As part of the REPower project, partners met in Italy for the first Joint Staff Training, moving from planning into actual development of renewable energy training.

REPower is a two-year Erasmus+ cooperation project focused on strengthening vocational education through practical training, shared curricula, and the use of digital tools such as VR and AR. The aim is simple: make renewable energy training more relevant, more practical, and easier to use across different countries.

From Structure to Content

The training in Italy was where the work became concrete. Using shared templates, partners developed learning activities, defined outputs, and aligned on how modules should be built.

This was less about discussion and more about production. The focus was on making sure that what is being developed can actually be used—by teachers, in classrooms, and in training environments.
Grounding the Work in RealityA consistent thread throughout the week was keeping the connection to real systems. Training modules are being shaped around how renewable energy is actually used and managed—not how it is described in textbooks.

For GeoCamp Iceland, this is where the contribution is clear. The work builds on experience with geothermal systems and field-based training, bringing practical examples into the design process. The aim is to make sure the materials reflect real conditions, not ideal ones.

Flexibility and Adaptability is the Key

One challenge that came up repeatedly is that there is no single learning environment across Europe. Equipment differs, systems differ, and so do learners. The solution being developed is not a fixed course, but a modular structure. Core learning outcomes stay the same, but how they are delivered can change. This is where ideas like adaptability and transferability move from buzzwords to actual design decisions.

Different content formats were discussed, including animation, real-world video, AI-supported content, and existing materials. AR and VR were part of the discussion, especially for situations where access is limited or where safety is an issue. But there was also a clear agreement that technology should support learning, not define it.

Every activity needs to be able to work without advanced tools. If VR is not available, the learning should still hold.

What This Means for GeoCamp Iceland

Within REPower, GeoCamp Iceland leads the development of training materials for trainers and students and contributes directly to how learning is structured and tested in practice.

The approach is straightforward. To pring learning out of purely theoretical settings and anchor it in real environments. This will also carry forward into the hands-on training activities planned in Iceland, where modules developed during the project will be tested in the field.

GeoCamp Iceland has joined a new Erasmus+ project, REPower, aimed at strengthening vocational education and training in renewable energy across Europe. The project officially started with a kick-off meeting in Skjern, Denmark, where partners from Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Turkey and Iceland came together to align expectations, roles and the road ahead.

REPower is a two-year collaboration running from late 2025 to 2027. Its focus is practical and straightforward: to equip vocational teachers and students with relevant, applicable competences in renewable energy systems. Rather than focusing on narrow specialisation, the project emphasises capacity building, hands-on learning and the connection between education and real-world energy systems.

At the heart of the project is the development of a shared renewable energy curriculum, supported by training materials, digital learning tools and pilot activities in vocational schools. These elements are designed to work together, combining classroom learning, online resources and face-to-face training to support both teachers and students.

GeoCamp Iceland’s contribution to REPower focuses on geothermal energy. Iceland’s energy system, shaped by geology and decades of applied experience, provides a strong foundation for practical learning. Within the project, GeoCamp will lead the development of training materials and host an international hands-on training programme in Iceland, bringing together teachers and students from partner countries.

This training will take learning out of the classroom and into the field. Participants will work with geothermal concepts in practice, linking theory, digital tools and site-based learning. The aim is not only to transfer knowledge, but to build confidence and competence in teaching and learning about renewable energy in a meaningful way.

For Reykjanes, participation in REPower strengthens its role as a living laboratory for education, innovation and renewable energy. The region offers a unique setting where energy production, geology and community life intersect. Through this project, local knowledge and experience will be shared internationally, while new ideas and perspectives are brought back into the region.

REPower also places strong emphasis on quality, innovation and sustainability. Digital materials, including interactive and immersive tools, will support learning and ensure that project results remain accessible beyond the project lifetime. Dissemination activities and a shared digital platform will help spread results across vocational education networks in Europe.

As the project moves forward, GeoCamp Iceland looks forward to working closely with its partners to turn plans into practice. REPower is about more than renewable energy technologies; it is about people, skills and preparing the next generation for a changing energy landscape.