CEL RURAL

Nominated by: Eva Méndez Araújo ( R&D Engineer at ITG)

Summary of the project

The CEL Rural project advances renewable energy deployment in rural areas through innovative community energy models. Operating under the POCTEP cross-border cooperation framework, it promotes decentralised, democratic, and sustainable energy systems, harnessing local renewable resources to drive economic growth and population retention.

To overcome technical, regulatory, and economic barriers limiting Local Energy Communities (LECs), CEL Rural develops digital tools and pilot projects to assess available technologies, optimise shared self-consumption models, and improve energy management. Implemented in Spain and Portugal, these pilots provide real-world insights into LECs’ opportunities and challenges.

Beyond infrastructure, CEL Rural ensures long-term sustainability through capacity-building, training programs, and policy guidelines. By integrating experts, policymakers, and local stakeholders, it defines optimal energy models, strengthens cross-border collaboration, and scales successful initiatives. The project aligns with EU decarbonisation policies, empowering rural communities to take ownership of their energy future.

Innovation

The CEL Rural project applies innovative methods and technologies to tackle climate and energy challenges in rural areas. By promoting local energy communities (LECs) and shared self-consumption, it enables rural residents to manage their energy needs sustainably while overcoming technical, regulatory, and economic barriers.

The project develops experimental installations and pilot programs, integrating digital twins for energy installations, smart grids, IoT, and data science platforms to optimise energy distribution and management. Collaboration between public and private sectors, along with knowledge experts, ensures effective knowledge transfer and supports the creation of scalable and replicable energy models.

CEL Rural serves as a transformative example of how renewable energy solutions can be integrated into rural areas, reinforcing sustainable development and climate objectives.

Impact

CEL Rural has established four pilot energy communities across rural Spain and Portugal, integrating renewable energy technologies like solar power to promote shared self-consumption. These communities provide over 100 consumers with lower energy costs, reducing dependency on external grids and enhancing energy resilience. By fostering local renewable generation, CEL Rural contributes to regional decarbonisation while strengthening energy independence.

The project also drives economic development, training 80 individuals in energy community management and renewable energy systems to ensure long-term sustainability. This skills development supports local employment, retaining expertise within communities and fostering a circular economy where energy investments benefit local populations. By creating green jobs and lowering energy costs, CEL Rural helps combat rural depopulation, making these areas more attractive for residents and businesses.

Beyond economic and energy benefits, CEL Rural promotes social inclusion, ensuring affordable and accessible energy for all, including vulnerable groups. By reducing energy poverty, it empowers local residents to manage their energy systems, fostering participation and decision-making in community energy projects. The project’s cross-border collaboration between Spain and Portugal strengthens knowledge-sharing and regional cooperation, further enhancing its long-term impact on sustainable rural energy models.

Scalability and replicability

CEL Rural’s energy model is highly scalable and adaptable, making it a leading example for rural energy transition across diverse regions. Its implementation in Spain and Portugal, across municipalities ranging from 700 to nearly 4,000 inhabitants, demonstrates its flexibility in addressing different energy needs. The project can be tailored to coastal, inland, and isolated areas, ensuring its replicability in various rural settings across Europe and beyond.

The scalability of CEL Rural is reinforced by its pilot communities, which serve as testing grounds to refine technical, economic, and social aspects of Local Energy Communities (LECs). These pilots generate valuable data, enabling the model to be replicated efficiently in other regions. Additionally, its training programs for 80+ individuals create a skilled workforce capable of expanding and managing LECs, ensuring long-term sustainability.

By setting up a cross-border cooperation between Spain and Portugal, CEL Rural sets a precedent for international collaboration in the energy transition. The project’s success provides a blueprint for similar cross-national initiatives, where shared knowledge and resources enhance impact and foster large-scale adoption.

As a model for rural renewable energy solutions, CEL Rural integrates local engagement, job creation, and capacity building, aligning with EU energy transition policies. Its modular approach and compliance with European green energy goals make it an attractive framework for replication under various funding programs and policy initiatives.