International exchange of best practices to promote RECs
On December 4, 2024, Alec Participates in International Workshop on Energy Communities in Budapest
As part of the Interreg Europe program, Alec attended an international workshop held in Budapest on December 4, 2024, which focused on energy communities. The event brought together 90 European partners to exchange best practices for fostering energy communities and promoting citizen involvement.
90 European Partners: Inspiring and Being Inspired
Through the Interreg Europe program’s learning platform, Alec contributed to the workshop discussions, particularly on citizen involvement and the innovative support structure developed in the region, known as Cirena.
Cirena, a regional one-stop shop designed to support citizens’ initiatives, garnered significant interest from REC4EU partners during the discussions and was recognized by program managers as a valuable best practice to share.
Additionally, Interreg Europe organized sessions to explore other initiatives addressing the region’s identified needs.
Focus on Localized Support Structures
Across Europe, energy communities share a common requirement for robust support. Often initiated by skilled volunteers, these communities rely on dedicated structures such as one-stop shops or shared platforms to provide expertise in various domains: technical, technological, legal, economic, methodological, and financial.
Europe estimates that half of its citizens could contribute to producing up to 50% of its renewable energy by 2050. To achieve this, it plans to build on existing models like Cirena, already operational in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, to foster the creation of such one-stop shops.
ALEC, a public engineering body supporting transition stakeholders in Gironde, was invited to share insights on the key factors for successfully implementing these initiatives across regions.
Inspiring Practices Across Europe
Despite this favorable context, a territorial analysis conducted with Nouvelle-Aquitaine stakeholders as part of the REC4EU project highlights ongoing challenges. To address these, a dedicated session during the Budapest workshop showcased innovative solutions implemented in other regions to mobilize local authorities and encourage their support for energy communities.
Several organizations shared their tried-and-true methods:
• The Cyprus Energy Agency presented its multi-municipality approach, which supports not only energy communities but also broader projects related to the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan.
• The Deggendorf Institute of Technology in Germany showcased its "regionalwerk" concept, which engages citizens by pooling resources at local and district levels.
• The municipality of Montegiordano and the Marche region in Italy shared insights into the unique challenges and opportunities of establishing energy communities in rural areas.
Strength in Regional Action
Europe has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the development of energy communities. It is advocating for the transposition of Article 15a, "Right to Energy Sharing," from the Electricity Market Design into Member States’ legislation. The EU also continues to promote innovation, development, and cooperation through its various programs.
However, it is at the regional level that these concepts take root. The most advanced regions are often those that have actively demonstrated their commitment by implementing tailored incentives and support systems.
REC4EU is one of two European projects focused on energy communities in which Alec is a partner and the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is actively involved. The project is funded by the Interreg Europe program, which seeks to strengthen public policies through knowledge exchange.
Link to Alec article on its website
Link to Interreg Europe event web page