Case study: Energy communities: making decisions about solar energy

1. Welcome

Solar energy plays a crucial role in the move to a sustainable and just energy future. Energy communities can support citizens engage in the digital energy transition both as consumers and producers of energy by investing in local solar initiatives. As an energy community member or leader, you may be considering: 

• What role solar energy could play in your energy community. 
• The benefits and challenges of investing in solar energy. 
• Exploring different solar energy initiatives for ideas and potential next steps. 

By reviewing this case study, you will:

• Understand the benefits and potential impact of solar energy on energy communities.
• Be aware of key challenges for energy communities investing in solar energy.
• Deepen your understanding of different types of energy community led solar energy initiatives. 

Every1 case studies aim to support conversation, reflection and action on a key topic. Case studies provide key facts, examples, a short video, practical advice and reflective questions.  

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2. Factsheet

Investing in local solar initiatives can have a wide range of benefits including increased energy independence and resilience, long-term savings on energy bills and increased positive environmental and behavioural impacts. Generating solar, when combined with digital tools and storage such as batteries, also supports more stable, responsive grids. In this fact sheet you will:

• Find out why solar energy matters for energy communities.
• Explore some benefits of solar energy.
• Consider potential challenges for energy communities interested in solar energy.

Download Energy communities: Making decisions about solar energy - EN (459.0 KB) (PDF)

Get inspired! Explore some real-world examples and support for energy community solar projects:

• Find out more about Collective Coop in Greece, who installed solar panels to provide affordable electricity to over 100 households, prioritising low-income families.
• Explore the European Commission Energy poverty indicators dashboard.
• Review European Commission resources and support for energy communities.
• Go global! Take a look at Successful Community Solar Projects Around the World.

3. Video

Coming soon! 

4. Reflective Questions

If you’re thinking about solar energy options for your energy community, you may want to consider the following questions:

• What’s motivated our interest in exploring solar energy? 
• How does exploring solar energy options fit with our wider energy community goals? Who will benefit from this type of initiative?
• What positive outcomes could there be?
• What challenges might we face?
• What project planning and research do we need to do?
• How do we get the conversation started and engage with our members? How will we prepare for these conversations?
• Who do we need to involve in our community solar project? Do we need investors? Do we need a project manager? Do we need to engage with the wider community?
• What legal and regulatory considerations do we need to consider?
• What is the first step we need to take?

5. Other Every1 Resources

You may find the following learning materials from Every1 useful: 

• Get inspired by The Collective Energy Coop Story.
• Read about the work of Danish NGO Energi Akademiet who supported local ownership of wind turbines in Energi Akademiet – A Model for Community-Led Sustainable Energy Transitions.
• Explore the European Islands of Innovation: Digital Solutions for Sustainable Energy Communities in Europe case study.
• Review the learning pathway Digital Tools and IT Infrastructure for Energy Communities.
• Watch the video Digital inclusion in the Digital Energy Transition.

You can also explore our Every1 Knowledge Hub, which has more than 80 different learning materials on digital energy topics, many available in a range of European languages. 

6. Acknowledgements

This case study and its components were created by the Every1 project and are licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, unless otherwise stated.  

Main case study image: photo of three solar panels by Andreas Gücklhorn is on an Unsplash license.

Factsheet

Icons used (aside from the Every1 logo, funded by the EU logo and related images) are used according to Canva licensing terms. 

Video

Coming soon!

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) under grant agreement No 101075596. The sole responsibility for the content of this course lies with the Every1 project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.