How one Czech town is bringing solar energy to social housing

In Rožnov pod Radhoštěm, a town of 17,000 in eastern Czechia, the POWER UP project is piloting a simple but ambitious idea: install rooftop solar panels on a block of 85 social housing flats and share the electricity directly with the residents. These households are among the 9.2% of Czech citizens estimated to live in energy poverty. This pilot offers them locally produced, low-cost power—and a new way to take part in the energy transition.

Webinar “More Than Just Renewables: The Social Impact of Energy Sharing”  

This webinar will be showcasing how local governments in Valencia (Spain) and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm (Czech Republic) are turning renewable energy projects into tools for social justice and fighting energy poverty. Beyond technical innovation, both pilots show that fighting energy poverty starts with trust: in institutions, in local actors, and between citizens.

Community-driven solutions – country by country

Across Europe, energy poverty limits access to affordable and sustainable energy, disproportionately affecting vulnerable households. The POWER UP National Guides provide a practical roadmap for municipalities, cooperatives, and local organisations to develop inclusive, community-led renewable energy solutions.

Energy poverty is not a fatality! Renewables are one solution.

Since the start of POWER UP co-designing activities, a selected group of people struggling with energy poverty were actively involved in collective decisions around renewable energy production. But awareness-raising and support should not be limited to a few. That is why, over the past months, the four pilots of POWER UP engaged a broader group of residents in activities whereby they learned how to have control over their energy consumption.