EPOV stands for the European Union Energy Poverty Observatory – an initiative supported by the European Union, aimed at providing a public hub for the gathering and dissemination of information on the extent and nature of domestic energy deprivation in Europe. The Observatory collects and publishes Europe-wide energy poverty data while serving as the focal point of an emergent network of policy-makers, research scientists, advocacy groups and community activists interested in the issue. It aims to improve the state of the art on energy poverty detection, measurement and reporting by creating a public forum for the exchange of knowledge on the issue.
The Observatory is part of a growing drive to consolidate energy policy at the level of the European Union, reflected in the Energy Union and Clean Energy Package proposals. EPOV thus provides a decision-support tool for the significant amount of new European Union-wide energy policy, regulation and legislation that will be developed in the near future.
The Observatory itself is a vast organization, comprising a consortium of 13 universities, research institutes, companies and advocacy groups. More than 100 internationally-renowned experts are involved in its work via these organizations and EPOV’s independent Advisory Board.
The University of Manchester leads EPOV; Dr Harriet Thomson is its Project Manager and Professor Stefan Bouzarovski is the Observatory’s Chair. Find out more about the observatory on its official website.
People and Energy Collective 