New LIFE Project launches to drive inclusive energy renovations across Europe

Written By Alicia Fernandez
 

[PRESS RELEASE]

IRENE´s kick-off meeting marks the start of a new LIFE initiative supporting vulnerable households in multi-apartment buildings

The European LIFE-funded project IRENE: Catalysing Inclusive, Representative, Equitable Energy reNovation wavE has officially launched

IRENE brings together a multidisciplinary consortium committed to tackling energy poverty and promoting accessible energy renovations across Europe

 IRENE´s kick-off meeting marks the official start

The kick-off meeting, held this week in Madrid, marked the first official gathering of the project’s consortium. Representatives from Global Factor International Consulting SL, Technische Universiteit Delft, Stad Vilvoorde, Stad Leuven, Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Servicios Energéticos, Ayuntamiento de Madrid, Atnaujinkime Miesta, Lithuanian Consumers Alliance, Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, and Horizon Europe Leading Projects assembled to outline the work plan for the next three years.

Combating energy poverty

Energy poverty affects millions of people across the EU, impacting their health, social inclusion, and overall quality of life. The IRENE project addresses this challenge by promoting integral energy-efficiency renovations in multi-apartment buildings to combat energy poverty and prevent gentrification. The project prioritises vulnerable households and neighbourhoods to reduce energy consumption and improve thermal comfort and living conditions in four pilot cities: Vilvoorde and Leuven (Belgium), Vilnius (Lithuania), and Madrid (Spain).

IRENE also aims to strengthen community participation through Energy Justice Hubs while establishing and enhancing One-Stop Shops (OSS), which act as centralised contact points offering homeowners and communities technical, financial, and legal support throughout the renovation process.

The project aligns with the Renovation Wave under the European Green Deal, which seeks to improve energy performance, boost the economy, and enhance living standards across Europe.

Field Visit to Madrid’s Pilot Area

As part of the kick-off activities, project partners and local residents visited two key neighbourhoods in Madrid. The visit began in Poblado Dirigido de Orcasitas, where community representative Manuela Navarro, president of Asociación Vecinal Guetaria, showcased a success story of collective, long-term rehabilitation efforts led by residents.

Participants then travelled to Puerto Chico, the official Madrid pilot site of IRENE. Global Factor introduced the project, while representatives from the Ayuntamiento de Madrid explained current funding opportunities for accessibility and energy-efficiency upgrades, as well as future municipal plans to improve public spaces in the district.

The day concluded with a visit to the Oficina Verde of Ayuntamiento de Madrid, the city’s One Stop Shop for information on public grants for energy upgrades and urban regeneration. Under the IRENE project, a similar OSS will be established in Puerto Chico to support residents throughout their renovation journey.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity for project partners to connect with residents, better understand their needs, and explore the areas where upcoming renovations will take place.

Expected Impact

IRENE aims to reduce energy use by 72 GWh/year, cut CO₂ emissions by 68.6 tCO₂e/year, and improve the living conditions of vulnerable groups. The project will:

  • Strengthen community participation through training programmes and a Just Energy Protocol.

  • Facilitate the renovation of 227 buildings and secure €293M in investments, benefiting 7,440 vulnerable households.

  • Train 500 residents in energy efficiency.

  • Establish 97 governance structures to prevent displacement and gentrification.

  • Develop OSS in 4 pilot cities (Madrid, Vilnius, Vilvoorde, and Leuven) as accessible frameworks for integral renovation services.

  • Develop replicable models for large-scale inclusive renovation across Europe.

About the IRENE Project

  • Programme: LIFE Clean Energy Transition

  • Reference: LIFE24-CET-IRENE/101215481

  • Duration: 01/09/2025 – 31/08/2028

  • Total Budget: €1,842,069

  • EU Contribution: €1,749,966

  • Consortium: The project is led by Global Factor International Consulting SL (GLOBAL FACTOR) and delivered in collaboration with: Technische Universiteit Delft (TU DELFT), Stad Vilvoorde (VILVOORDE), Stad Leuven (LEUVEN), Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Servicios Energéticos (ANESE), Ayuntamiento de Madrid (AYTO MADRID), Atnaujinkime Miesta (AMIESTAS), Lithuanian Consumers Alliance (LCA), Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), and Horizon Europe Leading Projects (HELPEU).

Press Contact

Email: infoirene@globalfactor.com
Website: https://www.helpeu.eu/irene

LIFE PROGRAMME EMBLEM

This project has received funding from the European Union’s LIFE Programme under Grant Agreement No. LIFE24-CET-IRENE/101215481.

Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

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Alicia Fernandez