At the international exhibition hosted in the heart of Dubai “Expo Dubai 2020” on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, the President of the Energy Cooperative WEnCoop and President of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs S.E.G.E. Mrs. Apostolina Tsaltampasi.
At the event entitled: “Women Empowerment and Leadership – Challenges and Aspirations”, Mrs. Tsaltampasi was placed on the theme “Leadership in Business and Public Service – Insightful stories from a Woman’s point of view”, presenting the actions and initiatives developed by S.E.G.E. and our WEnCoop Energy Cooperative to promote women entrepreneurship and enhance the smoother integration of women into the business world.
On Thursday, March 17, 2022, on the occasion of Women’s Day, a conference entitled “Women Change Business” was held, organized by the Women’s Union of Greece – EGE – Athens Branch.
The treasurer of WEnCoop Energy Cooperative, Mrs. Christina Vraka, was one of the speakers. During the event, he referred to the actions that practically prove that “women change business”, also mentioning the WEnCoop Energy Cooperative.
In her presentation she referred to WEnCoop with special emphasis on collectivity, the promotion of women entrepreneurship in the energy sector and its creation by women entrepreneurs and their businesses in Greece.
The Vice President of the WEnCoop Energy Cooperative, Mrs. Alice Corovessi participated, on behalf of WEnCoop, in the discussion panel of the first day of the conference “WENERCON 2022”, on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, in Tunisia.
Her presentation was entitled “The evolution of energy cooperative in the EU and the role of citizens towards a carbon-free world | -” The evolution of energy communities in the EU and the role of citizens towards a decarbonised world “and presented to its audience Tunisian action and development of the WEnCoop Energy Community.
Mrs. Apostolina Tsaltampasi, President of WEnCoop and Mrs. Alice Corovessi, Vice President of WEnCoop talked about the “Energy Cooperative WEnCoop” and the implementation process of the initiative of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs – S.E.G.E., on ERT3 show, “O3 omikron three” with Mrs. Alexia Tziona.
The first energy cooperation of women in Europe is Greek. This is WEnCoop, which is growing at a very fast pace and has already started the construction of a 1MW solar power plant in Kassandra, Halkidiki. This is an initiative of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs – SEGE, in order to reduce or even eliminate energy costs in their businesses and increase their family income. The establishment of WEnCoop was completed last July with the signing of the statute by 60 founding members and the submission of the file to HEDNO. The construction and completion of the plant is expected at the end of February. Next step for WEnCoop for 2022 is the development of another megawatt, with a view to electromobility.
Tribute on the Newspaper PROTO THEMA–Marianna Tzanne
How do they implement the energy revolution in the world of net zero
The government will continue to battle with high prices in the electricity market in the coming months, as price fluctuations are projected to be maintained at a particularly high level, putting pressure on Greek households and businesses. The unstable environment, according to analysts’ forecasts, will be the main feature of 2022, creating additional financing needs for home consumers and professionals who should bear the effects of the crisis and are required to pay inflated bills even after subsidies.
WenCoop is an energy cooperative which counts only one year of life. However, it came to embrace 60 women entrepreneurs all over Greece in an unprecedented situation of ignition of electric power tariffs.
The first solar power plant that will start working this spring in Halkidiki,with 1MW power, will not only boost female entrepreneurship in the energy sector, as was the original goal, but will also cover electricity costs at almost 100% of cooperative members’ consumption.
The energy cooperative, broad popular based with small shares in order to increase women’s participation, has built the first project of its portfolio in record time, setting the next steps in our energy ecosystem by developing a dynamic RES portfolio that will exceed 3 MW and about a month ago was invited in Rome for the G20 Women’s Forum (Woman 20) in order to participate in the energy panel organized by the Italian giant ENEL!
Who would have imagined that 60 women from different business backgrounds and cultures – from crafts to services, trade and hotels – would join forces to develop Europe’s first energy cooperative, raising € 400,000 and putting the energy revolution into practice in the world of net zero.
“When we started, we did not know that we were a pioneer, we realized it along the way. In fact, last December at the W20 in Rome, which is an international leading platform for promoting the voice and vision of women, we were invited to present WenCoop as a good international practice in the energy sector,” said Ms. Apostolina Tsaltampasi.
Apostolina Tsaltampasi, President of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs (SEGE) and President of WenCoop
The President of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs (SEGE) and President of WenCoop is a businesswoman that manages 12 companies in Greece, Europe and Asia in the field of consulting and business development through the Oecon Group.
Together with the Vice President Mrs. Alice Corovessi, who founded INZEB non-profit independent organization and is active in the field of energy saving, project financing and the fight against energy poverty, they are the soul of the team that was born from the heart of SEGE.
Alice Corovessi, Vice President of energy cooperative and Genelar Secretary of SEGE
Why Energy?
Even before the energy storm of high prices broke out, the Association was looking for actions that would strengthen the role of women in the economy and in fact in an area such as energy where their presence is very limited.
It took several workshops between members, analysis of models, ideas and proposals to reach the production of energyfrom RES and to drop the seed throughout the country. The foundations of this initiative are laid by the first solar power plant, which is under construction, while preparations have already begun for the second megawatt in the area of Kassandra (Halkidiki), planning at least two more similar projects.
The timing is considered ideal for the investment of 60 women, as through the autonomy provided by the energy community, companies will cover the cost of electricity, which is one of the most important operating costs.
In addition to self-consumption, the cooperative will sell electricity to the grid, while it has planned to distribute free quantities to vulnerable groups, mainly single-parent families of women, etc.
A sample of determination, methodical work and teamwork, the women energy cooperative managed to overcome the invincible Greek bureaucracy. Within 12 months the application for the solar power station was submitted to the Energy Regulatory Authority, bought the plot and in November 2021 got the connection conditions. The project, which has begun the construction, will be completed by the end of February in order to “lock in” the highest price per kilowatt/hour. Today, the compensation for the solar power plants that are developed by the energy cooperatives is 65 euros per megawatt/hour.
It took two months to sign the statute
“What I think helped us is that we worked the other way around compared to classical practice. For example, we avoided going to the offered plots and chose land where there was free electricity in order to speed up the procedures and get quick connection terms “, says the president of the cooperative.
Last summer, the number of shareholders of the energy community was agreed, with minimum payment 500 euros per share and the statute was signed by 60 members, from almost every corner of the country, from Crete to Komotini!
However, the only disagreement was the process of signing the statute. According to the members of the association, in an era of e-government it took two months to complete the signatures and couriers were recruited all over Greece to sign the relevant documents by all women. This was one of the reasons why the shares in the energy cooperative were reduced to 60, while another 100 interested women are waiting in line.
We ask the community executives if the men “fit” in the group. The answer is that only 5% of WenCoop is owned by men and that is a reflection, because they are shareholders or partners in companies that participate in the community.
As Mrs. Corovessi points out, the next step is to use the energy produced in electromobility. This can be achieved by increasing the capacity of cooperative projects to over 3 MW and in conjunction with electric vehicle charging stations. The development of synergies with gas stations that are members of the association or with existing companies with part of the energy produced is being studied.
As the vice president of the energy cooperative and general secretary of SEGE explains to us, the speed with which the implementation of the project proceeded and its development continues is based on the organization and the operating model that the members apply in their own businesses.
As she says, energy cooperatives are an important vehicle for the transition to a green economy and function as important tools to achieve the EU goal. making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
“Energy cooperatives offer opportunities for all, and through them, citizens are helped both in the effort to promote energy produced from clean sources, and in the protection of the environment.”
Anastasia Savvidou, General Secretary of the WEnCoop and shareholder and an executive in the company ARISTOTELIS SA- Knitting Factory
Christina Vraka, Treasurer of the Energy Cooperative WEnCoop, Co-founder and CEO of the Dot2dot SCE
Sofia Topi, Member of BoD and president and founding member of the Cooperative “ORIZONES AXIOU”
Today, WenCoop’s Board of Directors has a strong core of five women. Apart from Ms. Tsaltampasi and Ms. Corovessi, the ladies involved are Anastasia Savvidou, shareholder and an executive in the company ARISTOTELIS SA- Knitting Factory, as General Secretary, Christina Vraka, Treasurer of the Energy Cooperative WEnCoop Co-founder and CEO of the Dot2dot SCE in the field of organizing cultural organizations and guided tours and Sofia Topi, Member of BoD and president and founding member of the Cooperative “ORIZONES AXIOU”, one of the largest Greek rice production companies.
The construction of the 1MW solar power plant of the WEnCoop Energy Community in Kassandra, Halkidiki, has started at a very fast pace. WEnCoop is the first Women’s Energy Cooperative with a large shareholding structure in Greece and in Europe, for Women Entrepreneurs and their Businesses.
WEnCoop is an initiative of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs – SEGE, in order for its members to be also active in the energy sector, utilizing RES in order to reduce energy costs in their businesses and increase their family income.
The idea was conceived a year ago, on December 2020, by Mrs. Apostolina Tsaltampasi, President of WEnCoop and SEGE and Mrs. Alice Corovessi, Vice President of WEnCoop and and Managing Director of INZEB and SEGE. With the signing of statute by 60 founding members, in July 2021, the establishment of the Energy Cooperative WEnCoop Limited Liability was completed and the file was submitted to HEDNO SA. The construction of the solar power plant has started on January of 2022 and its completion is expected at the end of February 2022.
“WEnCoop is the proof that an idea can become reality, through cooperation, good communication and mutual trust between the 60 members. “Aiming to implement the initiative of a project such as WEnCoop, we are moving forward in achieving the development and promotion of women entrepreneurship in the energy sector,” said Mrs. Apostolina Tsaltampasi.
At the same time, through the operation of the WEnCoop Energy Cooperative, the goal is to promote innovation in the energy sector, to address energy poverty, to promote energy sustainability, production, storage, self-consumption, distribution and supply of energy, as well as to improve end-use energy efficiency, at local and regional level.
The EU’s goal is for Europe to be the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The role of citizens is being strengthened and is gradually evolving from consumers to active members and micro-investors in local clean energy projects. The law for the Energy Cooperatives allows citizens, businesses and municipalities to work together to generate and save energy locally, as well as to develop other related services and products. The access to local, clean and economic energy and related services is now possible.
According to Mrs. Alice Corovessi, “Energy Cooperatives, like WEnCoop, are an important vehicle for the transition to a green economy and serve as important tools for achieving the EU goal to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.” The Energy Communities offer opportunities for all and through them the citizens become helpers both in the effort to promote energy produced from clean sources and in the protection of the environment. On the way to the energy transition there is no one left out. There is work for all and the need for increased participation of women in initiatives and actions such as the Energy Cooperative is important and necessary.
The next goal of WEnCoop for 2022 is the development of another MW, while in the community planning is the energy produced to be used in electric drive.
The President of the Energy Cooperative WEnCoop and President of the Greek Association of Women Entrepreneurs – SEGE, Mrs. Apostolina Tsaltampasi had the honor to attend as a speaker in an event of international importance, on the Monday afternoon, December 20, 2021, in Rome. The conference, with the title “Women’s Empowerment: The Ecological Transition, a Challenge for the Cities and Ports of the Future”, was broadcast online and was the event that officially concluded the Italian G20 Presidency and its delivery to Indonesian delegation.
During the event, all participants had the opportunity to discuss the introduction of a gender perspective in the modernization and environmental balance of cities and ports, as elements of a systemic vision for the future of Europe and the world, according to European guidelines and the principles of the UN Agenda 2030.
The intervention of Mrs. Tsaltampasi, specifically addressed the essential importance of gender perspective for environmental balance and the role of women in ensuring it. In particular, Mrs. Tsaltampasi, pointed out the importance of supporting women through education, guidance and counseling, in order to grow, develop globally and achieve their business goals, but also for the involvement of women in the Environmental and Energy Transition.
A presentation of the WEnCoop Energy Cooperative took place in the 3rd online mission of the SocialNet Project by our Member and Director of SEGE, Mrs. Athanasia Ioannidou. WEnCoop was presented as an example of good practice.
The event concerned the exchange of good social economy practices between the countries of Greece, Italy and Spain.
Mrs. Alice Corovessi, Vice President of the WEnCoop Energy Community and General Manager of INZEB participated as a speaker in the discussion on ❝ Tackling Energy Poverty. The role and tools of the POWERPOOR project ❞ and mentioned our WEnCoop Energy Cooperative.
The Municipal Movement “Citizens in Action of Chaidari” organized the open online discussion on “Tackling energy poverty, energy saving and the role of Local Government A”, on Monday, January 24, 2022.
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