Best practices
Exemplary projects and initiatives are implemented and replicated at local and regional level. The following best practices are categorised by topic and geographic area.
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Illustration : Mälardalen Energy Agency
Advancing Renewable Energy Communities in Liguria
The Liguria Region, through its regional energy agency, has assisted municipalities to develop Renewable Energy Communities.
Energy Communities: Empowering Citizens Through Knowledge and Engagement
SHAREs supported the creation of 386 energy communities across Europe by equipping citizens, municipalities, and local actors with tools, mentoring, and national gateways.
Digitalisation of PV Self-Consumption in Energy Communities with Blockchain
Escan’s blockchain-based model for collective PV self-consumption is empowering Spanish energy communities, with digital tools, real-time data, and user rewards. The 2023 pilot cut 206 tons of CO₂ and will scale up in 2025 with 486 kWp installed.
The Rise of Municipality-Driven Renewable Energy Communities in Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna is empowering municipalities to lead the energy transition through Renewable Energy Communities. With AESS’s guidance, 15 RECs are now active, tackling energy poverty and cutting CO₂ emissions.
Empowering Energy Communities at Every Level
AGENEX empowers citizens across Extremadura and beyond to create energy communities through tailored advice and cross-border cooperation. Their flagship projects unlock collective self-consumption, cut energy bills, and foster democratic participation in the energy transition.
Local energy community transformation office
Rivas Vaciamadrid, a municipality situated near Madrid with approximately 100,000 residents, has embraced a strategy for energy management aligned with the principles of the European Green Deal.
Testing energy sharing models in Extremadura
During 2023, Extremadura’s Energy Agency (AGENEX) successfully completed the implementation of INNOINVEST, a project including a pilot initiative of shared renewable self-consumption between public buildings in the city of Badajoz.
International platform for the support of energy communities
Renewable energy communities play a crucial role in enabling citizens to actively contribute to and advocate for the ongoing energy transition. Discover more about this best practice in Germany!
Citizen and cooperative renewable energies in Occitanie
In 2014, the Occitanie Region adopted an ambitious strategy for the development of Citizen and Cooperative Renewable Energy (EnRCC), aiming to reach 500 projects and 100,000 citizen shareholders by 2030.
Over 170 renewable energy communities in Upper Austria
OÖ Energiesparverband has added a One-Stop Shop for Energy Communities to its service portfolio. Since 2021, it has successfully supported the development and establishment of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) – there are now already over 170 RECs with more than 3,000 members in operation.
Energizing Communities: Tiszamente’s Innovative Path to Local Sustainable Energy
In Hungary's Northern Great Plain, the Tiszamente Energy Community is redefining local energy. Powered by community-driven initiatives, this groundbreaking project returns energy benefits to the people. As a catalyst for change, it's lighting the way toward a more sustainable and self-reliant energy future.
Empowering energy communities in the southeast of Ireland
Ireland's South East Energy Agency is delighted to support 60 sustainable energy communities in the four counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, and Waterford. See how the agency is helping Irish communities to begin taking the energy transition into their own hands.
Local citizen-owned energy communities in France
"Centrales Villageoises" are local companies whose shareholders are mainly citizens, local municipalities and local companies.
Irelands First Community-Owned EV Charging Point
Read about the first solar-powered charging station in Callan, Ireland, implemented by the Callan Community Energy and supported by 3CEA.
Sustainable Communities Wales
Read about the role of Severn Wye in providing free resource efficiency advice and specialist support to community organisations across Wales, from 2018 to 2021.
EKIOLA: Prosumer PV Cooperatives in the Basque Country
Read about important role of citizens in driving the energy transition and how they are becoming Prosumers that will participate in the generation and management of PV power stations between 1 and 5 MW in the Spanish Basque Country, accompanied by EVE and KREAN.
The local Production and Consumption of Electricity: Renewable Energy Communities Make it Possible
Discover how the municipality of Kapelln in Austria was awarded the “European Energy Award” in 2019 by setting up a renewable energy community to supply the companies, private households and municipal buildings.
Local Energy Communities: «Centrales Villageoises» – a Local Citizen-owned Energy Communities’ Success Story
Discover the story of the creation of the Association of Centrales Villageoises, supported by AURA-EE, whose objective is to put renewable energy production projects at the service of the development of rural territories, in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Region of France. Check out the results of the work they have done since 2018.
Citizen-owned firewood district heating in Varces
Discover how the municipality of Varces from the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region commissioned its wood heating network to supply its public buildings.