Power Up

03 Jul 2024

Empowering Communities: Dr. Saska Petrova's ERC Consolidator Grant Funds POWER UP Project to Tackle Energy Poverty

Dr. Saska Petrova, a Lecturer in Geography in SEED, has been awarded a prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant worth £2 million towards her POWER UP project. The initiative aims to address the pressing issue of energy poverty by engaging regional and public authorities in strategic planning and sustainable energy initiatives.

Energy poverty, a critical concern across Europe and beyond, necessitates collaborative efforts from various stakeholders to effect meaningful change. Recognising this, the EU-funded POWER UP project is designed to support cities in developing local energy players with a social agenda. By partnering with energy-poor households, as well as local stakeholders such as cities, social organisations, energy and utilities companies, and citizen energy communities, POWER UP seeks to implement six pilot schemes across Europe.

By its conclusion in 2025, the project anticipates catalysing investments exceeding EUR 2.5 million and engaging more than 55,000 consumers.