University Energy Community
Nominated by: Zhe Zhang (Aarhus University)
Summary of the project
Universitetets Energifællesskab F.M.B.A (UEF) is a energy community initiative based in Aarhus, Denmark, that empowers students, staff, and local residents to take part in the green transition through community-owned solar PV systems.
By crowdfunding installations on university rooftops, UEF enables members to access clean energy without needing to own a roof. The cooperative has installed and manages 2 rooftop PV systems with a combined capacity of 98 kW, supplying electricity directly to Aarhus University.
Members receive annual financial returns based on the energy sold. The project not only supports equitable access to renewables but also fosters local engagement, offering a scalable model for universities across Europe aiming to integrate community-led renewable energy.
Innovation
UEF introduces a unique model of community-owned solar energy by installing and managing PV systems on university rooftops through a self-consumption-via-third-party framework. This allows citizens to co-own solar PV systems installed on public institution buildings, a novel approach that opens up previously inaccessible infrastructure for local energy production.
The project is intentionally inclusive, enabling students and low-income residents (who often lack rooftops or capital) to participate in the energy transition. By offering shares of €120, UEF ensures wide accessibility as most members hold 1–5 shares, reflecting its broad, distributed ownership model.
UEF operates under a Danish cooperative structure, promoting transparent governance and equal say through a one-member-one-vote system. This ensures decisions are made democratically and benefits are shared fairly. Additionally, UEF contributes to education and research by integrating the installation into university teaching. The system uses different solar technologies, and real-time performance data is shared with students and researchers, offering hands-on learning and comparative analysis opportunities.Impact
UEF’s solar systems, with a combined capacity of 98 kW, are expected to generate close to 90 MWh of clean energy annually for at least 25 years, supplying about one-third of the electricity needs of two Aarhus University buildings. Since their commissioning in September 2024, the systems have already produced over 8 MWh, reducing the university’s dependence on fossil fuels and contributing to its sustainable campus goals.
The energy is used locally, avoiding transmission losses, and is sold to the university at a fixed price, with revenues reinvested in the community and distributed among the cooperative’s 120 members. This model ensures that economic value stays local, while the university benefits from reduced electricity costs and carbon emissions.
The project also prioritised long-term robustness and environmental responsibility during system design—selecting panels for their durability and low-impact manufacturing.
Beyond its energy and financial contributions, UEF demonstrates how energy communities defined in EU legislation can be realised through public institutions. It provides a replicable model for collective renewable energy initiatives at universities, hospitals, libraries, and similar sites.
The installation is fully integrated into university teaching and research, with open access to performance data, enhancing learning and innovation. UEF also shares its governance model and process publicly (e.g. statutes, documentation, and a research paper reinforcing its commitment to transparency and replication: arxiv.org/abs/2412.02258
Scalability and replicability
Due to the modular nature of solar photovoltaic installations, it is easy to scale up the project in the future. For example, with access to more rooftops, more solar panels can be installed and more people can be involved. In addition, the cooperative model can be scaled to other universities and urban communities seeking to implement shared renewable energy solutions.
The project demonstrates that even individuals without direct access to private rooftops can participate in and benefit from the clean energy transition. By leveraging crowdfunding and cooperative ownership, other institutions can adopt a similar framework to expand solar energy access. Furthermore, the governance model ensures that the initiative remains community-driven and adaptable to various local contexts, making it a viable blueprint for other regions aiming to reduce carbon emissions through collective action.