Energy communities—lessons learnt, challenges, and policy recommendations
Journal article, 2025
Energy communities (ECs) are considered important in transitioning the energy system. They are of particular interest due to their potential to empower citizens and support a more just energy transition. However, experiences from ECs remain limited and vary across countries, thus raising questions on potential future advancements. In this article, we explore experiences from ECs in several European countries to inspire discussions on further evolvement and improvements. Insights into lessons learned and key challenges within the selected countries have been collected and analysed, and recommendations for advancing these efforts are provided to policy makers. The results indicate that ECs are making progress in producing and sharing renewable energy while supporting a more just energy transition by engaging a variety of actors within local communities. The challenges, however, often stem from limited national support and difficulties in fully achieving diversity within engaged local communities. The recommendations stress the importance of building on early learnings in community energy and further strengthening local anchoring to achieve a just transition. This in turn, generates fertile ground for discussions on how to localize energy policy and reinforce a multi-level policy approach beyond the European and national levels.
best practice
policy recommendations
Europe
energy communities
challenges
Author
L. Neij
Lund University
Jenny Palm
Lund University
H. Busch
Lund University
T. Bauwens
Erasmus University Rotterdam
S. Becker
Philipps University Marburg
Anna Bergek
Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Environmental Systems Analysis
A. Buzogány
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
C. Candelise
Bocconi University
Imperial College London
F. Coenen
University of Twente
P. Devine-Wright
University of Exeter
Thomas Hoppe
University of Twente
A. Kortetmäki
Tampere University of Applied Sciences
K. Pantazis
Bocconi University
F. Palaiogiannis
Collective Energy Coop
M. Margosi
Collective Energy Coop
D. Petrovics
Erasmus University Rotterdam
J. Plöchl
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
G. Ruggieri
University of Insubria
S. Ruggiero
Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT)
K. Standal
Cicero Senter for klimaforskning
P. Scherhaufer
University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences
I. Soutar
University of Exeter
Oxford Open Energy
27525082 (eISSN)
Vol. 4 oiaf002Community solar: participation, organisation, and regulation
Swedish Energy Agency (50951-1), 2021-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Energy Systems
DOI
10.1093/ooenergy/oiaf002