Energy citizen empowerment kit [English]

Energy communities play a vital role in the transition to a zero-carbon energy system. They can engage citizens in the clean energy transition, reduce the cost of energy, tackle energy poverty, and improve the resilience of energy systems. But so far, barriers to entry remain high for many citizens.

The Energy citizen empowerment kit is a free, gamified tool that triggers and guides discussion about barriers to participation in energy communities. The tool supports energy communities and other actors in the investigation and identification of potential opportunities and solutions for community energy participation tailored to specific contexts.

It includes sets of cards representing each of four different socio-demographic factors that are associated with dynamics of exclusion: gender, socio-economic background, belonging to an ethnic minority, and housing status. The socio-demographic factors are used as ‘lenses’ through which users look at five different dimensions that are considered to play a crucial role in enabling or hindering citizens’ participation and engagement in the energy system: knowledge and skills, legal, finance/economy, empowerment/psychology, and participation. Using the cards, groups and citizens are invited to consider their own context and answer questions that will help spark discussion and identify possible weak points and inclusive solutions. Cards with examples of solutions in action are also included to inspire possible actions.

Energy communities in the preparation stage may use the kit to ensure an inclusive approach from the outset, while operational energy communities and local governments can use it to identify structural barriers and inclusive approaches to participation and engagement with the community. It can be used during workshops, brainstorming sessions, energy planning sessions, conferences, and webinars.

The kit is also available in Dutch, Italian, Polish and Spanish.