Are you an energy planner or policymaker working with citizens to create a renewable energy community?
Are you a founder or member of a community energy project?
Wondering how the energy transition can be made more fair and inclusive?
The Energy Citizen Empowerment Kit is here to support the planning and implementation of more diverse and inclusive community energy initiatives.
About the Empowerment Kit
Renewable energy communities are a vital part of 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 Empowerment Kit aims to support groups, citizens and local planners and policymakers to identify barriers and co-create solutions.
The Empowerment Kit is a free, gamified tool that triggers and guides discussion about barriers to participation in the energy system. The tool supports the investigation and identification of potential opportunities and solutions tailored to specific contexts during workshops, brainstorming sessions, energy planning sessions, conferences, and webinars.
How does it work?
The Kit, offered in a digital and printable format in five languages, can be used both online and offline.
It includes instructions for use and 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.
Through using the cards, groups or users 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.
Inside the Kit
Instruction Manual and Glossary
The Kit includes a clear set of instructions for use in groups, and a glossary of terms used to ensure all participants are familiar with the terminology.
Sets of Cards
Four decks of colour-coded cards that can be used together or separately to explore the group’s specific context and situation.
Good practice examples
The kit also includes a deck of good practice examples from the energy sector and beyond that may serve as inspiration and encourage the exploration of solutions.
Who is it for?
The Kit can be used by anyone working or aiming to work with renewable energy communities. New or aspiring energy communities may work with the kit in meetings to ensure an inclusive approach from the outset, while local governments or community organisers can use it to identify structural barriers and inclusive approaches to citizen participation and engagement with the energy system.
Download the Kit now!
