The LIFE TURBINES project is strengthening local outreach and public engagement through a targeted series of activities across the Valencia region during the past months. Delivered in collaboration with AEIOLUZ, the programme connected with schools, rural networks and community energy groups to present practical pathways for energy efficiency, shared self-consumption and micro-hydropower integration in urban water systems.
Highlights of the outreach campaign include:
- A rural roundtable hosted at La Surera (Almedíjar), where 35 participants discussed renewable energies and community energy models; LIFE TURBINES was showcased as an example of micro-hydraulic generation within a broader discussion on energy communities and local resilience.
- School workshops and broadcast outreach at CEIP En Jaume I (Tavernes Blanques) reaching four class groups (70 pupils and 8 adult participants) with interactive sessions on renewables, water efficiency and energy bills, plus a live school radio interview to spread the message wider among families and the local community.
- A focused community energy workshop in Montserrat, attended by members of a local energy community (CEL), which explored shared self-consumption models, relevant legislation and the synergies between community energy and LIFE TURBINES’ approach to recovering energy from water networks.
“These activities demonstrate the practical value of combining technological demonstration with community dialogue”, said the AEIOLUZ lead representative.
Early feedback from participants underlines strong interest in scaling citizen-led energy solutions and in learning how recovered energy can support local services such as lighting and public fountains.
The project will continue this community engagement well into 2026, combining follow-up visits, technical briefings for municipal staff and further school activities to inspire the next generation of energy-aware citizens.
