Using a cemetery to produce and share solar energy? For some it’s polemic, for some others a pragmatic way of tapping into all available resources. No matter the attitude, what Valencia’s climate and energy agency Valencia Clima i Energia is implementing through the POWER UP project certainly ignited the strongest curiosity amongst participants of the Annual Conference organised by Energy Cities in the Green Capital City 2024 under the title “Grafting Cities”.
The innovative and very social business model has been mentioned at different occasions during the event. The welcome speech by Paula Llobet, Councillor of Valencia in charge of Tourism, Digital Agenda, Innovation, and Investment, put the spotlight on the solar installations in five cemeteries that are meant to be shared with vulnerable households.
Later during the session “From Cradle to Grave: Learning from Energy Community Challenges in Cities”, Arturo Zea from the local energy agency Valencia Clima I Energia shared more details on Valencia’s ambitious municipal self-consumption project RIP (Requiem in Power). It utilizes solar installations on several municipal cemeteries. First solar panels have been installed by now and conference participants were able to see that on the spot during Friday’s study tour! A key aspect of this project is that 25% of the generated energy is reserved for vulnerable households. Participants of the session brainstormed ways to identify, approach, and attract these households to participate in the renewable energy scheme, ensuring inclusivity and support for those in need. This innovative social energy scheme, developed in the framework of the POWER UP project, goes hand in hand with the city’s dedicated support to emerging energy communities.
Corridor talks
POWER UP was also very present outside of the sessions: many practitioners working in the energy poverty area passed by the stand to learn more about the business schemes developed in the four pilots. What better place than sun-filled Valencia to talk about social renewable projects! What better group of people, than the hundreds of city-makers that gathered in Valencia for the conference?
The desire for removing bottlenecks
On day 2 of the conference, several local and national authority representatives expressed their concerns about a mismatch between ambitions and means.
The pledges were shared with EU Commission representative Alejandro Ulzurrun de Ansanza y Munoz, Head of Unit at DG ENER. Mr Ulzurrun emphasised the role of energy communities in the just transition and stated: ““Allowing citizens to produce, store and distribute energy means they should have ownership. The good news is: the European Commission is working on an action plan around that topic, notably around the monitoring of the implementation of legislation. It is one of the priorities of the next years!”
As POWER UP pilots want to inspire other cities, but also bring impact at policy level, the project team will keep on monitoring how things will evolve in that matter over the next year. Many cities are impatiently waiting for a favorable legal framework that reduces administrative burdens and allows for all local stakeholders to take their share in social energy players!
More details on how the conference during Cities Climate Week went overall can be found here.
