Energy Poverty Nexus

Supporting Member States to Combat Energy Poverty

Energy Poverty Nexus is a European project aiming to empower EU Member States in tackling the urgent challenge of energy poverty.

By strengthening national capacities, aligning policies with EU legislation, and establishing a sustainable framework for monitoring and alleviation, the project takes a comprehensive approach to reducing energy poverty across Europe.

The project focuses on the establishment of national energy poverty observatories in seven pilot countries, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Spain, while extending its impact to three additional replication countries. By supporting the implementation of the EU’s Fit for 55 package, Energy Poverty Nexus will accelerate national efforts and ensure coordinated, long-term action.

Mission

At the heart of the initiative is the creation, support and sustainability of national energy poverty observatories/ networks of experts in the seven pilot countries. These observatories will:

Collect and analyse national and regional data on energy poverty;
Monitor key indicators and develop data-driven policy insights;
Foster collaboration among national and subnational authorities, researchers, and social stakeholders;
Support the co-design of energy poverty alleviation schemes that truly meet the needs of vulnerable households.

Each observatory will act as a hub for policy learning, ensuring that actions are grounded in local realities but consistent with EU frameworks on climate and energy justice.

Activities

Capacity building and knowledge sharing

Beyond data and governance, capacity building and knowledge sharing are central to the project. Through training seminars, workshops, webinars, and peer-to-peer exchanges, policymakers and stakeholders will gain the tools, expertise, and networks needed to effectively combat energy poverty, not only in the pilot countries but across Europe.

In detail the project will organise:

Peer-learning exchanges with at least three organisations outside of the pilot countries to examine the replication potential in 3 more countries;

National capacity-building workshops in each pilot country that will bring together national authorities, civil society organisations, energy agencies, and social actors to strengthen their ability to design and implement energy poverty measures tailored to local contexts;
EU-level events and webinars to share lessons learned and research findings to a broader European audience and encourage replication of good practices.

Policy uptake

Energy Poverty Nexus will also directly support national authorities in fulfilling their obligation to empower and protect energy-poor households. By working hand-in-hand with national authorities in the pilot countries, the project will ensure that efforts to tackle energy poverty are fully embedded in long-term energy and social strategies.

Through targeted policy support, the project will:

Analyse and compare national policies with the latest EU energy and climate legislation to identify gaps and opportunities for action;
Evaluate existing support schemes and measures in EU and national level addressing vulnerable consumers, assessing their effectiveness and inclusiveness;
Co-design practical improvements to national programmes of pilot countries, such as renovation funds, social energy tariffs, and targeted efficiency measures;

Help develop Energy Poverty Action Plans in each pilot country, outlining concrete actions, timelines, funding sources, and impact goals up to 2040;
Produce concise policy briefs and recommendations for Member States to integrate energy-poverty objectives into National Energy and Climate Plans and Social Climate Plans;
Organise national policy dialogues and stakeholder roundtables to foster collaboration between ministries, regulators, local governments, and social organisations.

By combining policy alignment, governance innovation, and capacity building, Energy Poverty Nexus is not only addressing today’s challenges – it is laying the foundation for a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable energy future across Europe.

Project details

Project funding period: September 2025 – August 2028

Acknowledgements: Energy Poverty Nexus is co-funded by the European Union’s Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE) under Grant Agreement No. 101215621.

Partners

Want to learn more? Get in touch!

Dimitra Drakaki

T. +32 2 400 1059
E. d.drakaki@climatealliance.org