18.03.2025 Success of the LivingLab Forum on Energy Poverty organised by the Chair of Energy and Poverty

Show gallery

With great participation and an excellent collaborative atmosphere, the first session of the LivingLab Forum on Energy Poverty took place on Friday 20 February 2025 in Madrid. The event was organised by the Chair of Energy and Poverty at Universidad Pontificia Comillas, as part of the EUPeace project.

The event was held at the new research building of Comillas, located on Calle Rey Francisco in Madrid. It brought together a diverse group of experts and representatives from academia, business, and social sectors. All participants worked together to develop proposals for the new National Strategy Against Energy Poverty (ENPE) 2025-2030, which is currently in its Public Consultation phase. 

A dynamic and collaborative gathering

The forum saw significant attendance, with representatives from Endesa, Fundación Naturgy, Cáritas, Ecodes, Cruz Roja, EAPN, Fundación Tomillo, ACA, Energía Sin Fronteras, and Provivienda, as well as members of the Ministry for Ecological Transition (MITECO), the Ministry of Housing, and the Ministry of Social Affairs. The diverse range of participants enriched the discussion and provided a plural and inclusive perspective on the challenges of tackling energy poverty in Spain. The event was also attended by students who had the opportunity to learn firsthand how the university collaborates with public and private external entities to develop creative solutions to address energy poverty in Spain. 

The event began with an introduction by the Chair of Energy and Poverty, summarising previous contributions and setting the groundwork for collaborative discussions. This was followed by group work sessions, where participants used participatory methodologies to develop concrete strategic proposals.

One of the most appreciated aspects of the event was the networking opportunities, which included a welcome breakfast and a working lunch. These informal moments allowed attendees to exchange ideas in a more relaxed environment, fostering synergies and strengthening collaboration among the different entities.

Outcomes and next steps

The results of the group work sessions were later presented in a plenary session, where the main conclusions and agreements were shared. These contributions will serve as a joint input for the Public Consultation phase of the National Strategy, ensuring that the perspectives of the energy sector, social organisations, and academia are taken into account in its development.

The Chair of Energy and Poverty would like to express its sincere gratitude to all participants and collaborating entities for their engagement and commitment to this initiative. This forum marks only the first step in an ongoing process of dialogue and joint construction, which will continue with further sessions in the coming months.

The next meeting of the LivingLab Forum on Energy Poverty will be held before the summer, with the aim of continuing to develop proposals that will ensure an adequate strategy to mitigate energy poverty over the next five years.

For more information, visit the EUPeace alliance website at https://www.eupeace.eu or the Chair of Energy and Poverty at Comillas website at https://www.comillas.edu/es/catedra-de-energia-y-pobreza.