Peer-to-Peer of Polish and Spanish Partners in Seville
At the request of the Polish Partner, on November 13/14, 2024, a peer - to - peer meeting was held in Seville with the Spanish side. The head motive was the dissemination of knowledge on the Spanish Good Practice Torreblanca Ilumina, presented at REC4EU project partner meetings.
The Polish side of the meeting consisted of representative of the Lubelskie offices, as well as representative experts from the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. Two persons represented the Andalusian Energy Agency in Spain.
On November 13th, the meeting began at the headquarters of the Andalusian Energy Agency. After the welcome notes, a workshop session started, with aim of expanding knowledge on the functioning of energy communities in Andalusia. The workshop included a general presentation of the activities of the Andalusian Energy Agency as the supporter of development of energy communities in Andalusia.
The crucial part of the meeting was a presentation of the functioning of the Torreblanca Ilumina, a pilot project concerning the creation of a model energy community (REC) in Andalusia with the participation of AEA. The brought up point was that the area designated for the energy community was classified by the regional government of Andalusia as the materially disadvantaged. The creation of the renewable energy and its adaptation to the local system, supported by education campaigns, allows these groups an access to the renewables with wholesome integration of an educational dimension.
On the next day, a meeting with AEA stakeholders involved in promoting renewable energy in the Andalusia region was held. Each participant of the meeting indicated that the basic elements influencing the development of renewable energy and creation of energy communities are knowledge and support funds. It was also noted that a creation of financial support programs at both national and regional levels contributes to the increased development of renewable energy source installations, as well as the shaping of various forms of energy communities.
Following a bilateral visit to the Partner in Spain, the team of Lubelskie experts recommends considering the possibility of implementation in the REC4EU project one of the 3 pilot projects:
- Creation of a model energy community (REC) based on the experience of the Spanish energy community Torreblanca Ilumina;
- Establishment of a regional energy agency for the Lubelskie Voivodeship;
- or a model energy transformation office.
Those conclusions were drawn on the basis that the experience gained within the REC4EU project shows that a development of the regional energy sector, including based on renewable energy sources, is also related to the emergence of a substantive, competent institutions that focus on promotional, educational and financial support activities. Still, it is also important to establish institutions that help to shape the knowledge of society in the field of modern energy technologies and which support the acquisition of funds for the construction of RES installations.
As for the model energy community, it could be based on the construction of a PV installation on buildings belonging to the region of Lubelskie Voivodeship. The generated electricity could be consumed by the institution during its working hours and be made available to members outside of the energy community.