Building a national one-stop shop network for renewable energy communities

The development of energy communities is a central element of Italy’s energy transition. However, their implementation at local level is often slowed by complex regulations, fragmented information, and limited technical capacity among both citizens and public administrations. To overcome these barriers, the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security launched RENOSS, a national initiative designed to create a coordinated network of one-stop shops dedicated to supporting energy communities. Within this framework, Energy and Sustainable Development Agency of Modena (AESS), plays a key role in translating national objectives into practical local action.

RENOSS is coordinated by the National Network of Energy Agencies (RENAEL) and brings together local energy agencies across Italy under a shared operational model. From the start, agencies with different backgrounds and capacities collaborated to design a common structure for service delivery, ensuring that citizens and municipalities receive support that is consistent, reliable and adaptable to local circumstances. AESS,which currently holds RENAEL presidency, contributed to mapping the full development pathway of an energy community, from early awareness and engagement to operational management and tested this framework at regional level.

Designing a trusted one-stop shop model

At the heart of the RENOSS approach is the creation of one-stop shops able to offer integrated technical, administrative and legal support. AESS provides a wide range of services based on its long-standing experience in local energy planning, all organised within a shared national service portfolio that other agencies can adopt and tailor. This structure enables AESS to respond efficiently to diverse local needs while remaining aligned with national rules and funding schemes.

To make service delivery more effective, RENOSS developed standardised materials such as templates, checklists, frequently asked questions and communication tools. These resources help AESS provide clear, coherent and accessible information, reducing uncertainty for potential initiatives and ensuring a high-quality user experience. The RENOSS digital platform further improves accessibility through guided decision paths that help users understand their possible role within an energy community and choose the most appropriate next steps.

A particularly innovative feature is the integration of an AI-based chatbot. Trained on validated and institutionally approved content, it ensures that users receive accurate and reliable information, without offering interpretations that go beyond recognized legal sources.

Scaling impact through coordination and learning

RENOSS demonstrates the value of structured multi-level governance. Regular coordination meetings between local agencies, RENAEL and the Ministry support the rapid circulation of regulatory updates and enable effective bottom-up feedback. This collaborative structure has proven essential in a context marked by frequent changes in national incentives and regulatory frameworks.

Since its launch, RENOSS has generated strong demand and carried out hundreds of consultations, outreach actions and matchmaking activities, reinforcing its role as a trusted intermediary for citizens and municipalities. Beyond quantitative results, the project has strengthened the visibility and credibility of local energy agencies and has shown how a coordinated One-Stop Shop model can accelerate the spread of energy communities.

The RENOSS model is highly replicable, in fact throughout the project, AESS will serve as one-stop shop for the regions Emilia-Romagna, Puglia and Lazio, offering a concrete example of how European and national policy goals can be effectively transformed into local energy transition actions.

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!