Regional and Local Energy Agencies’ support to energy citizenship: what financing opportunities?

The European Commission has announced the forthcoming Citizens Energy Package, expected in March 2026. Aligned with the EU Climate Pact, the package aims to tackle energy poverty and support vulnerable consumers, with a strong focus on empowering Energy Communities. It also seeks to close the implementation gap, facilitate energy sharing, and improve grid access.

Across Europe, Regional and Local Energy Agencies play a growing role in supporting energy citizenship. They help combat energy poverty, collaborate with DSOs to improve grid design, and offer comprehensive support to energy communities from planning to implementation. However, one blind spot remains as to how these agencies can support RECs to find financing opportunities.

Regional and Local Energy Agencies are already active across Europe. With their involvement in EU-funded programmes and their deep understanding of regional and local contexts, they occupy a strategic position in advancing Europe’s democratic decarbonisation. But how can they further support RECs in finding financing opportunities?

This webinar brought together EU representatives, Regional and Local Energy Agencies, and energy experts to discuss these questions. It aimed to showcase concrete opportunities and practical solutions to support investment in energy community projects, presented by organisations which have prepared business models and projects with real-life energy communities.

This webinar was co-organised in the framework of the LIFE Power-e-com project replication programme, co-funded by the European Union, and by the FEDARENE Working Group on energy communities.

AGENDA

• Welcome & setting the scene
  • Loïc Cobut, FEDARENE Policy Officer
  • MEP Bruno Tobback, presenting the EU’s policy context
• Roundtable with renewable energy experts, regions and Energy Agencies on successful experiences and innovative uses of EU funds (10 min each):
  • Christiane Egger, Power-e Project’s Pilot & Director of the Upper Austria Energy Agency
  • Chris Vrettos, Senior Policy Advisor at Rescoop.eu
  • Todor Popov, Power-e Project’s Pilot & Director at Municipality of Gabrovo (Bulgaria)
  • Gregg Allen, Power-e Project’s Pilot & CEO at Community Power (Ireland)
• Wrap-up & conclusions