1 Municipality - 1 REC, can it be done? Exploring drivers and barriers for large-scale uptake of renewable energy communities

The EU Solar Energy Strategy calls for the establishment of at least 1 renewable energy community (REC) per municipality above 10 000 residents by 2025. This comes at a timely moment as increased energy prices, security of supply and energy system resilience are higher on the agenda than ever. Renewable energy communities, all over Europe, are contributing to more secure local energy systems, which are more resilient and more capable of absorbing external shocks. They are at the forefront of employing models which reduce citizens' energy bills, create local economic gain and encourage more energy sobriety.

However, in the absence of fully transposed enabling frameworks and a slow roll-out of conducive business models, reaching this goal seems ambitious. If this target is to be met, national enabling frameworks, but also new finance, business and (youth) engagement solutions need to be developed and broadly disseminated enabling energy communities to develop on the required large scale.

Join us for this EUSEW Sustainable Energy Day, where we will carry out a reality check and discuss transferable solutions, their barriers and drivers and what kind of policies need to be in place to enable RECs to truly make a contribution to making Europe more energy-resilient, more climate-friendly, more just and inclusive of younger and older generations alike.

The event aims to enhance the policy dialogue around the transposition and implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive and focuses on how enabling frameworks for RECs can be boosted in line with the urgency instilled by the EU Solar Energy Strategy and the REPowerEU Plan. It is aimed at politicians, policy makers, policy advisory organisations at various governance levels, as well as community energy stakeholders across Europe.