The Lumiar Parish Council, in collaboration with the Local Partnership of Telheiras and with the assistance of Coopérnico and CENSE, FCT-NOVA University of Lisbon, embarked on technical assistance (TA). The goal was to set up one of the first citizen-led and inclusive renewable energy communities in Portugal by tackling energy poverty and promoting energy democracy.
The project aimed to raise awareness and diagnose energy poverty while offering counseling to vulnerable households and community intermediaries. The TA produced an open-access guide for building local energy communities, aiming for replication in Lumiar Parish Council and alignment with Portugal's multi-level energy and climate policies. Progress was monitored through indicators, tracking households engaged and actions taken during and beyond the pilot phase.
Detailed energy poverty reports for Lumiar and Lisbon were produced. A pilot renewable energy project with 16 solar panels (7.0 kWp) benefitted 17 community members, including 3 energy-poor families, and the parish council itself. An inclusive financial model allowed participation without substantial upfront costs. Internal rules stressed equal participation as a non-profit. Successful participant recruitment and engagement of energy-poor families were achieved through community efforts. Regulatory approval and legal licensing were obtained in November 2023.
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Countries impacted:
Portugal -
Geographical scale:
Regional and Local -
Energy poverty phase:
Planning -
Intervention type:
Communication campaignConsumer Advice, protection and empowerment -
Type of funding:
EPAH Technical Assistance Scheme -
Website:
Case website -
SDGs addressed:
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