Energy Communities are a form of collective action initiative that can provide your community with the ability to own and operate energy systems. They come in various forms and sizes, from small to large local communities, and can perform a variety of energy-related activities. They are open and voluntary, combining non-commercial aims with environmental and social community objectives.
Your energy community can involve the collaboration of citizens and other entities (e.g. municipalities, network operators, energy providers, companies and NGOs), with the collective aim of contributing towards energy system transformation while generating a range of benefits for all parties involved.
Understand your role and context
Energy communities can undertake a range of activities, such as energy production, supply, distribution, storage, heating and mobility services. The most common form is local energy generation and consumption.
EU legislation recognises and protects Renewable Energy Communities and Citizen Energy Communities under the Clean Energy Package. These frameworks define what communities can do, their governance principles, participation models, and their rights and protections when engaging in the energy system. National laws build on these rules, so communities need to understand how they are applied in their country.
Get practical guidance
- You can find information on EU initiatives supporting citizen energy communities and renewable energy communities, alongside an overview of relevant EU Legislation under EU guidance on energy communities.
- The European Energy Communities Facility hosts a repository of one-stop shops across the EU, which provide services to support and help grow energy communities.
- Discover practical tools, templates, reports and papers aimed at supporting local, community-led renewable energy initiatives through the REScoop Toolbox.
- Get step-by-step advice on launching, managing, and scaling local community energy projects at The European Community Power Coalition Practical Handbook.
- Learn more about the benefits of an energy community and how to become a member or start an energy community through this Guidance Document.
- The Energy Community Platform can help find case studies showcasing energy communities across the EU, demonstrating best practices and showcasing successful examples.
- This platform also offers further tools and resources for all development stages of your energy community, from the early concept stage through to implementation and operation.
Meet Ana: An energy community board member looking to scale up a community solar PV project
- Who Ana is: A board member of a recently established local energy cooperative
- Her situation: Part of a community in rural Spain that has launched a pilot solar PV project and wants to expand
- What she’s trying to figure out: How to scale the initiative, access funding, and build reliable partnerships
- What makes it difficult: Navigating funding options, administrative requirements, and organisational complexity
- In her words: “We’ve proven the idea works locally, but scaling it feels complex and hard to navigate.”
Ana asks:
How can we scale up our solar PV initiative and access funding?
- Ana’s cooperative can apply for project development assistance through mechanisms such as the LIFE Clean Energy Transition, CEAH Technical Assistance, or Horizon Europe calls related to citizen energy.
- In addition, they may be able to access support and advice from their local municipality and regional energy agencies that often provide funding or resources for energy communities. Ana’s cooperative can identify such local support in a map of energy agencies across the EU.
- Ana can read more about other financing options and decide which journey best fits her situation by reading CEAH Guidance Documents: ‘A citizen’s guide to energy citizenship’ and ‘Navigating EU support for your citizen energy project'.
Where can we find partners for replication or scaling up?
- Platforms like the Smart Cities Marketplace and the European Climate Pact offer matchmaking and partnership opportunities. Ana’s cooperative could also join thematic clusters via the European Cluster Collaboration Platform.
- By joining networks such as REScoop.eu, the cooperative can access guidance on governance, financing models, cooperative management, and community coaching to strengthen internal capacity.
How do we manage complexity while staying community-focused?
- Access the links in the practical guidance section for learning and networking opportunities with other energy communities. These provide real-world examples of what works, common pitfalls, and ways to keep members engaged and informed during growth.
- Contact existing energy communities within or near your local area and schedule a meeting to discuss your ideas and see whether they have any advice from their implementation experience. It is also useful to check out this map of energy agencies that you can contact for your country and local energy communities.
- Find all local and national energy communities in this map, explore their projects and identify potential partners for your own initiative.