March 17 – March 18
Event by the European Commission
Athens, Greece
Description
The Energy Poverty Advisory Hub annual conference will take place on 17 and 18 March 2026 in Athens, Greece. Hosted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, in collaboration with the City of Athens and EPAH, and supported by the local EPAH antenna INZEB, this flagship event will bring Europe’s leading voices together to drive momentum in the fight against energy poverty.
This high-level conference will unite policymakers, local governments, practitioners and experts committed to address energy poverty as a growing structural challenge in Europe. With millions of citizens affected by rising energy costs, constrained household incomes, and inadequate building performance, the conference will spotlight forward-thinking, people-centred solutions and examine the importance of integrated local action in supporting vulnerable households.
Athens, actively working to advance social resilience and drive the energy transition, offers an ideal backdrop for this event. The city’s close partnership with INZEB and its commitment to community-driven initiatives provide an inspiring setting to explore how local actors can help drive sustainable and inclusive solutions to energy poverty.
Powering Europe’s Green Future
Electrification is one of Europe’s most powerful levers for energy security, resilience, and affordable power. Despite remarkable growth in clean energy generation, progress on end-use electrification has faced significant challenges. With the European Commission set to unveil its Electrification Action Plan in early 2026, the time for bold decisions is now.
The Electrification Ladder: A Framework for Progress
Alongside other high-level voices shaping Europe’s energy future, we are delighted to welcome Michael Liebreich, founder of Bloomberg New Energy Finance and a leading global authority on the clean energy transition. Mr. Liebreich will unveil the Electrification Ladder, the successor to his influential Hydrogen Ladder, offering a groundbreaking framework for understanding how and where the world can replace fossil fuels with electricity.
Programme overview
Over two days, participants will engage in a rich programme combining strategic vision with practical exchange. Inspiring keynote contributions, interactive sessions, peer-learning opportunities, and a site visit showcasing ongoing initiatives in Athens will create a unique space for knowledge-sharing and collaboration. The event will take place fully on site, while some sessions will also be available in hybrid format. Panel discussions are already confirmed as hybrid, and further information on additional hybrid sessions will be shared in due course.
Agenda
Participants will be able to attend:
- High-level Opening Sessions with interventions from influential policymakers, decision-makers, and senior representatives from EU, national and local levels.
- Panel Discussions that will involve constructive debates and interactive sessions to exchange ideas, share experiences, and identify innovative approaches for tackling energy poverty.
- Workshops. During the interactive sessions the aim is to gain practical insights, get inspired, learn and share good practices from stakeholders working on the ground.
- Site Visit to experience first-hand the impact of successful energy poverty initiatives in Athens through a guided visit to local actions that have made a significant difference in its community.
- Networking Area to connect with like-minded professionals, stakeholders, and experts in the field and foster collaboration.
Objectives
The conference will aim to:
- Inspire action by showcasing practical solutions and pioneering approaches from across Europe.
- Share new insights and valuable lessons from the EPAH initiative and its work with local governments.
- Elevate the needs of municipalities and foster collaboration to accelerate effective action and long-term change.