Open Call for the ENPOWER Leadership Programme

Call for applications for the Data-Driven Energy Communities Leadership Programme 

Powered by the HORIZON Europe ENPOWER project

1 September 2025 - 30 August 2026 - Online

Energy communities offer exciting opportunities to combine social inclusion with cutting-edge energy solutions. They provide concrete local value through lower energy costs, increased social cohesion and local renewable energy. ENPOWER, through several pilots, has demonstrated that the local benefit of energy communities can be significantly enhanced by making use of digital and data-driven solutions. We invite you to join our Leadership Programme to learn how to make energy communities thrive in an increasingly digitalised energy system. 
The programme is designed to:
●    Educate about digital tools and services for community energy planning
●    Share real-life experiences from energy communities & lessons learned
●    Train in social engagement methods to effectively engage citizens and local actors

A webinar series will kick off the programme. The curriculum will be split into four modules and will be delivered virtually through a series of events. 
The modules cover a wide range of topics:

Module 1 “Digital Services for Energy Communities, their practical application and benefit” 
This module will provide a fundamental overview of the digital technologies involved for developing data-driven energy communities. In this webinar we will explore (among other tools), the Citizen Renewable Platform – Engage, an AI-powered community energy portal developed and tested in Ireland. This portal allows its users unlock energy efficiencies and increase energy awareness through energy auditing and energy efficiency measures. We will also consider the Power Seller Nudging App, a digital tool developed in Austria; this app delivers personalised energy production recommendations, encouraging behavioural changes in communities. By the end of this module, you will have a better understanding of the digital solutions developed by ENPOWER project partners. Participants will also explore practical experiences from pilots, drawing lessons and best practices from implementing these into their communities.

Module 2 “ENPOWERing Citizens in Energy Communities: Navigating Regulations”
This module will show you how data-driven energy communities can thrive under the right regulatory framework. You will get an overview of how six EU countries have set regulations in support of energy communities with a digital and data-driven approach. This will help you in navigating the often-complex regulatory conditions in the energy space. It will also show how the participation of citizens in the energy system is enabled (or limited) by their national regulations and legal framework. The module includes a review of the EU and national legal & regulatory frameworks on energy communities, highlighting differences in the transposition of the concept in the six participating countries in the project. It also provides a concise regulatory analysis for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) electricity delivery and a brief overview of regulatory frameworks for integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Fostering a better understanding of regulatory frameworks for Energy Sharing and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) markets is also part of this module.

Module 3 “Balancing Technological Innovation and Social Engagement in Digital Energy Communities”
An increase in digitalisation and data-driven approaches in the energy space needs to be balanced with real and meaningful citizen engagement. After all, energy communities are primarily social concepts providing value to people. Besides the technical advantages that digital technologies offer for energy systems, it is worth asking: how can these technologies be used to really make a difference for energy citizens? This module will show you how to use new technological solutions and couple them with effective social engagement strategies to ensure sufficient uptake. It will guide you through inclusive co-design practices and innovative incentives that were effective in the ENPOWER project. You will learn from real-life success stories—like Ireland’s Dingle Hub—and explore how energy & digital literacy, trust-building, and shared decision-making build the foundation of resilient energy communities.

Module 4 “Scaling up Energy Communities with Effective Data Strategies, Governance and Business Models”
This final module is where we bring everything together. By applying ENPOWER’s structured approach you will learn how to develop data-driven, resilient energy communities and how to scale them up while accounting for different market and governance frameworks. During the session you will learn how to define clear objectives for the energy community, set up effective governance models and apply customer-centric business models that put citizens in the centre. We’ll also show you how to evaluate your energy community’s digitalisation —what to measure, how often, how to assure quality, and how to verify results— by developing appropriate data collection and management strategies. Participation in this module is especially effective for those who have already joined the previous modules.
Key dates
●    Capacity building activities start in September 2025
●    Registrations for this first wave of activities under the Leadership Programme are possible until the end of October 2025
●    ENPOWER Leadership Programme Webinars:
    •    Webinar#1 covering Module 1 “Digital Services for Energy Communities, their practical application and benefit” - Date: Tuesday, 30th September 2025 - 10 am
    •    Webinar#2 covering Module 2 “ENPOWERing Citizens in Energy Communities: Navigating Regulations” - Date: Tuesday, 07th October 2025 - 10 am
    •    Webinar#3 covering Module 3 “Balancing Technological Innovation and Social Engagement in Digital Energy Communities” - Date: Thursday, 23rd October 2025 - 10am
    •    Webinar#4 covering Module 4 “Scaling up Energy Communities with Effective Data Strategies, Governance and Business Models” - Date: Thursday, 30th October 2025 - 10 am

Note 1: Webinars will have a duration of 2.5 hours each, you will receive a calendar invitation with a link and the agenda some days before each session.
Note 2: Participants are welcome to join the webinars that best match their interests and availability. While it is possible to attend selected sessions, we strongly encourage participation in the full programme to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ENPOWER approach and benefit from the complete learning journey. 
Note 3: When participating in the full programme, you’ll be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion, recognising your commitment and new expertise. This certificate can be an asset for your professional profile and a great way to show your leadership in digital tools, social engagement approaches and scalability for data-driven energy communities.

We encourage applications from:
●    Initiators and facilitators of (already existing) energy communities
●    Local and regional governments interested in promoting energy communities
●    Public and private companies who can provide services to energy communities
●    Social Support Organisations already providing services to their communities

For more information on the programme and/or the application process please contact us here.
Participate in the programme by filling the following registration form.