La Palma, with its 60,000 residents, faces significant energy poverty despite its temperate climate. Recent studies revealed that 28% of the population struggles with maintaining comfortable home temperatures, and nearly 20% have trouble paying their electricity bills.

Over the past two years, La Palma’s energy community has made notable progress. With over 200 members, the community has achieved several key milestones:

• PV installations: A 100-kilowatt PV system was installed on a school rooftop, with plans for three more installations this summer.
• Building awareness: The community has enhanced understanding of energy poverty through trainings and debates, leading to a collaborative working group that helps recruit affected households.
• Collaborative platform: The Energy Poverty Table, which includes all social services and organisations like the Red Cross, has been crucial in coordinating efforts and providing training.

Navigating financial challenges was a major hurdle for La Palma’s energy community, particularly in dealing with subsidies and upfront costs. Despite these difficulties, the community successfully raised over €70,000 and implemented alternative solutions to continue their efforts. Building and maintaining trust with stakeholders was essential for overcoming delays and addressing logistical issues, requiring clear and consistent communication. Additionally, flexibility in adapting funding mechanisms proved crucial in ensuring that support reached those in need, illustrating the need for ongoing adaptability in managing such projects.

To improve project implementation, it is recommended that subsidies be provided in advance to ease financial strain and expedite progress. Strengthening long-term relationships and maintaining open communication with stakeholders is vital for successful collaboration and problem-solving. Additionally, streamlining administrative processes and expediting approvals will enhance project efficiency and help avoid unnecessary delays, ensuring a smoother execution of future initiatives.

La Palma’s energy community is making strides in combating energy poverty and promoting sustainability. Through continuous adaptation and collaboration, it aims to ensure a brighter, more equitable energy future for its residents.