Community energyAbout
by Natasa Ioannou from Center for Social Innovation Cyprus (CSI)
Since the beginning, the work of LIFE LOOP in Cyprus has focused on empowering citizens to reclaim control of their energy and be part of sustainable solutions such as energy communities. Coffee being a great connector, we launched a series of convivial and informative “energy cafés”.
Open dialogues for renewed forms of participation
CSI partnered up with Friends of the Earth Cyprus to lay the foundation for a more inclusive and democratic energy system in Cyprus, prioritizing the role of local communities. The idea was to organise a series of interactive events and discussions. That is how we came up with Energy Cafés—a series of open dialogues aimed at inspiring and allowing citizens to learn and organise their own energy community.
End of last year, we organized three sessions in Nicosia and two in Limassol, engaging more than 50 participants from diverse backgrounds. These gatherings provided a space for people to come together, learn about energy communities, see examples from other countries, share experiences, and explore how community-owned energy initiatives can benefit households, businesses, and municipalities alike.
“It’s inspiring to see how much power we have when we act collectively. These discussions showed me that energy solutions are not just for big corporations—they are for us.”
Participant of one Energy Café in Cyprus
A power shot for the community
Energy cafés are organised in an interactive way, following non formal methodologies and address issues such as:
- energy costs,
- the barriers to adopting renewable solutions, and
- the need for policy changes to better support citizen-led initiatives
The participants heard about local experiences and learnt about some easy-to-understand practical steps. They left with renewed optimism and a sense of direction.
One participant noted, “It’s inspiring to see how much power we have when we act collectively. These discussions showed me that energy solutions are not just for big corporations—they are for us.”
Building on the momentum of the Energy Cafés, an open discussion event was organised: The “Energy Talks” in Strovolos. This event brought together experts, activists, and citizens to discuss the critical importance of energy democracy and justice in the fight against the climate crisis. Energy Talks had an all-woman panel—a powerful lineup comprising a local energy expert, a municipality representative, and an expert from Electra Energy in Greece.
The open discussion focused solely on energy communities and their implementation in Cyprus, the challenges posed by the regulatory framework, how energy poverty can be tackled through energy poverty and of course the importance of including citizens in building a more equitable energy system.
The success of these events reflects a growing appetite among Cypriots for transformative change in how energy is produced, shared, and managed and of course on energy communities.
We will continue to empower local communities with the knowledge and tools to build energy solutions that are sustainable, just, and inclusive. Energy should not be a privilege but a right—one that supports people’s well-being and respects our planet’s limits. The conversations and connections made during these months are just the beginning. Through initiatives like the Energy Cafés and Energy Talks, we are building a network of people ready to drive change, challenge existing systems, and lead Cyprus into a greener, fairer future. A powerful future that works for everyone, in and outside of LIFELOOP.
