The ASSERT project, a recently launched European initiative under the LIFE23-CETENERPOV framework, primarily addresses the critical issue of energy poverty, particularly among physically disabled persons. The project aims to provide essential knowledge, competencies, and skills to key actors, such as policymakers, intermediaries, and directly affected persons, ensuring they can address energy poverty and mitigate its impacts.

ASSERT includes partners from Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, each bringing expertise in renewable energy research, policy formulation, and community involvement.

Grounded on an understanding of the complex, intersecting challenges these individuals face, ASSERT approach emphasizes the importance of a targeted, inclusive response specifically addressing all the three different target groups involved (policy actors, actors on the ground and people), to reach the strategic objective of ensuring no one is left behind in the transition to clean energy.

Recognizing that these vulnerable groups (facing energy poverty and physical disabilities) often lack the necessary support and resources to manage their energy needs effectively, the project seeks to empower them on energy efficiency and the use of renewables to break the cycle of energy poverty that exacerbates health issues and economic disadvantages.

The project also seeks to train and mentor local policymakers and intermediaries by equipping them with essential skills and knowledge and supporting them in implementing sustainable energy solutions while integrating energy poverty considerations into broader policy frameworks.

ASSERT will undertake a series of activities, beginning with groundbreaking research on the nexus between the two project dimensions. ASSERT will launch a call to action targeting municipalities and associations for a mentorship program, in Italy, Spain, France, Cyprus and Greece. With the selected participants, ASSERT will undertake a direct and customised mentorship to analyse their knowledge and capacity gaps and to collaboratively design tailored training further to supporting them respectively in their activities on the ground and in the policy design.

ASSERT Outcomes - The project will release three target-specific specialized training courses tailored to meet the specific needs of each target group:

• Specialized training for policymakers on the intricacies of the clean energy transition, focusing on addressing energy poverty and its intersection with physical disability. This will ensure the development of inclusive and comprehensive policies.
• Training program for frontline workers in healthcare and social services to enhance their ability to assist households affected by energy poverty and direct them toward cost-effective energy solutions, including the use of renewables.
• Resources designed to empower persons with limited physical disabilities, enabling them to more effectively meet their household energy needs.

Eurac Research is glad to be among the scientific partners of the project, which has kicked off the last 8 and 9 October in Rome.

More information about the project