Local ownership through energy communities can help deliver affordable, secure renewables for Europe: new briefing
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Resilient rural areas
- Prosperous rural areas
- Energy
- Climate
- Social economy
A new briefing highlights how energy communities – locally owned and democratically governed renewable energy initiatives – can play a vital role in ensuring affordable, secure, and community-driven energy across Europe.
Image by Markus Spiske on Canva
The paper argues that local ownership of renewable energy production not only contributes to the EU’s decarbonisation and competitiveness goals, but also strengthens energy security by reducing dependence on volatile global fossil fuel markets and shielding communities from price shocks.
The briefing, produced by REScoop.eu – the European federation of energy communities – highlights that energy communities are already mitigating the effects of high wholesale prices in several EU Member States by enabling communities to produce and share renewable power at lower cost. Through smart energy sharing and locally controlled production, communities can also help reduce transmission losses and contribute to better grid management.
Energy communities bring together citizens, local authorities and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They are part of the cooperative and of the social economy and have demonstrated potential to boost local economic returns from renewables, often generating multiple times the economic benefit of externally owned projects.
The briefing emphasises that prioritising local ownership increases public acceptance of renewables, supports education and drives local investment, helping rural communities build resilience and retain energy spending locally.
To unlock this potential, the briefing calls on EU policymakers to recognise energy communities as strategic partners in delivering the EU’s Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan.
It urges concrete support through the forthcoming Citizens’ Energy Package, including setting EU and national targets for community renewable ownership, guaranteeing grid access for energy communities, simplifying electricity sharing and supply regulations, and tailoring financing instruments to ensure inclusive participation of citizens and local actors.
Explore the latest Rural Pact resources on energy and join the dedicated Community Group to connect and exchange with peers.