Empowering Youth to Fight Energy Poverty: CRN Joins European Effort in the Western Balkans
Berlin, 29.01.2025 – Energy poverty is a critical challenge impacting many communities across Europe, and Comparative Research Network (CRN), alongside its project partners, is addressing this issue through the European initiative “POWERINGCITIZENS”. This project focuses on tackling energy poverty, particularly in rural and remote communities within the Western Balkans.
Launched on June 1, 2024, the two-year project brings together partners from Germany, Italy, Greece, the Netherlands, Kosovo, and Albania. CRN contributes its expertise in research and community engagement to the initiative, aiming to empower young citizens and combat energy poverty through energy joint actions.
Tackling Energy Poverty in the Western Balkans
The primary goal of POWERINGCITIZENS is to better understand the challenges related to energy poverty in rural and inland areas of the Western Balkans and to find sustainable energy solutions. A key aspect of the project is educating and empowering the younger generation to actively participate in energy decisions, thus promoting energy citizenship.
“Younger generations have a significant role in driving the transition to clean energy. However, many in the EU and, particularly, in the Western Balkans lack the education, tools, and information needed to become engaged energy citizens,” says Mosè Rossi, researcher in Energy Systems and Machines at Università Politecnica delle Marche. “Through this project, we aim to equip young people with the knowledge to understand the causes of energy poverty, assess its impacts, and engage vulnerable communities in addressing this issue.”
Strategies for Sustainable Energy in Rural Areas
To combat energy poverty, POWERINGCITIZENS focuses on two main strategies:
- Improving energy efficiency – Enhancing the energy performance of homes to reduce consumption and costs.
- Promoting energy communities – Supporting the development of renewable energy technologies that enable local energy production, which reduces dependency on external sources and minimizes transmission losses.
“Local energy production is key,” Rossi adds. “By generating energy within the community, we can reduce losses from long-distance transport and create a more resilient energy system.”
Empowering Citizens and Young Energy Advisors
An essential component of the POWERINGCITIZENS project is the empowerment of young energy advisors and citizens facing energy poverty. These individuals will receive the tools and knowledge necessary to participate actively in energy decision-making processes. The project will also raise awareness about energy rights, cost-management strategies, and the support systems available to those in need, all while promoting an inclusive transition to clean energy.
Alice Corovesi, Managing Director of INZEB, emphasizes the importance of education: “Educating citizens is the key to unlocking energy equity. Through knowledge and action, we empower communities to take charge of their energy future and build a sustainable tomorrow.”
Liri Kuci from the Balkan Green Foundation adds, “Addressing energy poverty demands an intersectional approach that intertwines renewable energy, critical youth empowerment, and community resilience. It is not merely an infrastructural challenge, but a commitment to just and systemic transformation.”
About POWERINGCITIZENS
The POWERINGCITIZENS project is led by a consortium of international organizations, including:
- Comparative Research Network e.V (Germany)
- Università Politecnica delle Marche (Italy)
- Environmental & Territorial Management Institute (Albania)
- INZEB Astiki Mi Kerdoskopiki Etaireia (Greece)
- Balkan Green Foundation (Kosovo)
- Stichting European Center for Researching, Education and Consulting (Netherlands)
Together, these organizations are working to find innovative solutions that combat energy poverty and ensure access to sustainable, clean energy, with a special focus on vulnerable communities in the Western Balkans.
For more information on the POWERINGCITIZENS project and CRN’s work, visit: https://poweringcitizens.eu/