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European Project Puts Rural Young People at the Heart of the Energy Transition
Young people across rural Europe are gaining the skills and confidence to develop community energy solutions that strengthen local resilience and support climate action.
A European initiative is demonstrating how empowering young people can help rural communities lead the transition to renewable energy while strengthening local economies.
Powering Change: Empowering Rural Youth for Energy Communities, led by Rural Youth Europe (RYE), is helping young people across Europe understand and develop community-led renewable energy projects. Representing around half a million members through 27 organisations in more than 20 countries, RYE is using workshops, events and training programmes to build knowledge and confidence around energy communities.
Energy communities allow local people to generate, share and benefit from renewable energy collectively, helping to reduce energy costs and retain investment within local communities rather than sending profits elsewhere. As these models become more common across Europe, the project aims to ensure rural young people are actively involved in shaping their future.
Participants are encouraged to become local champions, taking their learning back to their communities by raising awareness, engaging local decision-makers and exploring opportunities to establish their own energy initiatives. The programme also includes a capacity-building seminar bringing together 25 young people from across Europe to develop practical skills and networks that will support long-term community action.
The project highlights the value of interactive learning and peer-to-peer engagement, while partnerships with organisations such as REScoop.eu, the European federation of energy cooperatives, provide practical examples of successful community energy schemes already delivering benefits across Europe.
For Scotland’s rural and island communities, the project offers useful lessons on how youth engagement can support the growth of community energy, build local resilience and help ensure the transition to net zero delivers lasting social and economic benefits alongside environmental gains.
Find out more about Powering Change.
