Empowering Communities Through Renewable Energy in Torreblanca
In the vibrant district of Torreblanca, located in Seville, the power of unity shines brightly as residents embark on an ambitious energy transition. This initiative is part of a broader European effort known as POWERTY, which is funded under the Interreg Europe program. Its primary aim is to harness renewable energy sources to support the most vulnerable communities across Europe. According to Joaquín Villar, Head of Internationalisation, Innovation & Singular Projects at the Andalusian Energy Agency, the project addresses a critical issue: “Energy poverty is a pressing challenge that impacts 50 million people throughout Europe,” he states. “Our goal in Torreblanca is to reshape our image—not as a district known for poverty or crime, but as a community committed to renewable energy and energy cooperatives. We aspire to empower our municipality.”
The installation of solar panels has served as a catalyst for change within the community. “These solar panels that we’ve installed here have been a motivating factor for us to be able to work in class,” says Marcos Sánchez López, Head Teacher of Vélez de Guevara Primary School.
Building an Energy and Educational Community
Torreblanca is recognized as the fourth poorest district in Spain, with a population of approximately 18,000 residents. The Torreblanca Ilumina association set a transformative goal of establishing an energy and educational community by 2020, following a generous donation of solar panels. Currently, some of these panels have been installed in two public schools within the district. POWERTY has not only provided the necessary resources and management but also instilled hope, according to Macarena Luque Guillén from the association: “With the roofs of the two primary schools that the town council has graciously allowed us to utilize, our vision is to cover these rooftops with photovoltaic panels so that more families in the neighborhood can benefit.”
As part of the pilot project, a limited number of solar panels were installed at two state schools: Principe de Asturias and Vélez de Guevara. Collectively, these installations generate 15 kilowatts of energy, which is utilized by primary school students both at home and during class. Marcos Sánchez López emphasizes the broader impact of the project: “These solar panels have become a source of inspiration, enabling us to foster social awareness regarding energy conservation and the fight against climate change.”
The total budget allocated for the POWERTY initiative amounts to €1,335,118, with a significant 83.3% contribution from the European Union’s Cohesion Policy. The remaining 16.7% has been funded by the Andalusian Energy Agency and various partner organizations. (Source: Andalusian Energy Agency)
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Alleviating the Cost of Living Challenges
In Torreblanca, 14 families are reaping the benefits of this renewable energy initiative, including Maria Ángeles García Arévalo, a proud member of the energy community. She has noticed a significant difference in her electricity bills since the solar panels were installed. María Ángeles shares her experience: “Often, the electricity bill spikes because I’ve had to run the air conditioning at night for extended periods, and it becomes unaffordable. This is the reality of energy poverty. However, since the solar panels became operational, we have seen a substantial reduction in our electricity costs.”
As part of POWERTY, over fifty best practices have been exchanged among various regions, and the project has garnered several prestigious international awards.
Click on the video above to watch Aurora Velez’s report in full.
