“From Access to Ownership: Energy Communities & Social Inclusion in the EU’s energy transition”

As the EU advances toward climate neutrality, it is clear that the energy transition must be not only technologically sound but also socially equitable. This policy brief explores how Europe can advance toward an affordable and equitable clean energy future by addressing the systemic barriers faced by low-income households (LIHs). Written by the Kelso Institute Europe, the policy paper introduces the concept of the “welfare dilemma”, which highlights how existing social transfer rules can inadvertently discourage vulnerable households from investing in renewables or energy efficiency. Moreover, to bridge the persisting policy gaps, this paper outlines a “three-point plan” that highlights the following policy recommendations:
• Promoting social energy sharing to ensure collective access to affordable renewables
• Designing targeted incentives that enable inclusive participation in energy communities
• Establishing exemptions for renewable (co-)ownership from social transfer calculations to foster equitable engagement and ownership.
 

For more details, please access the publication here.