Launching Engage4Energy’s Interactive Tool for guiding meaningful engagement in energy infrastructure projects

Based on year-long research, including methodologies on literature review, the assessment of 98 cases, interviews with experienced professionals and exchanges with experts, the Engage4Energy ‘Guidelines for citizens, developers and policymakers on meaningful engagement in energy infrastructure projects‘ has been launched.

Showcasing the guide to the public, while also discussing the role of engagement in achieving climate and energy goals, the project team presented their work during a UsersTCP Academy Webinar on 13 March. The presentation was led by Nathália Pimentel and Ira Schefer from the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI), along with Diana Süsser, from the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP).

During the webinar, the public also heard from Martin Groll from TenneT, and Jerry Mac Evilly from Friends of the Earth Ireland. The invited experts shared their experiences on the importance of public engagement for energy projects. The webinar recording is available now in the UsersTCP Academy YouTube Channel.

The new interactive tool aims at providing comprehensive guidelines for the user, tailored to their specific context. The customised recommendations follow a general structure based on four key principles: early engagement, transparency, inclusiveness and trust development. They also offer specific actions to implement meaningful engagement through three levels: information sharing, consultation and empowerment. Lastly, the user has access to an inspiring example that showcases how engagement can be led in a meaningful way.

As part of the feedback from our Expert Workshop on 5 December, the Task hopes to continuously update the tool. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Nathália Pimentel at nathalia@renewables-grid.eu, should you have any suggestions for improvement.