“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.
Power to the People: policy changes for inclusive energy communities
The latest POWER UP report presents key policy recommendations to support inclusive energy communities across different contexts, ensuring they benefit vulnerable households and contribute to a just energy transition.
Energy poverty is not a fatality! Renewables are one solution.
Since the start of POWER UP co-designing activities, a selected group of people struggling with energy poverty were actively involved in collective decisions around renewable energy production. But awareness-raising and support should not be limited to a few. That is why, over the past months, the four pilots of POWER UP engaged a broader group of residents in activities whereby they learned how to have control over their energy consumption.
Report on funding options for energy efficiency and energy community projects involving vulnerable people
This report outlines financial opportunities for renewable energy projects focused on reducing energy poverty. It is intended for municipalities and other entities looking to implement socially oriented initiatives. The report covers public grants, private financing, and crowdfunding, showing how these can benefit vulnerable populations.
The race against energy poverty, an Olympic challenge
As the Olympic fever is still on, we prepared a sporty teaser for you: We think power needs to go to those who have the least, to those who are the “armless archers” in the energy world.
We powered up the Grafting Cities Conference!
What better place than sun-filled Valencia to talk about social renewable projects! What better group of people, than the hundreds of city-makers that gathered in Valencia for the conference to talk about the POWER UP pilots?
From cradle to grave: overcoming community energy challenges in cities
Renewable community projects can come with quite some challenges. During this co-development session, participants will be confronted with three pioneering initiatives. Put yourself in the shoes of those cities and remove stumbling blocks around PV or community heat through collective brainstorming. Is this something you can apply in your own town? Join this session at Energy Cities’ Annual Conference during the Valencia Climate Week on 26 June 2024.
Valencia, a ‘fair transition’ living lab
Valencia is Green Capital in 2024, a title which recognises the longstanding pioneer in sustainability. The city council does aim for a transformation that meets environmental criteria as much as social ones. Its outstanding support to energy communities and the special focus on the weakest residents, suffering from energy poverty, ill-health or other social disadvantageous, make Valencia a “fair transition” living lab. The experiences gathered in the city, both in winter and in summer, are shared with other local authorities within the Sun4 All Community of Practice.
Energy for the invisible citizen: take-ways from a workshop on energy poverty and energy justice
The POWER UP and Cooltorise teams had the pleasure to see many energy poverty advocates in Modena during the 2.5-hour workshop “Energy for the invisible citizen: in search for lasting renewable & fair solutions.” We discussed energy poverty and ways to fight it by working with those most affected.
