The Smart Campus in Practice: Exploring the University of Cyprus as a Living Lab | Marios Angelos Kalemis

Field | Discipline

• Energy transition
• Science & Technology Studies (STS)
• Sustainability Policy

Expertise

• Energy Communities & Smart Energy Systems
• Living Labs & Innovation Ecosystems
• Governance & Impact Assessment

Summary

Universities are increasingly recognized as key arenas for sustainable transitions, not only through education and research, but also by transforming their own campuses into testbeds for innovation. Campus Living Labs (CLLs) and Smart Energy Communities (SECs) offer a unique opportunity to combine technological experimentation with organizational change and user engagement, creating scalable models for the wider society. In regions such as Cyprus—where energy systems remain highly centralized, renewable integration faces structural challenges, and community participation in energy governance is still emerging—the campus represents a promising environment to pioneer new forms of sustainable, decentralized energy practices.

This PhD project explores how university campuses can become functional energy communities and living laboratories for sustainable transitions. Focusing on the University of Cyprus (UCY) as a case study, the research investigates how technological systems, social practices, and institutional frameworks can be aligned to support cleaner, smarter, and more resilient energy futures.

The project unfolds in three stages:

1. Socio-technical System Mapping - Identifying key actors, policies, and infrastructures that shape the potential for establishing a campus-based energy community.
2. Identifying Internal Project Dynamics – Investigating the internal processes by which an energy community project takes shape. This includes analyzing which actors are responsible for what, how their interests align or diverge, and how responsibilities and negotiations shape the trajectory of the project.
3. Translating Best Practices – Investigating successful CLL and SEC initiatives and assessing how these models can be adapted to the Cypriot context. The goal is to identify drivers and barriers to establishing and scaling energy communities in Cyprus and the wider region.

By combining insights from Science & Technology Studies (STS) with applied energy research, the project contributes to both academic knowledge and practical innovation. Importantly, this is not only an observational study: the research aims to actively influence the successful creation of the UCY Living Lab and Energy Community by identifying and translating best practices to meet Cypriot needs.

Supervision by

• Promotor: Prof. Dr. P.J. (Paul) Upham | Integrated Research on Energy, Environment and Society - IREES | ESRIG, University of Groningen.
• Co-promotor: Dr. S. (Sophie) Nyborg | DTU Wind and Energy Systems | Society, Market & Policy Section, Technical University of Denmark
  

This PhD research is part of the Phaethon project | Read more

More information and contact details can be found on the personal profile of Marios Angelos Kalemis.