PARTNERS
The POWERTY partners have been chosen to respond in the most effective way, and with the greatest possible impact, to the problem of energy poverty in Europe through renewable energies. The consortium is composed of entities from different European regions and with different levels of energy poverty and renewable energies. On the one hand, the consortium includes regions from countries with the highest rates of energy poverty (Bulgaria), and on the other hand, it also includes regions from countries that have been benchmarks in tackling energy poverty, such as the United Kingdom, represented by the University of Manchester.
The project partners are:
SPAIN: Andalusian Energy Agency. Project leader.
FRANCE: Environment and Energy Agency of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region (AURA-EE).
BULGARIA: Plovdid Energy Agency (EAP).
POLOND: Agglomeration Opole Trust (federation of 21 municipalities) (AOT).
LITHUANIA: Development and Public Investment Agency (VIPA).
UNITED KINGDOM: University of Manchester through the European Fuel Poverty Observatory (EPOV)
ANDALUSIAN ENERGY AGENCY (SPAIN)
https://www.agenciaandaluzadelaenergia.es/es
The Andalusian Energy Agency is the Andalusian government body created to promote sustainable energy development and its main objective is to contribute to making Andalusia a benchmark region in the energy sector, both at national and EU level, promoting a new energy culture among citizens, companies and administrations, spreading knowledge about energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable sources.
As lead partner of the POWERTY project, whose mission has been to facilitate the use of renewable energies by vulnerable groups affected by energy poverty through the promotion of innovative low-cost solutions, including collective and urban energy systems, new financing formulas for renewable energies or improvements in the regulatory framework, the Andalusian Energy Agency has carried out a pilot project to set up an energy community to supply renewable electricity in the Torreblanca neighbourhood of Seville, classified as one of the areas with the lowest average income in Spain according to the National Statistics Institute, and continues to work on structuring an ecosystem of Andalusian energy communities and their support organisations.
Andalusia is one of the regions with the greatest renewable energy potential distributed evenly throughout its territory, making its use an opportunity to tackle energy poverty.
ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY AGENCY OF THE AUVERGNE RHÔNEA-ALPES (FRANCE)
https://en.auvergnerhonealpes-ee.fr/
The Environment and Energy Agency of the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region is the regional agency that promotes and develops actions focused on sustainable development, environmental protection and adaptation to climate change.
The Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region has significant renewable resources that can be accessible to its citizens, which contrasts with the fact that more than 15% of households are affected by energy poverty, most of them social housing with low energy efficiency and inhabited by vulnerable groups who do not have access to renewable technologies.
PLOVID ENERGY AGENCY (BULGARIA)
https://www.eap-save.eu/?lng=EN&m=18
The Plovdid Energy Agency is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting energy efficiency and sustainable energy use, expanding the use of renewable energy and encouraging the use of innovative technologies.
It has carried out energy support actions and energy poverty campaigns aimed at reducing energy consumption in households and alleviating energy vulnerability.
Bulgaria is the European country with the highest rate of energy poverty (41% of households), yet there are no social, economic or energy indicators to define energy poverty in households.
AGGLOMERATION OPOLE TRUST (POLOND)
https://www.aglomeracja-opolska.pl/
Agglomeration Opole Trust is a Polish federation of 21 municipalities whose main objective is to improve the living conditions of their inhabitants and increase the economic competitiveness of the region.
In these municipalities, energy poverty is an important phenomenon affecting a large number of households with difficulties in meeting their basic energy needs at a reasonable price, making the increase in energy prices a serious social problem in the region, increasing energy vulnerability. In addition, 41% of homes were built before the Second World War, requiring major energy renovation to increase energy savings and efficiency.
On the other hand, there is renewable potential in the region, mostly from biomass and hydropower.
DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC INVESTMENT AGENCY (LITHUANIA)
The Lithuanian Public Investment and Development Agency’s mission is to improve the conditions for the development of public infrastructure by promoting the development of the financial market through efficient planning.
In Lithuania there are approximately 32,000 apartment buildings built to 1993 technical standards, many of which are energy-poor households unable to afford the necessary renovation to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption. Such a renovation would include the use of renewable energies and alternative financing to which these groups have access.
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER (EUROPEAN FUEL POVERTY OBSERVATORY) (UNITED KINGDOM)
https://www.seed.manchester.ac.uk/geography/
The University of Manchester is a major research institution.
The European Fuel Poverty Observatory is a research group based in the Department of Geography at the University of Manchester until 2021, with more than 20 years of research experience in the fields of fuel poverty and justice, renewable energy, energy efficiency and transition and sustainability in Europe and the world, with more than 40 projects.
The University of Manchester provides advice to governments, international bodies and think tanks on policy and legislation on issues related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, social inclusion, urban planning and regional development.
