The 10th Energy Community Summer School gathers future energy leaders in Tirana 

40 young professionals and researchers from across Europe and beyond convene in Albania to explore the challenges shaping the region’s energy future.

On 22 August, 40 young professionals and researchers from 27 countries gathered at Polis University in Tirana, Albania, for the 10th Energy Community Summer School.  The 2026 Summer School comes at a pivotal moment for the region’s energy sector, as energy security, decarbonisation and the transformation and modernization of energy systems increasingly shape policy and investment decisions.  

Albania's Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Enea Karakaçi opened the Summer School, together with representatives from Polis University and the EU Delegation; Harald Flohr, Project Director, Climate Dialogue for the Regional Climate Partnership WBs; Matúš Mišík, Summer School Board Member, Associate Professor at Comenius University; and Energy Community Secretariat Director, Artur Lorkowski. 

“Ten years ago, the Summer School helped shape my own path in the energy sector. Returning over the years as a mentor, and today opening its tenth edition as Minister, is a powerful reminder that sharing knowledge is an investment whose impact unfolds over time. The participants we inspire today will carry forward the responsibility of building a cleaner, more secure and more connected energy future for our region,” Minister Karakaçi said in his opening address. 

Over the course of the week, participants will work with leading experts from academia, industry, and policymaking to examine real-world approaches to transforming energy systems. Through lectures, case studies and collaborative discussions, they will explore the technical, political and economic challenges shaping today's energy landscape and examine how cross-border cooperation, policy reform, and innovation can accelerate decarbonisation while helping build a more integrated and crisis-resilient Europe. 

"The Summer School reflects the Energy Community’s long-standing investment in the next generation of energy leaders—equipping young professionals with the knowledge, networks and perspective to shape a secure, integrated energy future," said Artur Lorkowski, Director of the Energy Community Secretariat.

The 2026 edition attracted 347 applications from 57 countries, making it the most competitive edition to date. From this pool, participants were selected representing 21 participants from Energy Community Contracting Parties, two from the Observer countries (Armenia and Turkey), and 16 from EU Member States, alongside a participant from Azerbaijan.