Social energy market players to tackle energy poverty
Regional and local public authorities have a strong role to play in fighting energy poverty. That is why the overall objective of POWER UP! is for cities to go beyond their planning role and sustain the creation of local energy market players with a social agenda. This will be realised by the following 3 specific objectives:
- Implement pilot schemes for households in energy poverty, so that they benefit from renewable energy production and energy efficiency measures, without having to bear the financial risks;
- Develop and reinforce local energy market players with a social agenda, based on a long-term perspective to acquire local knowledge and strengthen the local economy;
- Disseminate the experience of the consortium members to facilitate the replication in European countries.
Six pilot schemes will be developed in six locations across Europe: Eeklo (Belgium), Heerlen (the Netherlands), in the Campania area (Italy), in the Czech Republic, Valencia (Spain) and Skopje (North Macedonia).
These schemes will be co-created with energy-poor households and local stakeholders (cities, social organisations, energy utilities, citizen energy communities etc.), leading to at least 2,5 Million EUR investment in sustainable energy before the project ends and involving 55 588 energy poor consumers. Supported by a European city network, a leading UK university, a Belgium cooperative and finance experts, the consortium will build the capacity of more than 160 people in local organisations.  This will allow these players to either provide cheap energy to fuel poor households, or reinvesting benefits to carry out energy poverty mitigation measures.