Energy democracy Archives

Since the energy crisis started a few years ago, we hear more often about energy or fuel poverty. But how often do we talk about the concrete challenges and also the coping strategies of the people affected by it? And what does it mean for people’s health when they live in very cold or very hot homes?

Advocacy

Powering communities: principles for a fair, sustainable Citizens’ Energy Package

How to broaden participation and inclusion in the energy transition?

Energy democracy

Community energy

02/12/2024

Community energy projects are essential for driving a fair and just energy transition, offering a concrete way for citizens, communities, and SMEs to actively participate […]

News

Building energy communities in one of Italy’s most vulnerable regions

Insights from Felipe Barroco, Modena Energy and Sustainability Agency

Participative governance

Energy democracy

Community energy

28/11/2024

In Campania, Italy, 200 households in social housing will soon have the opportunity to get their homes warm (or cool) and comfortable thanks to affordable renewable energy.

Interviews

Islanders against all odds: Community energy strategies in a small paradise in Croatia

Interview with Franjo Toić, public official at Cres municipality & Ugo Toić, Director of the public Island Development Agency OTRA

Participative governance

03/09/2024

Ugo and Franjo are working on building the first community-owned ground-mounted PV installation on the island. But as the Croatian law still makes it very difficult to register and run an energy community, they do so through an energy cooperative that has this special feature of including two municipalities as members. This is quite unique in Croatia and uncommon in the EU.

Interviews

“Degrowth is a pretty loaded term on its own”

Interview with Chris Giotitsas, Peer to Peer Lab and CommonEn energy community

Renewables

Energy democracy

Community energy

22/07/2024

And still, community leaders keep on fighting for it as a means to bring environmental and social sustainability – ultimately also as a means to turn the blurry degrowth concept into something very concrete.

News

Walking on sunshine 🎶

Local renewable energy stories harvested at Energy Cities’ Annual Forum

Participative governance

Energy efficiency & Buildings

Energy democracy

Community energy

09/07/2024

What better place than sun-filled Valencia, to talk about community-driven renewable projects! What better group of people, than the hundreds of city-makers that gathered in this dynamic Spanish city for Energy Cities’ Annual Forum End of June.

News

It’s all in one spot: One-stop-shops

Go-to places for energy community advice

14/06/2024

Citizens and businesses may have the motivation to reduce their energy bill or to produce their own electricity. Often enough, though, they don't know where to start, where to funding, which technologies to use. The first and best step is to meet an impartial expert who can guide and advice. The people working at Urban Innovation Vienna, the climate and innovation agency of the Austrian capital, recently shared their experience of setting up and running their "One Stop Shop".

Interviews

Inside an emerging heat community

Interview with Olaf Heinen, 50 Tinten Groen Assendorp

Participative governance

06/06/2024

This is the story of humans who find common ground in the heat transition. It’s a wonderful example and it gives hope in times where […]

Interviews

Inclusive power: Changing how we think about cities and energy access

Interview with Kata Tütto and Antonia Proka

Participative governance

16/05/2024

Some say the energy transition is a great opportunity to create a more equal society. Others are more pessimistic and predict that the transition will […]