Tag: citizen engagement

Kickstarting a Community Energy Revolution: Insights from the Energy Communities Forum in Brussels

Kickstarting a Community Energy Revolution. © Oikoplus, 2025.

On June 11, 2025, the “Kickstarting a Community Energy Revolution” event brought together a vibrant crowd of more than 70 energy transition enthusiasts in Brussels, uniting stakeholders from five LIFE Sister Projects – COMANAGE, LIFE LOOP, LIFE BECKON, LIFE TANDEMS, and LIFE LETsGO4Climate – for an inspiring afternoon of knowledge exchange, discussion, and community building.

Held at L42 in the heart of the EU Quarter, the event provided a dynamic platform for exploring the role of energy communities in the European energy transition. With contributions from 17 countries, the forum showcased a wide range of experiences, tools and policy insights, all of which focused on empowering citizens and local authorities to take the lead in sustainable energy initiatives.

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All images © Sam Glazier 2025

Roundtable Results: Ideas That Will Power the Future

The heart of the event lay in its thematic roundtable sessions. Each session delved deeply into a key challenge or opportunity for energy communities, sparking lively discussion among practitioners, policymakers and researchers. Here are some of the most notable insights:

🔹 Energy Poverty
 Participants emphasised that the absence of a clear, shared definition of energy poverty continues to hinder meaningful action. The discussions focused on the need for short-term relief, such as subsidies, as well as long-term structural changes, including deep renovation, integrated district strategies and inclusive social housing. The need for compensation mechanisms and to reduce rebound effects was also highlighted as a priority.

🔹 Policy & Financial Tools
 Examples from Italy, Spain, France and Belgium showed how creative financial and policy instruments can speed up the development of community energy. Practical solutions shared included social funds, microgrids, municipal roof access and bank guarantees. One key takeaway was that partnerships between municipalities and energy cooperatives, supported by policy innovation, can bridge the gap between ambition and implementation.

🔹 Energy Sharing Models
 The debates clarified the differences between integrated and disaggregated energy sharing models. Although solar energy remains dominant, participants emphasised the importance of extending energy sharing to storage, efficiency and demand flexibility. There were calls for fairer pricing models, transparent markets and supportive regulation to reduce barriers to citizen participation.

🔹 The Role of Tools
 The projects presented a wide array of tools, from matchmaking platforms to engagement games. However, there was one major concern: longevity. One-stop shops were suggested as a way to ensure that these tools survive beyond the lifespan of the projects. The human element was also identified as crucial: community building must precede energy community building. Trust, cultural relevance and analogue approaches remain vital.

🔹 Standards and Engagement
 Although standards are important for achieving scale and implementing policy, they are insufficient to inspire public interest. It is recommended that energy conversations are reframed around values such as comfort and well-being, and that narratives are adopted which resonate with citizens’ everyday experiences.

A Celebration of Community and Collaboration

The event also featured a Sisters Library, where guests could explore the numerous publications, policy briefs and tools developed by the five projects. The afternoon concluded with a well-deserved networking cocktail, providing an opportunity to celebrate progress, forge new collaborations, and toast community energy. Key documents are available to download on the TANDEMS website.

From Rooftops to Heat Networks: How ZuidtrAnt Brings Sustainable Energy to Life in Edegem and Mortsel

Sophie Loots is a key figure in the energy-sharing community in Flanders, and was recently nominated for the 2025 EUSEW Women in Energy Award. © Oikoplus, 2025.

On a bright afternoon in Mortsel, the air buzzes with more than just summer warmth; it carries the quiet hum of a renewable energy transformation. Sophie Loots, a board member with ReScoop Flanders and finalist for the 2025 EUSEW Women in Energy Award, is leading a group of visitors around one of Belgium’s most ambitious citizen-led energy projects. ‘This is where the leap happens,’ she says, smiling as she gestures towards a former industrial site that is now pulsing with cooperative potential.

ZuidtrAnt, the citizen energy cooperative behind the initiative, has transformed the previously overlooked recycling lot and adjacent Agfa plant into a living laboratory for decentralised, clean energy. It’s a story of rooftops covered in solar panels, second-life batteries, microgrids and heat networks — all of which are rooted in collaboration. That spirit of collaboration is especially visible in the district heating network, which ZuidtrAnt did create with another energy cooperative and Warmte Verzilverd, responsible for building and operating the system. Within this alliance, ZuidtrAnt acts as the local anchor — the main point of contact for the neighborhood and responsible for community coordination and engagement.

A Factory ofRenewal

Peter Janssens, advisor for facility expansion and technique from the social enterprise Opnieuw&Co, greets us at the recycling site in Mortsel. “We work with 550 people here, many from vulnerable backgrounds,” he explains. “The new energy plan we’re building with ZuidtrAnt isn’t just for sustainability. It’s about future-proofing our work.”

ZuidtrAnt is helping them transform temporary infrastructure—shipping containers and tents—into a high-efficiency circular economy hub. Solar panels gleam above, and beneath the soil runs a network of heating pipes connected to Agfa’s residual heat—a byproduct of industrial processes now warming buildings and saving emissions. “We share the electricity from solar, and the heat is piped through the neighborhood,” Sophie says. “But we had to fight for every step.”

Peter Janssens explains the role of Opnieuw & Co in the growing energy community network in the district of Zuidtrants. © Oikoplus, 2025.

Risk, Resistance, and RooftopPersistence

Sophie recounts the beginning of their rooftop solar journey. “We had this beautiful new roof, and our engineers told me to only cover a third of it. They said there was no business case for more.” She shakes her head. “I told them, “We’re doing the whole roof. We’ll find a way.” And they did.

Today, the site produces more solar energy than it can consume, with about a 70% excess in some months. “Rather than wasting it, we use it to produce hydrogen or store it in batteries,” Sophie explains, pointing to a hydrogen fuel cell nestled between the buildings. “It’s small, but it’s proof. And that’s what we need.”

Second-Life Batteries, First-Class Ingenuity

In a quiet facility, a collection of recycled electric vehicle batteries sits humming with potential. These second-life batteries are powering the cooperative’s activities and stabilising the grid.

“They never go to zero or full,” says Sophie. “We use the middle range to store our solar energy and the edges for flexibility services. We actually get paid for helping the grid stay stable.”

This system forms part of a contract with Octave Energy and Centrica, converting stored solar energy into euros. “Last year, we received €7,000 just from grid flexibility services,” Sophie reveals. “It’s not much money at the moment, but it’s growing.”

The Heat BeneathOur Feet

The heat network, fed by Agfa’s industrial processes and developed thorugh the partnership with a a second energy cooperative and a technical partner, is perhaps the crown jewel of the ZuidtrAnt cooperative’s innovations. Hot water from the plant circulates in a closed-loop system beneath Mortsel, providing warmth to homes and businesses without the need for gas combustion. “It’s all about connections,” says Sophie, tracing the route with her hand. “We even worked with the mayor to drill under a public square.” In exchange, the residents got a renovated plaza. That’s how you build trust.” 

Drone flyover of the construction of the heat energy network in Mortsel. Régine Mahaux. © Oikoplus, 2025.

The network’s high temperature — up to 80°C — means that existing radiators in homes can be used without the need for major renovations. This makes it easier for homeowners to agree to switch, especially since prices remain stable compared to volatile gas rates. But nothing is simple. Every expansion and every connection is a careful dance of communication, funding applications and personal visits to residents. “We need 70% of houses on board to make it viable,” says Sophie. “So we go door-to-door. We explain. We listen.”

Building on this knowledge, ZuidtrAnt has also recently started rolling out smaller-scale geothermal heating and cooling networks in Mortsel and Heist-op-den-Berg, acting as an ESCO (Energy Service Company) in the process. These localised systems integrate solar panels, heat pumps, and EV charging stations into tightly coordinated microgrids that are optimised to achieve three goals: affordability, renewable energy sourcing, and ease of use for residents. “It’s about unburdening people,” says Sophie. “They shouldn’t have to become energy experts to live sustainably.”

Participation, Not Just Consultation

Sophie is clear: “It’s not just about installing infrastructure. It’s about empowering citizens.” The project includes information sessions, open house tours and a neighbourhood café to encourage community involvement. “In a first extension phase of the heating network we are trying to convince 20 households. When this succeeds, we will be aiming for the second neighbourhood to be included in the extension of the existing heat networks and that involves a few streets with approximately 170 houses” The key has always been trust, and having the courage to act even when the business case isn’t perfect.”

Many citizens have been personally informed about the initiative by Sophie and her colleagues and have become actively involved in the energy community as a result. Recently, an increasing number of international colleagues have contacted us to find out more about the project. © Oikoplus, 2025.

However, the question of Agfa’s long-term future remains. What if they shut down? Is a question that has been posed already in the context citizen consultation. ‘We’re already working on Plan B,’ says Sophie. ‘Aquathermal energy from nearby water infrastructure, combined with heat pumps. But we didn’t waste money on Plan B five years ago. We acted on Plan A, and here we are, still running on waste heat after nearly five years.’

As the tour winds down, one visitor reflects: ‘This isn’t a showcase. It’s a movement.” And Sophie? She stands, as she always has, at the heart of it all, both feet firmly on the ground and her eyes fixed on the horizon where the sun is still shining.

Making Energy Communities More Inclusive: Lessons from AGEM

The energy transition is well underway, and projects like those led by Agem Organisation are committed to involving citizens at every step of the process. However, reaching and motivating a wide audience isn’t always easy—especially when technical details dominate the conversation. In a recent reflexive learning session, Agem shared its strategies on making energy projects more inclusive, ensuring that everyone feels welcome and understood.

Breaking Down Technical Jargon

One of the biggest challenges in energy projects is the complex language often used. Terms like “grid stability,” “photovoltaics,” or “energy balancing” might be second nature to experts, but they can be off-putting and confusing to many people. Agem realized that this barrier prevents potential participants from getting involved and contributing to the discussion.

“It’s not enough for only the technical experts to understand what we’re talking about. We need to speak in everyday language that everyone can relate to,” said a representative from Agem. The team has since made it a priority to translate complex information into simple, relatable terms that resonate with everyone, regardless of their technical background.

More Interaction, Less Lecture

Agem took another crucial step towards making its energy initiatives more inclusive by moving away from traditional presentations in favor of interactive workshops and discussion sessions. “We found that people are much more engaged when they can actively participate rather than just listen,” the team reported.

Workshops that encourage participants to share their own ideas and directly interact with experts have brought a new level of energy to the meetings. These interactive formats are proving to be far more effective at engaging a broader range of people and encouraging diverse perspectives in the project.

Looking Ahead: Inclusivity as a Guiding Principle

The learning session inspired Agem to further refine its communication strategies. The goal is clear: to create an open and welcoming environment where both experienced professionals and newcomers can play an active role in discussions about the energy transition.

Agem plans to implement these lessons in future projects, with a focus on reaching out to all community members, whether they have a technical background or not.

Conclusion: Making Energy Accessible for All

The session with Agem highlighted the importance of making energy initiatives accessible to everyone. Embracing inclusive approaches and clear communication are essential to motivating more citizens to take an active role in their communities’ energy futures. Because only when everyone is involved can we build a truly sustainable and successful energy transition.

Let’s shape the future of energy together—by making it understandable and accessible for all.

The challenges, needs and ideas in regard to citizen engagement.

Report based on interviews conducted by DuneWorks for Work Package 4.

In February and March, Duneworks, the leader of Work Package 4 (WP4) titled ‘Strengthening and supporting citizen initiatives’, conducted interviews with all partners, asking them about the challenges, needs and ideas regarding citizen engagement in EC (Energy Communities). The article below is a summary of those results, giving the insight into the work of TANDEMS, but also an overview of what upcoming or existing EC’s should consider.

What are the challenges?

Due to the current geo-political circumstances the energy market and therefore everyone’s energy situation is very uncertain. Introducing the concept of a shared renewable energy model, no matter how beneficial to the community, can be met with apprehension laced with scepticism or even resistance. Many citizens feel safety when faced with familiarity. Therefore even though big energy companies raise prices in an often uncontrolled manner, causing more financial damage, citizens give them more support. After all, they have been primary energy providers for generations. Conversely energy communities are models, which in the legislative and financial world are novel. They often lack legislative frameworks or comprehensible business strategies. This, as assessed by partners, causes potential members to see more precariousness rather than stability.

Another important aspect is diversity. Energy transition touches everyone, but in a different way. On top of that each community consists of a huge variety of people from all kinds of backgrounds. When setting up an energy community, the needs of  each member have to be clarified, understood and agreed on. This, as asserted by the interviewees, can be demanding. Therefore the process of ‘putting the foot in’ is a big challenge. That’s because it opens up the question: How can we gain trust?

What are the needs?

Through deliberation the partners realized that engaging so-called ambassadors they can develop trust in energy communities. These are citizens, who are embedded in a certain community, but work closely with the EC’s and mediate any communication. These ambassadors are crucial. That’s because the levels of engagement of citizens can differ depending on the extent of involvement they want to have. Some members can choose to be more passive and have less responsibilities. Others want to take a more active role. In any case there always need to be representatives, who can act as main organisers, which keeps the EC well functioning.

Other identified needs included: improving the quality of meetings to less technical and finding the optimal time for all attendees. Also setting up tailored models of collaboration that work for everyone. Finally widening accessibility to a much wide-ranging group of people, including vulnerable households.

What are the needs?

Through the interviews the WP4 leader, Duneworks managed to compile some ideas, which can make citizen engagement more effective. One of the most prominent ones is the introduction of ambassadors, who understand the needs of their fellow residents. With the help of EC’s as well as municipalities, support citizens throughout each step, easing transition fear. The ambassador keeps close contact with the residents. Their tasks include holding internal meetings and collecting information about doubts, capabilities, time availability and so on.

Another important idea was the assertion of transparency. TANDEMS partners agreed that the EC’s as well as the municipality involved should provide full transparency about participation trajectory meaning. Citizens must have full understanding of the extent to which they can participate, what participation involves or how adjustable the whole process is. It is also important to involve citizens in the process at an early stage, already, during ideation and planning. It also helps when the communication is much more focused per target group, in terms of comprehensibility, but also recognition of what is being asked, what involvement is needed and what this practically means for the target group(s). 

Developing from this point WP4 leaders found out that citizen engagement can be improved by introducing a more appealing narrative, where citizens are able to attend meetings which apart from technicalities also show other examples of EC’s, their journeys and even precedents from other countries.

Through identifying the challenges and needs of citizen engagement, the partners, regardless of their location, pinned down the above ideas as most important in citizen engagement. The implementation of them, however requires a development of a coherent plan that introduces methods and instruments, which is what the TANDEMS consortium continues to work on.