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 support programmes/schemes for energy-poor citizens and encourage the use of alternative financing schemes (e.g. establishing energy communities / cooperatives, crowdfunding). 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 Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Portugal and Spain, led by a network of certified Energy Supporters and Energy Communities Mentors. The Energy Supporters / Mentors will support over 22,000 energy poor households to plan and implement energy efficiency interventions, as well as participate in joint energy initiatives.

Energy poor citizens will be engaged through various planned activities, such as Info Days, Local Energy Poverty Offices, and ICT-driven tools (Energy Poverty Mitigation Toolkit). The establishment of the Stakeholders Liaison Groups will also facilitate the engagement and the provision of support to energy poor households. Guidelines on how to tackle energy poverty in Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans will also be developed.

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 learn from the project.