“Energy for Life”, A Project Worthy of Top Marks
The Intelligent Energy Association (AEI) recently completed the tenth stage of the “Energy for Life” project, through which it electrified, by installing photovoltaic panels, 11 isolated households located in the villages of Gura Mili and Bontu Sec, belonging to the commune of Siriu, and Groapa Ceciliei, Matara and Alunis in the commune of Colti, Buzau County, which had never been connected to the electricity grid and had no real chance of receiving energy in the near future.
According to the National Electronic Register of Households without Electricity in Romania (RENGEER), which includes the inventory of households not connected to the electricity grid in Romania, there were 55 households without electricity in Buzau County at the time of its launch in April 2024.
The National Electronic Register of Households without Electricity in Romania was developed with the support of the Ministry of Energy as a tool for measuring the degree of extreme energy poverty in our country and represents an important step towards eradicating this phenomenon, as it provides a starting point for both the development of public policies to reduce extreme energy poverty in our country and for taking effective action to reduce this phenomenon, such as the “Energy for Life” project.
RENGEER was published in April 2024 and revealed that 5,494 households without electricity were inhabited by 11,611 people, of whom 4,777 were under the age of 18. Worryingly, 87% of the houses without electricity do not have a land register, which makes it difficult to tackle this problem institutionally. Moreover, 64% of people living in homes without electricity have estimated incomes below the minimum income per person and per household in Romania, which would make it difficult to pay for the electricity consumed. Also, in 53% of cases access to buildings without electricity is difficult, and for 10% there are no access roads.
“Energy for Life is a project that deserves a ‘10’, and I am referring here both to the fact that we have managed to implement ten stages of this initiative so far, and to the impressive mobilization it has enjoyed. Since its first phase in June 2021, the project has gathered an impressive community of supporters – companies, volunteers, media representatives. Moreover, we have obtained the support of the Ministry of Energy in the inventory of non-electrified housing in Romania and thus we have a clear record of the areas where our involvement is most needed and, at the same time, a tool with which we can measure the progress Romania is making in reducing extreme energy poverty. ‘Zero homes without electricity’ in Romania is still our goal and we intend to continue this project and to bring a drop of ‘normality’ in non-electrified homes by installing photovoltaic panels,” said Monica David, President, Intelligent Energy Association, Energy for Life Project Coordinator.
“At OMV Petrom, we believe that sustainable energy transition starts with concrete projects, built in partnership with communities and academia. Our support for initiatives such as Energy for Life reflects our commitment to invest in innovation, energy efficiency and education for a more sustainable future,” the OMV Petrom team says about this collaboration.
“SNTGN Transgaz S.A. is a committed partner dedicated to initiatives that generate a positive and real impact in people’s lives, and we support projects that bring transformation in the communities where we operate. Transgaz’s involvement in the “Energy for Life” project, now in its tenth phase, reflects our ongoing commitment to social responsibility and concrete support to communities in vulnerable situations. Through its active involvement in the “Energy for Life” project, Transgaz reaffirms its role as a strategic partner in promoting social cohesion and energy equity, while aligning itself with national and European objectives in the field of sustainability. By working with relevant actors in the public and private sector, we aim not only to respond to immediate needs, but also to contribute to building a fairer, more sustainable future. The Energy for Life project is an example of concrete action that translates into practice the values that Transgaz promotes – solidarity, responsibility and progress,” the Transgaz team says.
“Energy for Life” was launched in the summer of 2021 to raise the alarm on extreme energy poverty in Romania. The project enjoyed widespread coverage and received support from companies and media representatives, which made its implementation possible. Following the conclusion of the Partnership for Combating Energy Poverty in Romania between the Intelligent Energy Association and the Ministry of Energy in the fall of 2023, the “Energy for Life” project is implemented under the umbrella of this agreement.
Over the past five years, the Intelligent Energy Association has electrified 71 homes in 35 villages located in eight counties.
The tenth edition of “Energy for Life” was made possible thanks to the support of the project partners OMV Petrom and Transgaz.
Media partners: Economistul, Financial Intelligence, The Diplomat, Spot Media, Club Antreprenor, InvesTenergy, Focus Energetic, Energy Industry Review, Energy Center, Energy Magazine, NewsEnergy, Ziarul Pozitiv, EM 360 Studio, Club Economic and Romania Durabila.
