Energy communities—lessons learnt, challenges, and policy recommendations
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 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
challenges
policy recommendations
energy communities
Europe
Författare
Lena Neij
Lunds universitet
Jenny Palm
Lunds universitet
H. Busch
Lunds universitet
T. Bauwens
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
S. Becker
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Anna Bergek
Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Miljösystemanalys
A. Buzogány
Universität für Bodenkultur
C. Candelise
Universita Bocconi
Imperial College London
F. Coenen
Universiteit Twente
P. Devine-Wright
University of Exeter
Thomas Hoppe
Universiteit Twente
A. Kortetmäki
Tampereen Ammattikorkeakoulu
K. Pantazis
Universita Bocconi
F. Palaiogiannis
Collective Energy Coop
M. Margosi
Collective Energy Coop
D. Petrovics
Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
J. Plöchl
Universität für Bodenkultur
G. Ruggieri
Universita degli Studi dell'Insubria
S. Ruggiero
Lappeenrannan-Lahden teknillinen yliopisto (LUT)
K. Standal
Cicero Senter for klimaforskning
P. Scherhaufer
Universität für Bodenkultur
I. Soutar
University of Exeter
Oxford Open Energy
27525082 (eISSN)
Vol. 4 oiaf002Sol i gemenskap: deltagande, organisation och regelverk (SiG)
Energimyndigheten (50951-1), 2021-01-01 -- 2023-12-31.
Ämneskategorier (SSIF 2025)
Energisystem
DOI
10.1093/ooenergy/oiaf002