Page 13 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2018 publication
P. 13
Winter 2018 European Energy Innovation 13
ENERGY POVERTY
EUROPEAN
ENERGY
DIALOGUE
TEN
SECTION
citizens are empowered to participate cooperate with the Committee of the prosumer communities promoting
economically and politically in Regions, the European Commission's energy saving).
the energy transition. Based on DG REGIO, and other organisations
the rich, hands-on experience of from civil society, such as Energy By assisting individual project work
EESC members, the Committee Cities and Rescoop. and cooperating with these bodies,
has argued that the rapid decline the EESC and its members learn
of costs for renewables and the In addition, the EESC aims at about what has worked and what not
potential of digitalisation and – in facilitating information exchange on and share this knowledge through its
the future – artificial intelligence best practices between civil society networks into the 27 Member States.
offer an opportunity to develop a and EU institutions. Often unnoticed
decentralised energy system, in by civil society organisations across Through such and other efforts,
which citizens, households, energy the Member States, EU institutions the Committee pursues its vision
communities and cooperatives can finance and undertake highly of an inclusive and sustainable
assume a central role in supplying relevant projects and studies that energy future for Europe. The
energy. can provide important lessons and EESC emphasises that even in the
practical tools for resolving the light of the increasing urgency of
Case studies from across Europe challenge of energy poverty across decarbonising Europe's economies
examined by EESC members have Europe. Beyond the EPOV with its and energy systems, no-one should
demonstrated a strong interest by civil substantial knowledge resources, be left behind in this process. It
society in becoming actively involved agencies such as the European welcomes the EU's efforts – via the
in the energy transition. However, Agency for SMEs have funded EPOV, the coal regions in transition
often local and regional governments projects in which, for instance, more platform, its support for prosumers
must play a central role in ensuring inclusive financing mechanisms of a and energy communities in the
that this involvement is inclusive and switch to renewables are developed "Clean Energy for All Europeans"
energy poor households are enabled (e.g. collective purchasing groups, proposals – to address some of
to fully participate – via public consumer stock ownership plans), the social challenges of the energy
financing, simplified administrative effective awareness and advisory transition. The EESC uses its very
procedures, awareness campaigns, services designed (e.g. energy own resources, the passion, ideas,
and training. In order to make the advisors and ambassadors with expertise, networks and tools of
energy transition work for the more first-hand knowledge of energy civil society, to raise awareness and
vulnerable European households poverty), and existing community provide solutions to the economic
in communities, cities, and regions, infrastructures assume new roles and social challenges associated with
the Committee seeks to closely in reducing energy bills (e.g. energy the transition. l
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