REPower: Turning Renewable Energy into Practical Skills

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.