InclusivECs awards: encouraging the inclusion of vulnerable groups in energy communities
“Premios inclusivECs: impulsando comunidades inclusivas” (inclusivECs awards: promoting inclusive communities) is a project led by La Corriente, in response to ACCTING’s call for pilots Awards for inclusive energy communities. This call aims to provide a valuable platform for energy communities to exchange their experiences and knowledge, fostering collaboration and learning among them.
La Corriente (LCTE) is an Citizen Energy Community from Madrid, Spain. The non-profit energy coop, counting over 1000 members, was set up in 2015 and is involved in projects promoting a fair energy and inclusive transition for social justice. The project focuses on energy communities in Spain.
Objectives
The inclusivECs Awards aimed to recognise initiatives and practical examples of inclusion of vulnerable groups in energy communities (ECs) in Spain. The focus here was on good practices, projects, initiatives, and ideas from energy communities working with people suffering from energy poverty to achieve social justice.
Activities
The following key activities were proposed:
- Online forum: a 2-day forum to serve as a platform for similar ECs initiatives to get together and spread the word about the potential of energy communities for social change.
- Award ceremony: Held in Madrid, Spain, to enable all applicants to meet and exchange face-to-face.
- Policy brief: a policy brief report for citizens, policymakers and ECs named “Practical ideas for inclusion in an energy community” to address policies and economic models’ ideas as well as other topics brought up during the online forum.
Through workshops, peer-to-peer exchanges, and the production of a practical policy brief, the pilot bridged gaps in knowledge and inclusivity among volunteers, empowering over 200 participants to share experiences and tackle systemic barriers in developing community energy models. The project progressed across four phases:
- Drafting of the rules of the contest
- An online conference hosted by the members of the jury
- An online participatory workshop
- An in-person awards ceremony (more information and YouTube recordings are available here). The award winners were:
🥇 First prize:
CE Arroyo Alumbra (Huelva). A cooperative focused on fighting rural depopulation. It offers ongoing training to its members and in educational centres, generating synergies with the AMPA and the adult education school. It integrates a gender perspective in all its processes without falling into paternalism. The €2,500 prize will be used to acquire necessary materials for the energy efficiency courses taught at the adult school and the CEIP Centro de Educación Infantil y Primaria” [public primary schools] as well as to hire external specialists for the ongoing training of energy community members.
🥈 Joint second prize:
– CE Catarroja (Valencia). A cooperative with deep roots in the social fabric. It stands out for its extensive network work, which offers them greater possibilities for growth and sustainability over time. The €1000 will be used to integrate vulnerable people into the CE and give them access to part of the shared photovoltaic installation.
– CE La Tonenca (Barcelona). A cooperative with strong synergies with other entities, including the direct involvement of social services. It trains its members in topics related to inclusivity, such as inclusive communication and gender perspective, or the legal and social context of energy poverty. The €1000 prize will be used for the operational costs of the photovoltaic plant, such as insurance or maintenance; and to cover part of the training of the social base.
🥉 Joint third prize:
– CE Eco Almócita (Almeria). A cooperative with the participation of the City Council. They define their principles as sustainability, resilience, and rural empowerment. They promote an equal distribution, avoiding paternalism or discrimination among their participants. The €500 prize will be used to cover part of the costs of a software for managing the production and consumption of the members.
– CE Joyarancón (Huelva). A cooperative focused on fighting rural depopulation. It has the direct involvement of the City Council. Despite having a higher participation of men, the positions are egalitarian. The €500 prize will be used for an energy efficiency improvement program for elderly women, including entry into the CE, home intervention, advice on habits and bills, and the creation of an economic fund.
– CE La Bordeta (Barcelona). A cooperative that includes both individuals and entities from the social and solidarity economy, with a strong gender and intersectional perspective studied and applied. They work on raising awareness of energy efficiency among their participants. The €500 prize will be used to create a financing fund that combines donations, solidarity contributions, and grants for access to the CE.
The InclusivECs Awards successfully raised awareness about the role of inclusive energy communities in promoting social justice and combating energy poverty, despite the lack of maturity of the energy communities topic in the Spanish context.
The project demonstrated the importance of practical tools and peer-to-peer exchange to foster inclusivity in community energy models. With the groundwork laid for future iterations of the awards and ongoing policy advocacy, the project holds great potential for scaling up and inspiring similar initiatives worldwide.