Putting People at the Heart of the Energy Transition – Lessons from BatteREstore
Javier Leiva, 2026
European Urban Initiative (EUI)
BatteREstore is a project aimed at addressing two key challenges emerging in the energy transition: the ability to store energy for better management of renewable energy sources, and the integration of demand and renewable generation into electricity grids, particularly in areas experiencing congestion.
In this zoom-in, we look at a fundamental dimension of a project like this: people. While second-life batteries can help address the challenges outlines above—particularly by providing a solution with a lower environmental impact and aiming to remain cost-effective—the success of this solution also depends on the active involvement of citizens. Ultimately, these solutions are designed for them, to improve their quality of life and to contribute to a more sustainable energy system.
To explore these aspects of participation and engagement, we brought together a group of experts involved in the project: Tanja Jansen-Hassouna, project manager of BatteREstore at the Municipality of Tilburg; Anita de Bont, social worker at Contour de Twern; Niek Prast, business developer at EnergieWending; and from Energiebox, Jurgen Tielbeke, Director-Founder, and Marjan van de Vrie, Tilburg team leader.
Together, they share perspectives ranging from city-level strategy to the practical tools and direct support offered to residents and citizens. Their insights help us understand how people can truly be placed at the center of a project like this.
The zoom-in
How did the BatteREstore project come about?
Tanja Jansen-Hassouna:
Within the municipality, we work with broad sustainability goals and actively look for solutions that can contribute to several of them at the same time. In this context, using second-hand batteries could contribute significantly to several goals the city has, particularly regarding pollution reduction and sustainability.
However, developing a project like BatteREstore within a municipality takes time. It took several years to move from the initial idea to the stage where we could apply for European funding or other financial support. During that period, we discussed the concept of second-life battery applications with many different actors, and some potential partners became involved because their ideas were aligned with the project’s vision.
Applying for European funding often requires revisiting and refining the original concept. In many cases, proposals need to be redesigned or adjusted, but this process can actually be very positive because it helps strengthen the project and clarify its objectives.
BatteREstore is the result of this process and this way of working.
At first glance, building sites might seem the easiest place to test this solution. Why did you decide to also involve neighborhood centers?
Tanja Jansen-Hassouna:
Initially it would have been more logical to focus only on building sites where the solution could be tested more easily. However, we decided also to involve neighborhood centers. That was a more challenging step, but it also created an opportunity to reach additional goals, particularly by engaging local communities and exploring how this type of solution could generate tangible benefits at neighborhood level.
If we have the opportunity within a project like this to involve communities and try to create an impact locally, then we should take that chance. Ideally, the experience gained here can later help improve the use of energy in other areas as well.
Before going further, we would like to introduce some of the partners involved. Could you explain how you are involved in the project?
Anita de Bont:
Contour de Twern is a social work organization operating in Tilburg and several other towns and villages in the southern part of the Netherlands. In Tilburg we manage 14 community centers spread across the city.
In these centers, social workers organize activities that strengthen communities and help people support themselves and each other. For example, we organize activities for elderly people such as exercise groups, as well as social meetings where people can come together for coffee or tea. We also run language courses for people who want to improve their Dutch.
Another part of our organization focuses on children and youth between the ages of 0 and 20. Overall, our role is to support neighborhoods and help build stronger communities.
Niek Prast:
EnergieWending works on creating an inclusive energy transition. We focus particularly on people who are already experiencing energy poverty or are at risk of falling into it.
Many people benefit from the energy transition through solar panels, subsidies and lower energy bills, but this can also increase the gap between those who benefit and those who cannot afford these technologies. Our work starts at what we call “step zero”: helping households stabilize their energy situation. We make sure homes are warm, safe and free from issues like mould, and that people are not paying unnecessary amounts for energy.
In the last three years we have worked with nearly 2,000 households. Through these interactions we have developed many tools and approaches for communicating with residents and understanding their needs. This allows us to experiment with ways to reach people more effectively and support them better.
Jurgen Tielbeke and Marjan van de Vrie:
Energiebox is part of a social enterprise foundation that has been working for around five years to support households in living more sustainably. The organization focuses on three main goals. First, helping low-income households improve their homes and energy behavior by providing information, advice, and practical measures. Second, tackling poverty, particularly energy poverty, by preventing housing problems such as mould, excessive heat or cold, and drafty homes. Third, creating employment opportunities by supporting people who are unemployed to gain skills and enter jobs in the sustainable economy.
In Tilburg, we have applied these goals locally, visiting over 9,200 households with the help of six coaches. Some households have everything under control, while others cannot even afford to turn on their heating. Our role is to improve their situation directly, and when needed, we connect residents with other organizations that can provide administrative or financial support, for example for energy bills. Across the Netherlands, Energiebox has already helped around 100,000 households and supported more than 200 people in entering employment within the sustainability sector.
How do you put people at the center of the project?
Tanja Jansen-Hassouna:
The first step is realizing that we cannot do it alone as a municipality. We may have highly skilled staff and good ideas, but connecting with people requires trust, and that takes time. To build trust in communities, you need to be present again and again before people really open up.
As a government organization, it can be challenging to maintain that consistency due to shifting priorities or changes in policy along time. That is why we rely on partners like Contour de Twern, who already have strong relationships in neighborhoods, as well as organizations like Energiebox and EnergieWending, which have extensive experience working directly with residents. This collaboration allows us not just to stay in touch, but to work together with communities to identify possible improvements.
So, the starting point is recognizing that effectively reaching people requires collaboration with organizations that already have established trust.
A key challenge here is bringing high technology closer to citizens. Is this an impossible challenge?
Jurgen Tielbeke and Marjan van de Vrie:
It is not impossible, but it requires a careful approach. Trust is essential. The right setting matters—sometimes, something as simple as sitting together over a cup of coffee can make all the difference.
We do not start with complex concepts like energy storage or grid congestion. Instead, we begin with practical, tangible benefits for people, such as reducing energy bills or improving their homes. When people see that we are genuinely helping them, trust grows.
It is also important to use the right language. Coaches should be able to explain things in simple terms and, where possible, share the cultural background of the residents they work with. By combining energy professionals with socially skilled staff, we can engage people effectively.
Step by step, we then explain the larger project and how neighborhood batteries work. This process takes time. The goal is not only to communicate with people but also to keep them actively involved in the project.
Niek Prast:
The energy transition is ultimately a social transition. The technology exists—we already have the batteries and the systems—but if people do not change their behavior, mindset or attitude, the transition will not succeed.
A battery may look impressive or attract attention, but the real work happens in building relationships with people. Sometimes we need to visit the same household many times before people are ready to participate; hence, an important lesson will be not to underestimate this social dimension. Technology can draw attention, but lasting impact depends on trust, engagement, and understanding how people live and act.
Anita de Bont:
People need time to adapt to change. If you try to introduce too many new ideas at once, it becomes overwhelming. In this sense, we can say timing matters. Energy-saving behaviors are easier to adopt during colder months, when the impact on comfort and bills is immediate. And learning to manage energy use and improve home insulation often takes one winter. But experiencing the benefits—lower bills and more comfortable homes—creates a solid foundation and gradually builds knowledge and habits over time.
Keeping things simple is also key: people do not need to understand every technical detail. If they see that using energy at certain times lowers their bills, they are already motivated to change their behavior and adopt new solutions, such as neighborhood batteries. Clear, practical guidance makes it easier for people to engage and adapt to new ways of using energy.
Energy can feel complex, and households may face economic challenges. How do you engage residents and capture their interest?
Marjan van de Vrie:
People who struggle to pay their energy bills often face many other challenges in their lives. They may not have the energy or capacity to take initiative themselves. That means we need to design solutions that require as little effort as possible from them and offer clear benefits.
We will try to anticipate their needs and offer a plan that they can easily follow—so participation becomes simple and directly advantageous. Complex energy concepts, billing systems, or technical details can be intimidating, especially for households under financial pressure. By keeping things straightforward and immediately relevant, we make it possible for residents to engage meaningfully within the timeframe of the project.
Jurgen Tielbeke:
Seeing results quickly can also help: if people notice improvements in their energy bills or comfort levels, it builds trust.
Another effective strategy is to involve those who are already participating in the project. When neighbors hear about positive experiences from someone they know, they are more likely to join. We can use these early participants–innovators in the neighborhood–to communicate the benefits and encourage others to get involved. In terms of outreach, focusing on this early majority provides a solid base for future expansion, as time constraints often prevent reaching the late majority during the project period.
Niek Prast:
Visibility is key. Making the battery system tangible, as a visible object in the community, helps people connect with the project. But also visibility helps in other dimensions. For instance, in Amsterdam we make ourselves very visible with bright colors, bikes, posters and flyers. People see us repeatedly in their neighborhoods before we even knock on their door. By the time we eventually meet them, they recognize us and feel more comfortable talking to us. Being present regularly in neighborhoods and community spaces also helps build familiarity and trust.
Equally important is co-creating communications with residents. When people feel that the project belongs to them—not just to the city—they are more likely to engage. This sense of ownership transforms a top-down message into a shared initiative: “This is ours, this is our community.”
Based on previous experience, what lessons can guide this project, particularly when it comes to engaging people and fostering participation?
Anita de Bont:
Language can be a major barrier. Many people in our communities do not speak Dutch very well, which makes it difficult for them to understand information about energy or new initiatives in general. In our community centers we run language classes, and we recently started collaborating with Energiebox to include lessons about energy in these classes. There are about 50 language groups across Tilburg.
During these sessions people learn basic concepts about energy and discuss how they can save energy in their homes. At the same time, they learn that Energiebox can offer free advice and support. This approach helps reach people who might otherwise remain disconnected from the energy transition.
Addressing the language barrier is crucial: even if the project implements many actions for residents, communication will fall short if people cannot fully understand the information or connect with the initiative.
Marjan van de Vrie:
Another important lesson is that we cannot wait for people to come to us. Many will never take the first step themselves.
That is why our coaches visit neighborhoods door-to-door. For example, we may visit around 50 homes in a day. Out of those, we might return to 10 or 20 homes for deeper conversations. This direct approach reaches many more people than sending letters or waiting for people to contact us.
How is this project perceived by the city, its stakeholders, and the wider community?
Tanja Jansen-Hassouna:
Awareness of the project is steadily growing across the municipality, which is key for involving the right teams and departments. So far, policy makers and innovation teams are already engaged and supportive, recognizing the potential of BatteREstore to make a real impact.
Some aspects will work and others may not, but these kind of initiatives are essential if we want to accelerate progress in the energy transition. There is a strong sense that practical experimentation like this is key to drive progress in the energy transition, and this positive momentum sets the stage for future engagement with residents as the project develops.
The way forward
As Tanja Jansen-Hassouna explains, BatteREstore is closely connected to Tilburg’s broader ambition to become CO2-neutral by 2045. Reaching that goal means moving away from fossil fuels and advancing the electrification of key areas such as heating and mobility. But this transition also brings new challenges, particularly grid congestion and energy poverty. In this context, BatteREstore is intended not only as a technical response, but also as a practical contribution to making the city’s path towards climate neutrality more resilient and inclusive.
She also underlines that the project develops through two closely connected tracks. In its first phase, the focus has been mainly on spatial and technical questions, especially the selection and preparation of pilot sites at building locations and near community centres. As these sites become defined, social partners can increasingly step in to support citizen involvement and prepare the ground for engagement. As she puts it, the project is now moving towards convergence between both pillars, where technical implementation and work with communities begin to come together more clearly.
Looking beyond the implementation phase, the project also points towards a broader legacy. For residents, this could mean a stronger understanding of the energy transition and a greater capacity to optimise energy use and costs in everyday life. For the construction sector, it could help make zero-emission building a more obvious and viable option in Tilburg. And more broadly, it could contribute to wider acceptance of repurposed batteries as a useful solution for peak shaving and for improving energy efficiency at local grid level.