Communication as a gateway to trust: learning from local POWER UP approaches
In regions grappling with energy poverty from the North to South of Europe, information on access to energy or support to energy retrofitting isn’t just helpful—it’s transformative. The municipalities involved in the POWER UP project recognised this early on.
Renewables for a really good cause
It dates back to 2021, when four cities in Italy, Spain, Czech Republic and Belgium set off to produce renewable energy. Social equity was built in each of the business models as of day one. Initial dreams turned into reality thanks to very pragmatic approaches.
Webinar summary: Impact through Trust – Co-designing Energy Communities with Vulnerable Households
The session, moderated by Marine Cornelis, focused on two pilots from Campania (Italy) and Eeklo (Belgium); both developed in complex local contexts but united by a common goal: ensuring renewable energy benefits reach those most in need.
Missed the webinar on energy sharing with vulnerable households?
Two very different pilots with business models
that go from one apartment block to city-wide actions: Valencia and Roznov. Read the webinar recap and view the presentations.
Find a capacity-building workshop in your country!
As part of its ongoing efforts to support inclusive and community-driven energy models in Europe, the POWER UP project is launching a series of national capacity-building workshops. The workshops will take place in the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Italy, and Spain in May and June.
“It won’t be our wind turbines – it will be yours” Eeklo creates a gateway to cheaper energy for vulnerable households
In Eeklo, a Belgian town of 21,500 inhabitants, the POWER UP pilot team wanted its municipal investment in a citizen-owned wind turbine to have a true social impact. That is why, a few years ago, it turned its membership share in the Ecopower cooperative into 100 “social shares”. We wanted to understand how this idea has come to life.
How one Czech town is bringing solar energy to social housing
In Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, a town of 17,000 in eastern Czechia, the POWER UP project is piloting a simple but ambitious idea: install rooftop solar panels on a block of 85 social housing flats and share the electricity directly with the residents. These households are among the 9.2% of Czech citizens estimated to live in energy poverty. This pilot offers them locally produced, low-cost power—and a new way to take part in the energy transition.
“This isn’t a short-term project, it’s a 25-year commitment.”
Valencia is bringing solar energy to those who need it most. A crucial part of the project’s success is its strong collaboration with social services, ensuring that the right people benefit from the initiative. We’ve asked Arturo Zea Falcon, in charge of energy at Valencia Clima i Energia, a city-owned foundation, how everything started and what remains to be done.
Community-driven solutions – country by country
Across Europe, energy poverty limits access to affordable and sustainable energy, disproportionately affecting vulnerable households. The POWER UP National Guides provide a practical roadmap for municipalities, cooperatives, and local organisations to develop inclusive, community-led renewable energy solutions.
Practical guidance for tenants and landlords with PV appetite
The landlord sees it as a stranded asset as he is not benefitting from the electricity her-/himself. As for the tenant, he may have neither the money to pay for upfront costs nor the power to install new infrastructure on the building. Good information and advice may help getting safely through the jungle.
