Santa Casa is leading an energy transition project in the social sector

Over the course of 36 months, the project will identify barriers and needs, carry out studies and assessments, develop technical solutions and propose funding models, so that the transition can become a reality in the social sector, which cares for vulnerable groups and faces multiple challenges. These objectives led the director of Santa Casa, Paulo de Sousa, to highlight the importance of SET-M, stating that the energy transition is, above all, “a matter of social justice”.

“Facilities that care for the elderly, children, people with disabilities, vulnerable families or citizens with additional needs are places where the consequences of climate change and energy poverty are felt particularly acutely. Therefore, investing in the energy efficiency of these facilities is about much more than simply improving buildings and living conditions and protecting the health and wellbeing of our service users. It means creating more comfortable and safer environments for those receiving care and for those working there, and ensuring that these facilities are increasingly focused on their core mission: caring for people”, he emphasised at the opening of the project’s presentation session.

Explaining that SET-M stems from the need to overcome the technical, financial, legal and administrative barriers that continue to hinder investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy in the social sector, Paulo de Sousa added that the project will enable “the creation of replicable solutions, the strengthening of capacities and support for the preparation of investments” that will help accelerate the energy transition of Portugal’s Misericórdias.

Co-funded by the European Union, SET-M involves preparing a series of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy generation across various types of facilities, including care homes, healthcare facilities, housing and community centres. In addition to the energy and environmental impacts, social and institutional benefits are also anticipated, such as a reduction in energy costs, improved comfort in the facilities, the alleviation of energy poverty and the strengthening of the Portuguese Misericórdias’ capacity to develop and finance sustainable investments. These are ambitious objectives, as the Provedor of Santa Casa was keen to emphasise, noting that the project was designed to “produce results that will endure beyond its formal duration”.

Led by Santa Casa, the SET-M / Social Energy Transition for Misericórdias consortium also includes the Union of Portuguese Misericórdias, ORLA and Deloitte, thereby bringing together operational expertise, national mobilisation capacity, and technical and legal expertise.