Skip to main content
European Commission logo
Energy Poverty Advisory Hub
  • General publications

Can local organizations act as middle actors in energy support? Exploring their functions, motivations, challenges, and needs

Details

Publication date
2 October 2024
EPAH Type of publication
Scientific paper

Description

Energy efficiency is vital for energy transitions, and energy-poor, vulnerable, and hard-to-reach groups are at risk of being left behind. In this context, local middle actors have been suggested as partners in deploying targeted energy support. Nevertheless, scarce research has engaged with them. In this research, we draw on the mapping of 198 local organizations and 34 semi-structured interviews conducted after deploying a pilot energy support service in Setúbal, Portugal. Results show that most organizations are willing to disseminate activities, forward citizens, facilitate contacts, co-organize events, and participate in training. Half can identify vulnerable families. Scarce human resources, lack of time, other priorities, and financing concerns severely constrain local organizations. Thus, we suggest that fostering collaborations with local organizations requires dedicated funding, time, and resources to empower, capacitate, and reward middle actors.

scientific paper

Files

Can local organizations act as middle actors in energy support? Exploring their functions, motivations, challenges, and needs