The spirit of AURORA focuses on promoting a comprehensive education for the energy transition. This involves a variety of actions and activities throughout the year aimed at motivating community participation through local projects and hands-on, immersive learning experiences. Our goal is to serve as a practical example that inspires hundreds of politicians and experts attending the upcoming COP (Conference of the Parties on Climate Change), to be held in Baku in mid-November, where the main topic of discussion will be how to finance climate change initiatives. While traditional financing models are still relevant, it is essential to innovate and explore new solutions, and this is where AURORA has a significant contribution to make.

Our approach is based on a model in which citizens fund local renewable energy installations, enabling a faster transition and offering a return of 1.5% to 2%. This allows institutions such as schools to avoid initial outlays of 100,000€ to 150,000€ for upgrading their electrical and climate systems. Through this model, schools can repay the loan with the savings generated by transitioning to self-consumption and eliminating gas use, all while enjoying the benefits of these systems from day one and continuing their normal operations. Once the loans are repaid to the local community, the savings from these installations can be reinvested in other projects, such as greening school playgrounds or educational initiatives that improve the students’ experience.

This approach is exactly what we aim to implement at the school in Vallecas, where AURORA plans to mobilize around 300 people to raise the necessary funding. The beauty of this project lies not in a few individuals holding a large share but in many small contributions adding up to create a substantial impact. Families from the school will join forces with the educational community of Campus Sur and the Ecooo community, becoming the first demonstration in Spain that climate change financing is not solely dependent on the participants at COPs, but that ordinary people can collaborate effectively.

On October 18th, the school in Vallecas warmly welcomed us to kick off the project. The entire school participated in a sustainability day that included the official inauguration of AURORA, with former class representatives cutting the ribbon and a welcome dance performed by the students. Additionally, the research team from UPM, responsible for the project, had the opportunity to engage in a discussion with students from 1st to 4th year of ESO (High School) about humanity’s response to various energy crises.

Starting in mid-November, anyone who wishes to contribute to the project’s funding will have all the information available on the AURORA website.