Welcome to the Citizen Energy Advisory Hub
The Citizen Energy Advisory Hub (CEAH) is a pioneering Commission initiative designed to promote a bottom-up approach to the energy transition across the European Union (EU) to enhance citizen participation in the energy transition and strengthen the social dimension of the Energy Union.
As Europe moves towards a more decentralised and decarbonised energy system, the Advisory Hub will serve as a key resource to help local communities, citizens, municipalities, NGOs and small businesses to better understand how to self-consume renewable energy and reduce or shift their energy demand to control their energy bills.
Who is CEAH supporting?
Focusing on achieving affordable energy, widespread access to renewable technologies, energy efficiency and effective demand response, it provides the right tools, resources and support to all European citizens, including:
This infographic outlines seven common barriers to citizen energy participation in the EU, each represented by a coloured arrow and label. These include trust and participation, inconsistent national transposition, lack of enabling legal framework, lack of information on citizen energy participation options, financing and economic barriers, capacity and expertise shortages, and inclusion of vulnerable groups.
Key challenges for citizen energy initiatives:
Citizen energy initiatives face several critical barriers, from a lack of trust and awareness to regulatory and financial obstacles. Many national authorities struggle to fully implement EU frameworks or provide enabling conditions. At the same time, citizens often lack access to clear information, technical expertise, or financial support, particularly vulnerable groups. Overcoming these challenges is essential to unlock the potential of community-driven energy projects and ensure an inclusive, fair, and sustainable energy transition across Europe.
The Citizen Energy Advisory Hub addresses these issues by offering direct technical assistance, resources, and capacity-building activities tailored to empower local actors and support the development of citizen-led energy initiatives.
How the Citizen Energy Hub can help you
You can benefit from the Citizen Energy Advisory Hub (CEAH) and support a citizen-centred, socially fair, and inclusive energy transition by engaging with the initiative and joining the Citizen Energy Network.
You can download our value proposition document and share this with your network to inspire broader participation in Europe’s citizen-centred energy future.
Technical assistance will be provided to 120 selected beneficiaries to shape the next generation of citizen energy projects. There is an open application call, which gives you the opportunity to benefit from:
- Free support focusing on topics ranging from capacity building, technical planning, legal and regulatory frameworks, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement.
- Up to 40 days of consultation with experts - hands-on and tailored support matching your project’s maturity.
By signing up to the CEAH newsletter, you, your members, and your organisation/initiative can develop an understanding of how to support or become active energy citizens. We will share with you:
- Best practice examples of real-life case studies from diverse citizen energy projects showing how others overcame barriers and scaled their impact.
- Policy documents to navigate evolving national legislation and EU directives guiding citizen energy initiatives.
- User-friendly guidance materials, tailored to different stakeholders. These will include guidance documents, factsheets, infographics, videos and webinars, focusing on activities such as renewable storage and production, peer-to-peer trading, and engaging stakeholders, among other topics.
- An interactive mapping tool of citizen energy projects across all of Europe.
A just and inclusive energy transition will be realised only by advocating for each European citizen to have their voice represented. Joining the Citizen Energy Network provides:
- Networking opportunities with international participants, where you can drive the discussion about the development and implementation of citizen energy activities across the EU.
Municipalities also have the opportunity, via an open call, to receive support to host their own citizen energy panels, allowing citizens to contribute to local energy action plans.
Stay tuned to CEAH for the opportunity to share your work’s successes on the CEAH website and newsletter and for the following benefits:
- Opportunities to promote your achievements to encourage wider adoption and replication of your initiative(s) or experience(s).
- Spaces to engage with peers and experts to bring up challenges, exchange best practices, identify solutions and spark innovation - forming powerful partnerships that help drive an inclusive and citizen-centred energy transition.
- Workshops, webinars, and events hosted by CEAH enable you to expand your reach or learn more about energy citizenship.
Join the Citizen Energy Network
Play your part in shaping a fair and inclusive energy transition.
By joining the Citizen Energy Network, you’ll get access to inspiring real-life examples, practical insights, and exclusive webinars focused on citizen-centred energy initiatives across Europe. Stay informed, exchange experiences, and build connections with people driving the change.