Empowering Citizens to Tackle Energy Poverty: POWERINGCITIZENS Training in Ancona Equips Young Changemakers
Ancona, Italy – January 2025 – The fight against energy poverty took a significant step forward as young participants and trainers from across Europe and the Balkans gathered at Università Politecnica delle Marche (UNIVPM) for an intensive international training course under the POWERINGCITIZENS project. Hosted by UNIVPM’s Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (DIISM), the event brought together experts, educators, and youth leaders committed to addressing the challenges of energy poverty through education, policy innovation, and community-driven solutions.
Training Future Energy Advocates
Over the course of a dynamic week, participants engaged in expert-led discussions, interactive workshops, and collaborative policymaking exercises aimed at understanding and tackling energy poverty. The training emphasized practical solutions, equipping young energy advocates with the tools to:
✅ Analyze the root causes of energy poverty, including affordability, energy efficiency gaps, and policy barriers.
✅ Develop innovative, community-focused policy solutions to empower vulnerable households.
✅ Promote citizen-driven energy models, such as renewable energy communities and energy cooperatives.
✅ Foster engagement between citizens, policymakers, and energy experts to ensure a just and inclusive energy transition.
Through real-world case studies from across Europe and the Balkans, participants explored scalable, community-led initiatives that successfully promote clean, affordable energy solutions. Discussions also highlighted the urgent need for systemic change to ensure no one is left behind in the transition to sustainable energy.
What Participants Had to Say
The training was highly interactive, fostering collaboration and hands-on learning. Participants highlighted their favorite aspects:
🗣️ “The interaction between participants made learning more engaging.”
🗣️ “The case studies and workshops helped connect theory with real-world solutions.”
🗣️ “Meeting an expert from Greece who answered our questions and provided valuable insights was a great opportunity.”
🗣️ “The trainers’ engaging delivery kept me fully immersed.”
🗣️ “I loved working in groups and exchanging ideas with energy enthusiasts from all over Europe.”
Looking Ahead: Scaling Up the Impact
As a result of this training, young participants will return to their communities better equipped to advocate for energy justice, engage vulnerable citizens, and implement local energy initiatives. This training also sets the stage for future POWERINGCITIZENS activities, including further policy engagement, community-driven projects, and regional collaborations.
A special thanks to all the partners—UNIVPM, CRN, INZEB, ETMI, ECREC, and BGF—for their expertise and commitment to building a fair and inclusive energy transition.
For more information on POWERINGCITIZENS and how you can get involved, visit https://poweringcitizens.eu/
Together, we can ensure access to clean, affordable energy for all.