EU member states commit to tackle energy poverty through RRF

Housing Solutions analyse member states Recovery and Resilience plans (RRF) in regards to energy poverty.

Original analysis here: https://www.housing-solutions-platform.org/single-post/addressing-homelessness-housing-and-energy-poverty-in-the-european-recovery

Some successes for Europes energy poor include low-income renovation programmes, but there is still a long way to go.

From the article:

Austria foresees a special fund to combat energy poverty (208,9 million€). Belgium focuses on the energy renovation of social housing in particular. Also, Bulgaria, Croatia and Czechia put announce to be wanting to alleviate energy poverty but without spelling out concrete investment plans on the topic.

By subsidising targeted renovation projects, Cyprus plans to tackle energy poverty in particular in households with disabled people. Denmark plans subsidies to support citizen with limited financing opportunities who wish to switch to a heat pump.

France sets out plans for energy renovation that are worth €6.7Billion of which €5.8Billion financed by the RRF. An important investment will go into the deep renovation of social housing, with an envisaged budget of €500M for the years 2021 and 2022.

To address energy poverty through renovations on residential buildings, Greece plans an investment of 1,231 Billion€. Italy programs energy efficiency and upgrading of buildings: 15.62 Billion€ of which 13,95 billion€ for energy efficiency and seismic upgrading of private and public residential buildings mentioning improving conditions of energy poverty as a core objective.

Spain mentions its National Strategy against Energy Poverty in its RRP.

Despite the clear target on investments protecting the climate, only a handful Member States prioritise addressing energy poverty therein.

Regrettably, measures to combat homelessness is mentioned in only few of the RRPs that have been submitted so far. On the other hand, many Member States lay out fairly detailed plans to improve housing conditions and access to social housing for the most vulnerable people. Also, combatting indecent housing situation and energy poverty is an important challenge for many. The Fit for 55 packages that will be published soon will force the Member States to act further on these issues.

It will be important that throughout the implementation of the plans Member States dedicate attention to the most vulnerable, including in the numerous investments into housing stock refurbishment and construction. The European Commission should evaluate the social impact of such investments to ensure that meeting the climate and social objectives do not exclude but reinforce each other.

Right to Energy coalition members stand with Housing Solutions platform in calling for a greater commitment to decrease energy poverty in countries recovery and resilience plans.