Celebrating the life of Arthouros Zervos
Professor Arthouros Zervos, the distinguished academic, renewables pioneer and tireless advocate for the energy transition, passed away on 29 July this year.
In addition to his 42-year career as a professor at the School of Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, Prof. Zervos also headed a range of international organisations calling for greater uptake of renewables. He served as President of EWEA (which today is WindEurope), from 2001 to 2013. He was also President of the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) from 2000 to 2012 and founded and led GWEC (the Global Wind Energy Council) from 2005 to 2010. He was one of the founders of EUREC and the EUREC Master in Renewable Energy. And most recently he served as President of REN21, a renewable energy advocacy group and think-tank made up of experts from Governments, industry, science and NGOs.
For nearly three decades he worked to promote the idea of a global renewables-based energy system, realising early on that wind and solar power would play a crucial role in the move away from fossil fuels. Many will remember him for his enthusiasm for renewables, designing and arguing for policies which would foster this transformation. But many of us also remember him as a dedicated and patient mentor and friend, encouraging many of us to carry on his work and push for a greener future.
He was also active in his native Greece, returning there in the midst of the financial crisis to serve as Chair and CEO of the Public Power Corporation, the Greek power utility. Even against a backdrop of cutbacks and economic restraint, he was determined to keep the energy transition high on the agenda.
In addition to his work promoting the benefits of renewables, Prof. Zervos was always keen to stress the need for engagement with civil society as well as Governments – and that the energy transition should be as equitable and inclusive as possible.
He leaves behind a remarkable legacy and a great example to many of us who came after him – both for his dedication and his unwavering vision of a cleaner world backed by renewables.
On behalf of WindEurope, REN21, GWEC, 3E, BFF, EUREC and SolarPower Europe, we would like to invite you to join us for this memorial service on 12 December to celebrate his life and work and to share and listen to stories from those of us who knew him.
Date: 12 December 2024
Time: 15:30 – 20:00
Location: WindEurope Office
Please R.S.V.P before 15 November using the form below
