With ICRT guidance, consumer organisations in the target countries learned how to conduct market research and analysed their renewable energy market to identify national products that were suitable for consumers and that were available at the time of the collective purchase campaigns (CPCs). Based on the outcome of this research, ICRT tested the products selected by the consumer organisations, which in turn informed the consumers about the testing results as well as other benefits of installing RES (renewable energy sources) and EE (energy efficient) technologies.
CLEAR-X partners learned how to organize a CPC through the manual compiled by ZPS and DECOP. They established a CPC action plan and started negotiations with potential suppliers, which were selected based on a pre-established evaluation grid to ensure that the selection process was transparent and fair, and would bring the best deal possible to consumers. After the negotiation phase, partners launched 9 CPCs, resulting in 1,777 installations of RES and EE products.
A comprehensive communication strategy emphasised the advantages of RES and EE technologies to both consumers and journalists. Partners implemented numerous communication activities across multiple channels, including social media, TV, radio, and events. Additionally, digital tools were used to illustrate potential energy savings when installing one or more products promoted through the CLEAR-X project, encouraging consumer participation in the CPCs. These efforts led to 17,501 consumers registering for campaign landing pages.
CLEAR-X partners assessed the implementation of relevant EU legislative acts, and consequently put forward 8 recommendations to improve consumer access to renewable energy and renewable energy technologies. Since then, partners advocated towards their governments on how to empower consumers in the energy transition and simplify the process of switching to renewable energy. As a result of their advocacy efforts, a total of 13 policies and strategies were created/adapted to incorporate sustainable energy issues at the government level.
Since it's early inception, the project had its website in place, promotion materials available, as well as a dissemination plan to guide partners throughout their dissemination actions in the target countries. Dissemination actions were implemented through different communication channels, as well as through the participation in working groups, conferences/events at national and EU level as well as via cooperation with other H2020 energy projects and with like-minded organisations. Since September 2022, BEUC started a quarterly newsletter aimed at updating policymakers, civil society organizations, and industry associations about the project's activities and outcomes. By the project's conclusion, the readership of the newsletter had doubled, reaching a total of 109 readers. A final event brought together 40 stakeholders to discuss the project's challenges and lessons learned.
