Felipe Barroco works for the Modena Energy and Sustainability Agency AESS and is one of the expert partners in the POWER UP project. Felipe is guiding the four municipalities in Campania region (San Giuseppe Vesuviano, Palma Campania, San Gennaro Vesuviano, and Striano), federated under an umbrella organisation called UCSA, in their endeavour to set up a local energy community.

The aim is not only the provision of renewable energy and the reactivation of “stranded” solar installations. Felipe and his team are driven by the social urgency in the area: Campania is one of Italy’s most vulnerable regions with an energy poverty rate of 11,5%.

In an interview with Marine Cornelis from Next Consumer, Felipe 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 overall. You can read the full interview below.

https://energy-cities.eu/building-energy-communities-in-one-of-italys-most-vulnerable-regions

Photo: Nick Karvounis on Unsplash