Across Europe, citizens are increasingly taking an active role in producing and sharing renewable energy through Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). These communities enable individuals, municipalities, and businesses to collaborate in generating clean energy locally, reducing emissions, lowering energy bills, creating local jobs, and fostering social cohesion.

One project leading this transformation is LIFE ISLET (Innovative Support for citizen‑led Local Energy Transition), co‑funded by the European Union. Focused on small Mediterranean islands, LIFE ISLET addresses a critical need: energy resilience.

Why Islands Matter

Islands often face unique challenges: high electricity costs, dependence on imported fossil fuels, and vulnerability to climate impacts. Yet, they also hold enormous potential thanks to abundant renewable resources like sun and wind. By enabling Renewable Energy Communities, ISLET empowers islanders to take control of their energy future, cut emissions, tackle energy poverty, and strengthen local economies.

To make this vision a reality, the project has introduced Helpdesks, dedicated service hubs that simplify the journey toward community energy. These Helpdesks provide practical guidance, technical support, and administrative assistance, ensuring that citizens and local authorities can navigate the complex steps of creating and managing RECs.

LIFE ISLET Helpdesks

Helpdesks act as One‑Stop Shops (OSS) for anyone interested in creating or joining a Renewable Energy Community. They provide informational, technical, and administrative support, making the process less daunting for citizens and local authorities. Beyond advice, Helpdesks connect users to concrete tools and official resources, including a Financial Assessment Support Tool for modelling business plans and national portals for registration and incentives.

What Services Do They Offer?

Here’s what you can expect when you reach out to a LIFE ISLET Helpdesk:

  • Information: Clear explanations of what RECs are, their environmental, economic, and social benefits, and the typical steps to create one.
  • Technical Guidance: Early‑stage orientation on energy potential, grid connection requirements, and suitable digital tools for monitoring and management.
  • Administrative Support: Help with selecting a legal form, preparing documentation, meeting compliance requirements, and assessing for incentives and grants.

Who Can Benefit?

The service is open to:

  • Citizens and households who want to actively participate in the energy transition.
  • Local authorities, especially municipalities and island administrations, which often host shared infrastructure.
  • Small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to cut energy costs and boost sustainability.
  • Civil society organisations, schools, and cooperatives that can mobilise communities and promote awareness.

Where Are They Located and Why It Matters

Setting up an REC involves legal, technical, and financial challenges that can feel overwhelming. Helpdesks simplify this process by providing clear guidance and personalised support, including one‑to‑one consultations and regular updates on regulatory changes. They also foster collaboration among islands and ensure that knowledge and best practices are shared across Europe.

ISLET Helpdesks are strategically placed on the project’s pilot and replication islands, ensuring proximity to the communities they serve. Each location reflects unique challenges and opportunities in the energy transition.

In Italy, the project works with Procida, where the Helpdesk supports citizens and municipalities in navigating GSE registration, incentive schemes, and technical requirements for grid connection, while also guiding them towards national and regional funding opportunities such as tariff premiums and grants under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

In Greece, islands face specific constraints, such as capacity limits for non‑interconnected grids. The Helpdesk assists island communities in applying the provisions of Law 5037/2023, understanding virtual net‑billing, and accessing feed‑in tariffs, as well as identifying financial support mechanisms like guaranteed tariffs and EU co‑financing through the Just Transition Fund.

In Croatia, the challenge is regulatory uncertainty. While the Electricity Market Act and the Law on Renewable Energy Sources mention RECs, detailed procedures are still under development. Here, the Helpdesk helps promoters interpret existing laws, choose the right legal form, often cooperatives, and connect with HERA and HEP‑ODS for technical validation, while pointing them towards EU‑backed programmes such as LIFE, Horizon Europe, and Interreg for funding until national incentives become fully operational.

Finally, the Danish island of Samsø serves as a replication and training hub: the Helpdesk shares best practices with other islands across Europe, including financial planning tools and cooperative business models, helping scale community energy beyond the pilots.

While challenges remain, including regulatory ambiguity, grid constraints, and limited local technical capacity, the Helpdesks bridge these gaps by offering tailored guidance, trusted tools, and pathways to financing.

No matter the complexity, be it legal hurdles or funding gaps, the Helpdesks are here to guide communities every step of the way.

Building Resilient Communities for the Future

By empowering citizens and local actors, LIFE ISLET Helpdesks are not just facilitating renewable energy projects, they are building stronger, fairer, and more resilient communities. In doing so, they contribute to the broader goals of the European Green Deal and a just energy transition.