Dirk Knapen

Background

About Dirk Knapen

My journey in sustainable energy started back in 1994 in Denmark with my amazement about the cooperative approach of setting up and organizing a sustainable energy supply. After working in the environment movement on energy climate policy and projects, developing a common position on onshore wind energy, organizing open house days in low energy houses, following up on and helping people suffering from energy poverty, I returned to the cooperative approach by joining REScoop.be. This gave me the opportunity to work with groups of people willing to surpass themselves to the advantage of the community. As the federation of groups and cooperatives of citizens for renewable energy, REScoop.be facilitates the creation and the management of groups aiming at a sustainable energy supply and the development of their local communities. At Zero Emission Solutions I can continue and further develop this activity while adding other partners with long term interests in thriving local communities: municipalities, SME's, industry, organisations and associations. In and with the Sustainable Energy Youth Network I work on the change of the narrative brought to the world about the take-over by energy efficiency and renewable energy of the fossil and nuclear energy supply. I also widen the view of energy to all activities based on the energy of the sun - the only outside source available to Earth - organic food, renewable energy, materials we can grow and offering a sink for CO2 for the duration of their lifetime. Specialties: Sustainable energy options, conservation, cogeneration and renewables for individuals but even more for communities.