Working Together for a Better World

8. Energy community examples: Hyperion (Greece)

Hyperion (Greece)

The energy community movement in Greece is still in its nascent stages but steadily gaining traction. As of April 2025, there were more than 1700 registered energy communities in Greece. However, fully operational collective, citizen-led projects remain in a minority. This discrepancy is due to an initial surge of initiatives claiming to be energy communities before the legislation was fully established, leading to exploitation by private investors seeking to profit from favourable provisions (see Integrating energy communities into sector coupling).

Despite the challenges, the energy community movement in Greece is evolving, maturing, and professionalising. Hyperion is one example of this evolution. Established in 2019, Hyperion has approximately 120 members and is one of the pioneering community energy projects in Greece, demonstrating the potential of citizen-led initiatives to drive the energy transition.

Hyperion's flagship project is a 500-kilowatt peak (kWp) solar park in Corinth. As at 2025 Hyperion had 113 members and 285 beneficiaries in Athens. This initiative underscores the community's commitment to harnessing renewable energy sources to provide clean and affordable electricity to its members. The decision to utilise solar energy was based on its cost-effectiveness, the relative ease of navigating the permitting process in Greece, and the country's abundant solar generation potential.

Hyperion's solar energy initiatives, its focus on community engagement and digital inclusion, and its commitment to social responsibility resonate with the EU's vision for a just and inclusive energy transition.  Hyperion are committed to social inclusion through its provision of free electricity to nine vulnerable households, a social kitchen, and a migrant cultural centre. This initiative highlights the community's dedication to ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach those who need it most.  

However, challenges remain. Bureaucratic barriers, grid capacity limitations, and reliance on electricity suppliers for energy distribution pose significant hurdles to the establishment and operation of energy communities in Greece.  

• You can find out more about Hyperion in this Every1 case study.
• You can also read more about Greek energy communities in Energy communities in Greece surpass 1 GW in installed capacity.

Activity: My Energy Community (10 minutes)

Imagine you’re starting an energy community in your town or region. Based on what you’ve learned this week, what would be your primary focus (e.g. solar production, energy efficiency, peer-to-peer trading) and why? What kind of local partners would you seek out (e.g. local government, businesses, other citizens)? What would be the biggest challenge you anticipate? 

Write down your ideas. If you are working through the course with others you may like to discuss your different ideas, or brainstorm a possible energy community together.