Solar-Café Essen

Your energy transition. Together. Local. Doable.

Our mission:
We bring the energy transition into your hands. Simple, understandable, sustainable – and fun.

Here is how:

1. 1. Consulting and workshops in Essen
   2. Information, knowledge, networks
   3. Solar-Café Europe – What our neighbors do
   4. Club offer – our island system for you
   5. Who we are

📍 Venue

REALFOODSPACE Essen – home of Labor 519 e. V.
Mathildenstr. 23, 45130 Essen

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1. Consulting and Workshops in Essen

You want lower electricity costs, more independence, and to act climate-friendly – but don’t know where to start?

 

We’ll help you:

Personal consulting: Find out which solar solution fits you best (balcony, garden, camper, tiny house…).
Do-it-yourself workshops: We’ll show you how to build your own system.
Material cost subsidy up to €200 for outstanding ideas – be quick, it’s worth it!

 

Here’s how it works:

Fill out the questionnaire here
Get your free consultation
Join a workshop & start right away

 

Next workshop:

07.12.2025 | 1–3 pm: Christmas Lights, bring a empty glass and get a mini-solar-panel / energy-storage - set for free , group workshops in order to understand basis technique and do things with meaning together with toddlers.

 

Register now

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2. Information, Knowledge, Networks

Who’s doing what in the city of Essen and the RUhr-Area when it comes to solar power, climate protection & energy transition? We’ll show you.
Here you’ll find current initiatives, inspiring local players, and great ideas:

 

See our video podcast series “The World Grows Wide”

with stories of people who just do it.

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3. Solar-Café Europe – What Our Neighbors Do

Invitation to 3 meetings under the motto “Industrial Heritage Meets Energy Transition”

We warmly invite you to a special workshop series in Essen.
This project connects our city with two pioneering European regions. Together, we’ll learn how local energy transitions succeed – and how to apply these ideas in Essen.

 

At the end of the year, we’ll look to Europe: What can we learn from successful solar and community projects in our neighboring countries? And what’s happening elsewhere with industrial heritage sites?

 

Dates in Essen

• Sat. 29.11.2025 3–5 pm – Kick-off 1

• Sun. 07.12.2025 10 am–12 pm – Kick-off 2

• Sat. 13.12.2025 10 am–12 pm – Impact/Learnings

 

What to Expect at Solar-Café Europe:

• Presentations and experience reports

• Interactive game-show workshops with quizzes, team competitions, and live voting

• Music & cuisine from the partner regions

• Open discussions and press talks

• Exchange with international guests – live or online

• Development of mini project ideas for Essen

 

Goals

• European networking – exchange with pioneering regions and creation of shared platforms

• Improving quality of life – low-threshold, entertaining and content-rich formats

• Promoting climate adaptation – through practical measures from Europe

• Open participation – inclusive, barrier-free formats for everyone

• Knowledge transfer – inspiration for new projects in Essen

 

“Solar Café Europe” is supported by the state initiative Europe Checks of the Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media, and Head of the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia.

DOWNLOAD the Solar-Cafe-Europa factsheet Nov12

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5. What and Who Is Solar-Café?

Daniela Petry – initiator and concept developer. She explores how, in the Ruhr area, a realistic model for replacing a gas power plant can be developed.

Hannah Charlotte Müller – scientific input. She is pursuing a PhD at the FernUniversität in Hagen on energy commons and collective practices of energy production, use, and distribution.

Norbert Ross – photovoltaic expert and workshop leader. He advises various organizations on renewable energy and is co-founder of Heisingen Klimagerecht.

Wiebke Doktor – responsible for financing and funding acquisition.

 

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Register, ask questions, share ideas – send it all to us:

CONTACT FORM

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