Lusatian Perspectives - Perspektive Lausitz: Kick-off for the Future Academy

Berlin/Lübbenau, 07.08.2023: Today until 11 August 2023, the Lusatia 2023 Future Academy is taking place at the LEAG Conference Centre in Lübbenau. The aim is to familiarise young people from Brandenburg, Saxony and Berlin with the transformation of the Lusatia energy region, to impart knowledge about the energy transition and to promote dialogue. The Future Academy is a joint event organised by the Qualification Network for Renewable Energies in Lusatia (QLEE) and the DGB project REVIER-WENDE, with the support of DGB-Jugend Berlin-Brandenburg. Pictures of the event are available from 17:30 at the following link: https://bit.ly/3OpCH0P (© QLEE / R. Eckstein)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Steinbach, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy of the State of Brandenburg:
"It's a great opportunity to talk to around 50 young people about the key issues of the energy transition and structural change in Lusatia at the Zukunftsakademie Lausitz. Their perspectives and enthusiasm are invaluable in promoting sustainable change in the region and preserving Lusatia as a strong energy region. Together, we can tackle the challenges and develop innovative solutions that not only protect the climate, but also create new opportunities and prospects for local people."

Wolfram Axthelm, Managing Director of the BEE:
"Renewable energies can become the link for strong value creation and stable employment in the former coal regions. To this end, we now need to engage in a dialogue focused on opportunities. The renewable generation structure with its decentralised back-ups and the link to existing and new customers from innovative SMEs can significantly improve the depth of added value. This strengthens the municipalities and federal states and will develop Lusatia into a model region. Providing a building block for this with the Future Academy is great."

Jörg Waniek, Chief Human Resources Officer at LEAG:
"We are delighted that, as a partner of QLEE, we can use our modern conference centre in Lübbenau for this Future Academy and for further training courses in the field of renewable energies. LEAG is in the midst of a transformation process to become one of the largest producers of green electricity in Germany in the future. Behind this are renewable energy projects of up to 7 GW by 2030 and up to 14 GW by 2040, as well as large storage capacities and the construction of new hydrogen-capable power plants. For this, we and the partner companies with whom we are working on the Gigawatt Factory transformation project need many young skilled workers, whom we want to train for the future in the Green Powerhouse Lusatia."

Theresa März, participant in the Future Academy:
"The energy transition offers many opportunities to try things out, involve society and think in cycles. As Lusatia is specifically about the transformation from a traditional coal-mining region to a sustainable, innovative energy hub, I see great potential here for interdisciplinary and forward-looking solutions. I am very much looking forward to discussing an effective, fair and socially acceptable energy transition together with other young people. What works in the region can certainly be taken to the next level!"