On October 15, 2024, the SCEPA — Scaling Up the Energy Poverty Approach project consortium convened in Kilkenny (Ireland), bringing together key stakeholders from across Europe to address one of the most pressing issues facing households today: energy poverty. Key discussions focused on updates from the second reporting period, including the completion of essential deliverables like the Joint Action Strategy (JAS) and Local Action Plans (LAP). Looking forward, partners discussed launching pilot programs to test energy-saving measures in local contexts and confirmed upcoming meetings, including the midterm event in 2025. The meeting underscored the collective commitment to making the energy transition inclusive and accessible, especially for vulnerable households across Europe. With 9.1% of European households classified as «energy poor,» partnerson practical measures to alleviate the burden of high energy costs and inadequate heating that disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations.
Local municipalities and organisations are at the forefront of this fight, working to implement solutions tailored to their communities. However, as highlighted during the meeting, bridging the gap between available technological and financial resources and the people who need them most is a challenge.
A significant part of SCEPA’s strategy is the creation of a Community of Interest (CoI), a network designed to unite local authorities, organisations, and citizens in a shared effort to combat energy poverty.
By joining the SCEPA Community of Interest, participants can collaborate with like-minded organisations, share resources, and contribute to a collective effort to fight energy poverty. Whether you are a municipality, an organisation working with vulnerable families, an academic institution, or a small to medium-sized enterprise, SCEPA is an opportunity to scale up existing solutions or find new collaborations to tackle energy challenges.
The CoI offers:
- A learning environment for municipalities and universities to exchange best practices.
- Online and in-person meetings to discuss practical measures.
- Access to newsletters, technical reports, and other resources developed by the project.
- The chance to contribute feedback and ideas to shape future actions.
Become Part of the Solution
Are you looking for ways to address energy poverty in your local community? Do you want to join a network of committed organizations and experts working to make energy more accessible and affordable for all? The SCEPA Community of Interest invites you to get involved.
Discover more and register today to join this growing movement. Together, we can make energy poverty a thing of the past.
For more information or to register your interest, please contact:
- ALDA – European Association for Local Democracy at: projects@aldaintranet.org
- SCEPA Lead Partner, Municipality of Arnhem: Thijn.de.Voogd@arnhem.nl | +316 2743 2234
This four-year project will run until June 2027, aiming to make a just energy transition a tangible reality for Europe’s most vulnerable citizens.
Now is the time to take action and SCEPA is the platform to do it.
