Collaborating with local communities to Advance Energy Transition

• by OEGA
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As we embark on a new phase of work, the GWO (Galician Wind Observatory) is committed to empowering local and rural citizens to assume a pivotal role in the energy transition process. We are currently conducting meetings across Galicia with local stakeholders as an initial point of contact. Our primary objective during these visits is to identify existing local energy transition initiatives. Additionally, in partnership with the University of Vigo, we are extending our support to enhance local efforts in strengthening their energy systems.

This approach was exemplified during our visits to Begonte, situated in the Terra Chá region, and O Rosal, located in the Baixo Miño region of Pontevedra. In Begonte, we gained first-hand insights into the ambitious initiatives led by the City Council, with active participation from the local business community, especially the livestock farmers of Begonte. Meanwhile, in O Rosal, while the objectives for locally controlled renewable installed capacity may be more modest, they have been significantly enhanced by previous awareness campaigns conducted under the leadership of the City Council. In both cases, the common thread is the active involvement of citizens as the driving force and central figures in the transformation of the local energy model. The initial step of generating electricity from renewable sources is just one of the broader, medium-term objectives pursued by the local communities in these two rural municipalities.