UCLouvain secures Horizon Europe funding to study energy inequality and policy

UCLouvain is proud to announce its participation in a new Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, Enerpol, dedicated to training the next generation of researchers for a fair, sustainable and inclusive energy transition. The project brings together leading institutions to explore how households can play an active role in shaping tomorrow’s energy systems.

An innovative approach to the energy transition
Coordinated by the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) under the Horizon Europe Excellence Pillar MSCA doctoral networks, Enerpol aims to transform households from passive consumers into producers and flexibility providers. This shift is essential to building a climate-neutral and socially equitable energy system.

The project addresses energy inequality by combining behavioral insights with detailed data on income, wealth and energy use. This approach will help better understand, and reduce, disparities in how households experience and respond to volatile energy prices.

UCLouvain’s contribution through CORE/LIDAM
As a key partner, UCLouvain will contribute to the international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral training environment created by Enerpol. Researchers from CORE/LIDAM, including Professors Bert Willems, Jean Hindriks and François Maniquet, bring expertise in economics, public economics and energy policy to the project.

Training the next generation of energy experts
Between March 2026 and February 2030, Enerpol will train 14 doctoral candidates through an innovative programme that combines research with perspectives from economics, energy policy, public economics and data analytics. Fellows will acquire the skills to design equitable, evidence-based energy policies and to pursue impactful careers in academia, industry and policymaking.

Doctoral recruitment for positions starting in Autumn 2026 will open at the end of 2025 and early 2026. Stay tuned for updates.

Funded by the European Union