29.10.2024
SOCIALNRG Project: Energy Communities for Addressing Energy Poverty
The partners of the SOCIALNRG project gathered on October 22 and 23 in Mechelen, Belgium, to launch an ambitious initiative aimed at researching and developing energy communities as one of the solutions for addressing energy poverty.
Representatives from nine partner organizations across three countries – Belgium, Italy, and Slovenia – got to know each other, discussed the project’s goals, and exchanged existing knowledge and experiences. We agreed on the further development of the project, addressed the procedures for implementing project activities at pilot locations, and discussed communication both within and outside the consortium. We also touched on our ambitions for developing progressive policies to encourage and oversee the establishment of energy communities aimed at alleviating energy poverty. During the two-day meeting, participants visited the site where the Belgian pilot project will be implemented.
Throughout the meeting, the leaders of thematic groups defined the key objectives, essential tasks, and expected milestones of the project. IRI UL leads activities within the project focused on engaging households, co-creation processes, and validating project solutions. In our presentation, we particularly emphasized the importance of involving people in the development of project solutions, especially those who can be classified as energy poor.
The mission of the SOCIALNRG project is to create long-term solutions for energy poverty that go beyond temporary financial assistance. The project, with pilot programs in Slovenia, Italy, and Belgium, aims to develop a transferable model for establishing energy communities that include a larger share of socially disadvantaged households. Our approach focuses on three pillars: building and adapting energy communities, promoting knowledge exchange, and providing policy recommendations to overcome structural challenges.
At the kickoff meeting, we laid a solid foundation for the continued development of the project and aligned our common goals on the path to addressing energy poverty in Europe. We are very pleased to collaborate with our partners and friends from the FOCUS association and the Ravne Housing Company on this project.
More about SOCIALNRG coming soon on the IRI UL website, and you can find our first posts on LinkedIn under the hashtag #SOCIALNRG!
