In energy communities, citizens can access low-cost renewable energy by taking ownership of production installations, as well as access information on how to increase energy efficiency in their households. Reliable and up-to-date information on energy efficiency can help you to better understand and control your energy usage and bills while keeping individual investments affordable. 

At a local level, energy communities can contribute to the creation of job opportunities and enhance social cohesion through annual general assemblies and local activities.  Energy communities can also contribute to increasing public acceptance of renewable energy projects and make it easier to attract private investments in the clean energy transition. 

Energy communities can be an effective means of re-structuring our energy systems through:  

• Empowering citizens to drive the energy transition locally and directly benefit from better energy efficiency.
• Lowering bills.
• Reducing energy poverty.
• Providing more local green job opportunities.
• Supporting balancing the grid, which mitigates against blackouts. 

Energy communities empower local communities to join forces and invest in clean energy. As noted earlier, acting as a single entity means energy communities can access all suitable energy markets on a level-playing field with other market actors.   

You can also read more about the benefits of energy communities, and some inspiring examples from the UK, in this CPRE article 10 reasons why we love community energy – for people and planet.  You can also find out more about initiatives to raise awareness of energy communities in How energy communities could help Europe reduce energy poverty.

Video: The Benefits of Joining an Energy Community (7:25 minutes) 

Download the video transcript.

This video explains how energy communities empower citizens, lower bills and speed up Europe’s digital energy transition. This 7-minute explainer defines Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) and Citizen Energy Communities (CECs), outlines benefits—cost savings, local renewables uptake, jobs, resilience and energy justice—and showcases two European case studies: Elektrizitätswerke Hindelang eG (Germany) and Hyperion Energy Community (Greece). Learn how smart meters, local generation and democratic governance turn consumers into cocreators of clean, affordable energy.