EMPOWER 2.0 is the abbreviation of Empowering the citizens - Towards European Energy Market 2.0 (Enabling More People’s OWnership in Energy tRansition).

The project aims to demonstrate and accelerate the empowerment of citizens to become active energy citizens - and to create local energy communities via existing civil society structures - through development of new solutions (e.g. organisational) and adoption of new, emerging and existing solutions for energy ownership.  This will lead to an increase of energy awareness and renewable energy production, and hence reduce the environmental footprint in the North Sea Region.

EMPOWER2.0 is an Interreg North Sea Region funded project with 15 partners, led by Gemeente Zaanstad (NL):

• 7 cities/provinces/intermuncipality organisations (Gemeente Zaanstad (NL), Provincie West-Vlaanderen (BE), Essex County Council (UK), Southend on Sea Borough Council (UK), Middelfart Kommune (DK), Gemeente Haarlem (NL), Intercommunale Leiedal (BE))
• 3 universities (Hogeschool van Amsterdam (NL), University of Southern Denmark (DK), Ghent University (BE))
• 2 companies (Gate2Growth (DK), Graham Oakes Ltd (UK))
• 3 cooperatives (Coöperatieve WeSpark Zaanstreek (NL), Stadsgarage (NL), Coöperatie Kennemer Energie (NL)).