Energy poverty represents a serious challenge today. As a result, supporting programmes and alternative financial initiatives have emerged as a viable means to mitigate its effects on energy-poor citizens. The EU-funded POWERPOOR project will develop projects that support energy-poor citizens and the use of alternative financing options such as cooperatives or crowdfunding. 

It will encourage the exchange of experience and knowledge, the realisation of small-scale energy efficiency interventions and the installation of renewable energy sources. Pilot support projects will be planned and developed in eight EU countries under the direction of certified energy supporters/mentors who will support over 22 000 energy-poor households and encourage citizen engagement. The results will improve policymakers’ knowledge and be used for global and EU initiatives.

The main aim of PowerPoor is to support programmes/ schemes for energy poor citizens and encourage the use of alternative financing schemes (e.g. establishing energy communities / cooperatives, crowd funding). PowerPoor will facilitate experience and knowledge sharing, as well as the implementation of small-scale energy efficiency interventions and the installation of renewable energy sources, increasing the active participation of citizens.

Pilot energy poor support programmes/schemes will be designed, developed, and implemented in eight countries across Europe led by a network of certified Energy Supporters and Energy Communities Mentors  with the support of Stakeholder Liaison Groups.

The National Stakeholder Liasion Groups will facilitate the engagement of and will provide support to citizens suffering from energy poverty, reinfforcing the network of Energy Supporters and Energy Communities Mentors working on the field as well as facilitate the sustainability of the toolkit and the action.  

Based on the experience gained and the lessons learnt from implementing PowerPoor, EU policy recommendations and 8 National Roadmaps will be elaborated, so that policy makers at all governance levels can gain insights based on the project results. 

The results will be broadly disseminated, synergies will be pursued with global and EU initiatives, such as the Energy Poverty Observatory  and the Covenant of Mayors. 

Partners

• ETHNICON METSOVION POLYTECHNION
• COMITE EUROPEEN DE COORDINATION DE L'HABITAT SOCIAL AISBL
• ICLEI EUROPEAN SECRETARIAT GMBH (ICLEI EUROPASEKRETARIAT GMBH)
• INTRASOFT INTERNATIONAL SA
• ENERGIAKLUB SZAKPOLITIKAI INTEZET ES MODSZERTANI KOZPONT EGYESULET
• DRUSTVO ZA OBLIKOVANJE ODRZIVOG RAZVOJA
• EESTI KORTERIUHISTUTE LIIT MTU
• BIEDRIBA ZEMGALES REGIONALA ENERGETIKAS AGENTURA
• INZEB ASTIKI MI KERDOSKOPIKI ETAIREIA
• DIKTYO POLEON GIA TI VIOSIMI ANAPTYXI KAI KYKLIKI OIKONOMIA
• SDRUZHENIE SAYUZ NA ASOTSIATSIITE NA SOBSTVENITSI 
• COOPERNICO - COOPERATIVA DE DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTAVEL CRL
• GOIENER S.COOP
• EUROPEAN CROWDFUNDING NETWORK
• SOFIA ENERGY AGENCY ASSOCIATION

Start date: 1 September 2020 - End date: 31 August 2023