The ASSERT project, a recently launched European initiative under the LIFE23-CETENERPOV framework, primarily addresses the critical issue of energy poverty, particularly among physically disabled persons. The project aims to provide essential knowledge, competencies, and skills to key actors, such as policymakers, intermediaries, and directly affected persons, ensuring they can address energy poverty and mitigate its impacts. ASSERT includes partners from Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, each bringing expertise in renewable energy research, policy formulation, and community involvement.
ASSERT (01/10/2024 – 30/09/2027) is driven by the urgent need to address energy poverty among physically disabled persons who are disproportionately affected due to their higher energy needs and lower income. Grounded on an understanding of the complex, intersecting challenges these individuals face, ASSERT approach emphasizes the importance of a targeted, inclusive response specifically addressing all the three different target groups involved (policy actors, actors on the ground and people), to reach the strategic objective of ensuring no one is left behind in the transition to clean energy. Recognizing that these vulnerable groups (facing energy poverty and physical disabilities) often lack the necessary support and resources to manage their energy needs effectively, the project seeks to empower them on energy efficiency and the use of renewables to break the cycle of energy poverty that exacerbates health issues and economic disadvantages. The project also seeks to train and mentor local policymakers and intermediaries by equipping them with essential skills and knowledge and supporting them in implementing sustainable energy solutions while integrating energy poverty considerations into broader policy frameworks.
ASSERT will undertake a series of activities, beginning with groundbreaking research on the nexus between the two project dimensions. ASSERT will launch a call to action targeting municipalities and associations for a mentorship program, in Italy, Spain, France, Cyprus and Greece. With the selected participants, ASSERT will undertake a direct and customised mentorship to analyse their knowledge and capacity gaps and to collaboratively design tailored training further to supporting them respectively in their activities on the ground and in the policy design.
ASSERT Outcomes – The project will release three target-specific specialized training courses tailored to meet the specific needs of each target group:
- Specialized training for policymakers on the intricacies of the clean energy transition, focusing on addressing energy poverty and its intersection with physical disability. This will ensure the development of inclusive and comprehensive policies.
- Training program for frontline workers in healthcare and social services to enhance their ability to assist households affected by energy poverty and direct them toward cost-effective energy solutions, including the use of renewables.
- Resources designed to empower persons with limited physical disabilities, enabling them to more effectively meet their household energy needs.
ASSERT launched on 8-9 October with the kick-off meeting in Rome. The dialogue centred on the crucial first steps the partners will undertake, especially the launch, in 2025, of a mentorship call for 5 pairs of municipalities and intermediaries. The introduction of this original ‘’twinning approach’’ between intermediaries and municipalities aims to ensure that the training materials effectively meet the needs of the target groups, by codesiging resources through participatory methods. The meeting also highlighted the strategy that extends beyond improving energy efficiency to include the adoption of renewable energy solutions, specifically tailored to assist physically disabled individuals facing energy poverty.
For more information, please contact the Project Coordinator, Marina Varvesi at [email protected]
ASSERT Consortium
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
To find out more about the project, please go to the ASSERT website
