Energy communities (ECs) enable citizens to collectively produce, consume, store, share and sell renewable energy, offering environmental, economic and social benefits.
EU directives 2018/2001 and 2019/944 introduced Renewable and Citizen Energy Communities, promoting active citizen participation in the energy transition. While implementation varies across member states, ECs can support diverse projects using different technologies. Photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption has become the most popular, especially in southern Europe. However, citizens and public entities often face challenges in identifying clear pathways for local implementation, limiting the potential of ECs in many communities.
Under the drOp project, an EC has been promoted in a social housing neighbourhood in Ermua, Basque Country, northern Spain, working in parallel in the technological and social perspectives.
A high-resolution solar resource map of the neighbourhood was carried out and the PV potential of the roofs were assessed (total potential 701 kW, aggregating the useful surface of 41 buildings). After evaluating the roofs, a first facility was planned for the public school in the area, tendering a 40 kW collective PV self-consumption system.
In parallel, a neighbourhood office was opened for raising awareness and providing energy efficiency assistance to the citizens, including an energy bills assessment service (which in some cases provided higher savings than participation in the EC). Diverse workshops with citizens were carried out over a year, co-creating with the public authorities the approach of the EC. After deciding the ownership, investment and governance model of the facility and the EC itself, an association has been created and an energy sharing agreement established legally. Currently, 40 members are participating, and the current facility could share with up to 72 homes and/or local stores and the primary school.