Miria Eisermann from POWER UP (and working for Energy Cities) has had the chance to provide insights from the project and from other experiences in the field for the report by Friends of the Earth Europe.
Community energy offers numerous tangible material benefits and empowerment – especially for those who feel most often left behind. The report describes the energy poverty situation in Europe and the hostile external factors aggravating the phenomenon. The authors also highlight innovative ways of making the lives of vulnerable people easier through decentralised and collaborative energy projects. Their research revealed 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 enabling frameworks and incentives or be tied to unreasonable expectations.
