In the context of social fabric organization, Energy Communities (ECs) align with the EU’s strategic objectives and commitments on sustainability, energy security, and citizen participation to provide the population with a space for interaction, unity, and joint work to face the new challenges of the Energy Transition.

This analysis of the case studies focuses on identifying the mutual aid and common good actions carried out and, ultimately, estimating their contribution to the revitalization of the rural community.

Based on the conceptual context:

• The energy transition is an opportunity for rural areas as it allows rural development strategies to be channeled.
• The energy-gender nexus is a necessary framework, as effective energy justice policies cannot be developed without including a gender and intersectionality perspective.
• Including women in decision-making in the energy sector is essential to achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda. They are not only essential for reasons of representative justice, but also at a strategic level.

The proposal is based on women being taken into account solely to ensure the energy transition. This “feminization of environmental responsibility” occurs despite women being underrepresented in the sector. It has to do with their traditional role as caregivers.

The analysis focuses on the study of four cases, gathering information from in-depth interviews with multiple actors (community energy groups, municipalities, and NGOs):

1. Arroyomolinos Energy Community, León, Huelva, Andalusia, Spain
2. Luco Energía Energy Cooperative, Luco Jiloca, Teruel, Spain
3. Prades de la Molsosa Energy Cooperative, Catalonia, Spain
4. European Energy Cooperative “EfiDuero Energy SCEL”, EGTC Duero/Douro small towns in the provinces of Zamora and Salamanca, Spain, and Trás-os-Montes and Beira Interior Norte, Portugal

The categories for gathering first-hand information are based on these main topics:

1. Job creation.
2. Sustainable actions beyond renewable energy (car sharing).
3. Rural revitalization (preservation of local heritage).
4. Social cohesion actions: activities with schools, community events, local festivals, participation of local entities in the energy community.
5. Environmental education, awareness raising, and promotion of diversity inclusion.
6. Training and knowledge transfer for REC members.
7. Collaboration, cooperation, networking, and mutual support actions.
8. Promotion of democratic and inclusive participation
9. Reconfiguration of gender roles
10. Attracting new residents

As general findings, the research concludes:

• There are usually strong links with other key organizations rooted in the local area (associations, other cooperatives, networks that bring together these third sector entities). For example, the Catalan Association of Micro-villages, the Andalusian School of Social Economy, the SOM Energia Cooperative, and the Copernico Cooperative.
• The members of the steering group have higher education and are available to devote time to the project.

In conclusion:

1. CERs position themselves as “driving forces” for a fair, inclusive, and democratic energy transition. It is unlikely that they will correct the dynamics that have prevailed for decades in some rural areas of Spain and Portugal.
2. The results confirm that these organizations can be reserves of social capital for: a) Reducing the aging process of the population and revitalizing local dynamics of interaction between actors. b) Indirectly mitigating depopulation processes (Serrano & Esparcia, 2023, Castro-Arce & Vanclay, 2020; Kluvankova et al., 2021). c) However, gender policies must support these networks to facilitate their establishment and continuity, as the role of women is vital.
3. Fruitful interaction between new residents and local inhabitants >>Both share objectives (energy sovereignty, desire for democratic processes, willingness to counteract large corporations) >>Sometimes they have complementary interests: newcomers focus more on technical issues, while long-time residents have a strong commitment to the territory.
4. The concentration of these intangible resources >>actions for transformation, change, and social innovation are the necessary tools for generating actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change (Dasgupta et al., 2014).

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Cite
Pallarès-Blanch, M.; Del Valle Ramos, C.; Ramos Trávez, D.; Delicado, Ana & Prados Velasco, M.J. (2025, 17 y 21 de junio). Reshaping gender roles and boosting the energytransition: Energy Communities as an opportunity tountie depopulation in Spanish and Portuguese rural areas [comunicación]. XIX International Conference on Overarching Issues of the European Area.

Link 
https://euroissues.pt/en/jornadas-xix-2025/boas-vindas/