Eeklo will make energy bills affordable again
As energy prices started to peak in 2022, the Belgian federal government handed out one-off heating premiums to reduce people’s sky-high energy bills. “However, such premiums are like a plaster on a wooden leg,” says Jan De Pauw of energy cooperative Ecopower. “People are only helped temporarily with such a check. Invest that premium in a local energy cooperative and you get a completely different story.”
Valencia’s pathway to involving energy poor people in the first energy community
Arturo Zea from the POWER UP pilot Valencia Climate and Energy Foundation, describes why the topic of community energy is a priority for Valencia. He also takes us back to how everything started with the first energy community in Valencia, in Castellar L’Oliveral. It is the very first energy community where the city makes it possible for energy poor people to be directly involved.
How a national energy advice service could make a difference for people in need
This winter, the number of British citizens struggling to pay their bill has reached undreamed levels. An estimated 9 million people in the country are affected and do not know how to heat or light their home, how to cool their food, how to sleep carefree. Easy hacks on how to reduce energy consumption are nice, but not enough to improve their lives. That is why, in a recent article, POWER UP partner Ami Crowther from University of Manchester, together with energy poverty experts Stefan Bouzarovski and Neil Simcock call for a national energy advice service.
As cost of living crisis mounts, latest report provides local data on energy poverty situation in 6 EU countries
Never before has energy poverty been such a serious threat to so many European citizens as it is now. Since the current energy crisis started, national Parliaments and local governments all over the EU discuss what immediate measures can be taken to help people come through this winter without freezing and starving. The latest POWER UP report may guide decision-making.
New report on business models for poverty-alleviating and inclusive energy services
In this new report, the POWER UP experts have explored the strenghts and weaknesses of five different business models: Energy Communities, Energy Cooperatives, ESCo Model, One-Stop-Shops and Technology leasing.
New report about those who will revolutionise the energy market
The time for big energy utilities is over. Or at least, their time is counted as new players are moving into the energy market. So, who else than tradition corporations can become an energy service provider? What shape can those still very new entities take? The most recent report produced by POWER UP provides an overview of those “social energy market players”. It describes their mission, governance and composition.
Alleviating energy poverty: Cooperatives as interlayers
How can we strengthen consumer empowerment ? And who are these local energy market players with a socio-ecological agenda that could play an important role in it? In this article we take a particular look at one powerful player in the field: citizen cooperatives.
Energy Poverty Advisory Hub Conference – Moving Towards Energy Autonomy: How to Guarantee Social Inclusion
The 2nd Energy Poverty Advisory Hub international conference will take place in Zagreb under the theme “Moving towards energy autonomy: How to guarantee social inclusion”.
Webinar: Launch of the Covenant of Mayors – Europe pillar on energy poverty
This webinar will present the energy poverty pillar of the Covenant of Mayors in Europe and describe the support available for CoM signatories for diagnosing, planning and implementing and monitoring and reporting actions to tackle energy poverty. It will feature two examples from EU signatories to explore how energy poverty is addressed on the ground. Participants will be invited to discuss concrete challenges and possible solutions.
Co-designing energy services with/for vulnerable communities
Energy is a precious good that can’t be taken for granted by all of us. So how can we protect the most vulnerable and how can we shape a fair energy system? This session will focus on different ways to tackle energy poverty and to make sure energy services fit the needs of those who are often marginalized