Barrio Solar is an initiative aimed at promoting shared consumption of solar energy in neighbourhoods through the installation of photovoltaic plants for shared consumption. The first Barrio Solar experience will take place in Actur, a neighbourhood in the city of Zaragoza.
Barrio Solar aims to provide clean, cheap local energy based on solidarity. Barrio Solar consists of the installation of a 100kWp photovoltaic system on the roof of a public building for consumption in the neighbourhood. Both residents and businesses that are less than 500 metres from the facility can participate without having to make any investment, only by paying a low monthly bill, with which they can benefit from saving around 30% of their energy costs. Barrio Solar is a solidarity initiative that wishes to reach all the residents of neighbourhoods it is installed in without leaving anyone behind through free energy consumption for vulnerable consumers. Ten per cent (10%) of the energy generated through the photovoltaic system is allocated to families that experience energy poverty and is financially covered by the monthly fees of the remaining neighbours.
Vulnerable families will use this solar energy without having to pay a monthly fee by benefiting from the savings on the bill that solar self-consumption generates. Barrio Solar is an initiative that wishes to inspire an energy culture and empowerment in the neighbourhood. For this reason, and associated with the photovoltaic installation, the “Barrio Solar Office” is set up to carry out workshops, participatory processes or provide advice points on energy and sustainability to help the residents of the neighbourhood to be more energy efficient and sustainable.
The project activities are developed as follows:
- Neighbours and business participation model.
- Roof selection.
- Project dissemination and engagement of participants.
- Assessment and engagement of vulnerable people.
- Photovoltaic installations.
- Barrio Solar Office: energy advise, workshops, technical assistance.
- Monitoring of consumption results and indicators.
- Barrio Solar with a budget of 100,000 to 1 million euros aims to involve 200 citizens (20 of whom have experienced energy poverty) in collective PV installations, to install 100kWp PV panels, and reduce electricity bills by 30% per person.
Main beneficiaries: the energy-poor, low-income and general public.
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Countries impacted:
Spain -
Geographical scale:
National -
Energy poverty phase:
Implementation -
Intervention type:
Renewable Energy Integration -
Professionals involved:
Social worker -
Partners involved:
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Type of funding:
Private funds from the Fundación EDP, Schneider Electric Foundation -
Website:
Case website -
SDGs addressed:
