News and Events – Power Up

“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.

Webinar “More Than Just Renewables: The Social Impact of Energy Sharing”

This webinar will be showcasing how local governments in Valencia (Spain) and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm (Czech Republic) are turning renewable energy projects into tools for social justice and fighting energy poverty. Beyond technical innovation, both pilots show that fighting energy poverty starts with trust: in institutions, in local actors, and between citizens.

“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.

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.

Building an energy community in Italy – a rollercoaster story

In an interview with Marine Cornelis from Next Consumer, Felipe Barroco from AESS describes how much of a rollercoaster the implementation of such a social energy player is, but how rewarding also each small advancement feels for him and the local community in Campania region.

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.

Flashback on an insightful conference about inclusive and empowering solutions

Last week, POWER UP coordinator Eduardo Blanco spoke at the EnergyMeasures Conference "Illuminating Perspectives: Panel Discussion on Tackling Energy Poverty" taking place in Brussels. Sitting side by side with other energy poverty specialists, Eduardo shared the business model diversity explored and developed by the five pilots.

Who benefits? – Evaluating impact on vulnerable tenants

Testing energy efficiency support schemes just for fun wouldn’t make sense. What effect do they have? What methods and data work best to understand their impact? Last October, Manon Burbidge from the University of Manchester (UK) shared some science-backed insights around these questions with the POWER UP partners.

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.

Latest EU guidance on energy poverty recognising importance of POWER UP

The POWER UP approach to co-design those services with people in energy poverty must have impressed the EU Commission. In the latest guidance on energy poverty they mention our work in general, and our pilot city Eeklo in particular,

Eeklo’s social cooperative shares scheme recognised by European Social Innovation award

Eeklo is one of the 15 finalists of the European Social Innovation Competition who have been selected for their outstanding energy poverty program. This scheme, which has been developed and launched in the framework of the POWER UP project, will enable low-income households to become members of an energy cooperative.

Coping with energy poverty during summer

Energy poverty has traditionally been defined by wintertime heating, but it is just as important during the summer months, and the devastating summer heat in 2023 proves this. About 19 % of households in the EU reported being too hot during the summer, and this share is constantly increasing in last decades. In this context, the EU-funded COOLTORISE project aims to establish a framework on summer energy poverty to define common solutions.

Our contribution to Redistributing Power: How can Renewable Energy Communities relieve energy poverty

This report concludes that energy communities are one of several tools in the fight against energy poverty. They can do a lot, but they should not be seen as a silver bullet - especially without the right eneabling frameworks and incentives or be tied to unreasonable expectations.

October 18th in Modena (Italy): Energy for the invisible citizen – in search for lasting renewable & fair solutions

Book your seat for the workshop 'Energy for the invisible citizen: in search for lasting renewable and fair solutions', October 18th in-person from 9:30-12h in the lovely historic city centre of Modena. We will shed light on the diverse reasons and consequences of energy poverty. It's part of Energy Cities' Annual Conference from 18-20 October in Modena.

Workshop 20/06 in Brussels: Inclusive energy services to fight energy poverty and empower citizens

During this workshop, city experts involved in the POWER UP and similar projects will share how they currently design and test business models with a social purpose. Participants will have the chance to ask questions, to practice critical thinking, to adapt to their own setting.

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

How to create programs that improve health and eliminate energy poverty.

We will discuss what type of health issues are prevalent in our cities and also which ones are caused by energy poverty. We will share concrete examples from cities and affected people.

International Energy Poverty Action Week

The International Energy Poverty Action Week will bring together academics, policymakers and practitioners in the field of energy poverty for a series of five seminars, discussions and workshops centred on finding actionable solutions to this global issue, as well as social media activity and offline actions.

How six cities tap into the change potential of energy communities to tackle energy poverty

The six pilots will break new ground by bringing energy poor households and local stakeholders together around socially just energy services.

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