Case study: Supporting the digital energy transition in your community

1. Welcome

This case study is aimed at anyone with an interest in working together to further the digital energy transition. You might already be involved in a community energy initiative or interested in finding out more about how energy communities support their members. You may be considering:  

• What the benefits of energy communities are. 
• What digital tools could help support energy community members better manage the production and consumption of energy. 
• How smart meters can benefit community energy initiatives. 

By reviewing this case study, you will:

• Understand what energy communities are and why they are important. 
• Develop your understanding of why and how smart meters are used in community energy initiatives. 
• Be aware of some challenges to the use of smart meters within the energy community context. 

Every1 case studies aim to support conversation, reflection and action on a key topic. This case study provides key facts, examples, practical advice and reflective questions.  

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2. Factsheet

Let’s get started by taking a closer look at energy communities, and the role they play in Europe’s digital energy transition. We’ll also look at one type of digital tool – smart meters – and how they support energy communities better manage the production and consumption of energy.

In this fact sheet you will:

• Find out what an energy community is.
• Consider the benefits of joining an energy community.
• Explore the role of smart meters in community energy initiatives.
• Consider some of the challenges in using smart meter data and digital tools.

Download Supporting the digital energy transition in your community - EN (307.2 KB) (PDF) 

Get inspired! Explore some further resources on community energy topics:  

• Find out more about smartCOMMUNITY in Austria. This platform supports energy trading and enables individuals and communities to manage the generation and consumption of solar energy.
• Read more about The European Green Deal and EU support for energy communities. 
• Explore the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s research on Smart meter energy data: Exploring the public interest agenda.
• Review how smart meters and other tools are being used to support communities in Columbia in Smart Monitoring Energy Communities.

3. Reflective Questions

Whether you are a member of an energy community or not, you may want to consider: 

• How could you collectively increase participation, fairness and local control in your local community?
• How could you involve everyone in the conversation about energy and the digital energy transition?
• What kinds of digital tools could support community energy initiatives?
• Whether smart meters could be used to support the collective management and production of energy?

4. Other Every1 Resources

You may find the following learning materials from Every1 useful: 

• The case study Smart meters: making a positive difference to our climate.
• Our 30-minute course Energy communities.
• Other energy community focused fact sheets.
• The learning pathway Renewable energy and community solutions.
• Our curated learning materials Energy communities: Joining, contributing, and governance.

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. 

5. 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:  people sitting on floor front of table by tribesh kayastha 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. 

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.