Last week, EcoVision attended the annual REScoop.eu Community Energy Forum in Jūrmala, a gathering of energy communities, cooperatives, and citizen-led organisations from across Europe working towards a fairer, more sustainable energy future.

For EcoVision, being part of the REScoop network is about far more than attending conferences. It is about building meaningful relationships with organisations facing many of the same challenges as communities here in Ireland, from energy poverty and rising living costs to retrofit barriers and community empowerment.

Through REScoop.eu, EcoVision has had the opportunity to connect with like-minded organisations across Europe and collaborate on impactful EU-funded projects such as Renpower. These partnerships allow local experiences and ideas to grow into practical European solutions, while also ensuring that innovative approaches developed elsewhere can benefit communities here at home.

One of the most valuable aspects of forums like this is the exchange of real-world experience. Conversations over workshops, presentations, and even shared meals often spark new ideas, future collaborations, and long-lasting friendships. They remind us that while every community is unique, many of the challenges we face are shared across Europe, and so too are the opportunities.

During the forum, EcoVision had the opportunity to present our work on energy poverty, including both the Renpower project and our Engage in Energy initiative. We shared experiences from our home visits, energy clinics, advocacy work, and practical supports for households struggling with energy costs and poor housing conditions. Importantly, we highlighted approaches that go beyond renovation alone, recognising that many households first need trusted support, tailored guidance, and small practical interventions before larger retrofit journeys become possible.

By sharing these experiences, we hope to inspire other energy communities and organisations across Europe to develop similar citizen-centred approaches to alleviating energy poverty. At the same time, we returned home inspired ourselves, bringing back new ideas, fresh perspectives, and renewed motivation for the work ahead.

The transition to a low-carbon future will only succeed if communities are placed at its centre. Networks like REScoop.eu help make that possible by creating spaces where communities can learn from one another, collaborate, and turn local action into wider European impact.