In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and a volcanic eruption that shook La Palma in 2021, the Canary Islands face a concerning energy poverty crisis. The aftermath revealed alarming statistics in La Palma, home to 85,000 inhabitants across 14 municipalities. A 2022 study unveiled that 28% of households struggled to maintain adequate temperatures, while 16.7% faced delays in paying their electric bills.

The existing social services, while offering aid to vulnerable households, lacked resources to empower them with sustainable solutions. Enter the Energy Poverty Insular Board, a collaborative initiative bringing together municipal Social Services, Cabildo Insular, third sector organisations (Cruz Roja, Cáritas, Isonorte), La Palma Renovable, and the pioneering energy community, Energía Bonita.

Energía Bonita, a non-profit cooperative, spearheads projects to produce and distribute renewable energy among individuals, businesses, and partner entities. Notably, it was chosen as a member of the Sun4All Community of Practice, a testament to its commitment to learning and replicating innovative pilot projects. Its vision is clear: to offer holistic energy solutions to vulnerable families, integrating them into an energy community and enabling consumption of local renewable energy.

The project sets forth three crucial objectives:

1. Inclusion of vulnerable members: Tackling fundamental questions like differentiated energy pricing for vulnerable users, facilitating financial support for those unable to meet membership costs, and defining vulnerability criteria. Energía Bonita collaborates with experts to draft a comprehensive document regulating processes concerning vulnerable families.
2. Establishing standard procedures: The Energy Poverty Insular Board streamlines coordination from identifying vulnerable families to their integration into the energy community. A standardised approach is key to assisting families in energy poverty.
3. Barrier identification and implementation: Learning and refining processes by collaborating with pilot families and areas, fostering trust between vulnerable families, social services, and the energy community.

For the beneficiaries, being part of the La Palma Energy Community Energía Bonita is a transformative experience. They appreciate the opportunity to drive a positive change in the way energy is consumed and to contribute to building a sustainable future for their island. At Energía Bonita, benefits are not solely measured in energy and cost savings but also in the pride of being active agents of change, and in the satisfaction of contributing to a more conscious and cleaner world, through cooperation.

Moving into 2024, Energía Bonita shifts focus to implementing procedures. This involves selecting pilot families for cooperative membership, ensuring access to local renewable energy, and overcoming citizen engagement barriers. Insights gained will enrich the project’s initial objectives. Collaborating with mentor Ecoserveis, Energía Bonita will chart a Sustainable Implementation Plan for the Sun4All financial scheme’s continual operation.