module and system level in line with relevant construction related and electrical standards. Optimal case-specific selection of IPV size and characteristics will be supported by a multi-objective optimisation software that takes into account the shape and use of the building or infrastructure, its surroundings, and its energy flexibility potential and steer the asset operation as well as suggest specific user behaviour to maximise the self-consumption. To increase market acceptance, a strong layer of user feedback and co-creation underpins the overall R&D activities, and contributes to delivering 10 complementary building and infrastructure demonstrations on 9 locations in 6 European countries. Cross-sector interactions, policy exchanges, investor dialogues, and country-specific business case assessments will further direct the exploitation towards large scale market uptake.