Renewable Energy Communities, Sustainable Strength in Numbers

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) offer a number of benefits, including reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and energy waste. These are in fact two of the main objectives being promoted by the European Union in order to achieve Net Zero by 2050. The REC model is designed to incentivize self-consumption through sharing. and is based on a local exchange system that encourages joint management and the reduction of dependence on fossil fuels in favor of renewable and truly sustainable energy. This is also the case when Renewable Energy Communities are small or very small (especially photovoltaic) plants. In actual fact, small size is not a limitation, but is rather an added value for these solutions. The Energy Transition is Driven by Citizens The goal set by the United Nations and the EU is clear: CO2 emissions must be cut to zero by 2050. For this to happen, it is essential that citizen-consumers contribute by harnessing innovation, digitalization and electrification to promote models of increasingly sustainable energy use. According to a 2016 CE Delft study conducted in collaboration with Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth Europe, the European Renewable Energy Federation (EREF) and REScoop, it is estimated that by 2050 83% of European citizens could become prosumers, i.e., both producers and consumers of energy. The greater efficiency of the electricity distribution networks also entails economic savings for those who are committed to promoting green development. At the same time, there’s a willingness to reward energy communities with incentives and better economic conditions, and to support investment in the construction of small-scale renewable-based plants. “The most recent regulations offer the possibility of going up to 1 megawatt of power for each plant, with no limits for the number of plants that make up an energy community,” says Sebastiano Ambrogio, Head of Renewable Energy Communities at Enel Green Power. “This will provide great opportunities for growth, and for obtaining quick authorizations, thanks to the incentives and the particular nature of Energy Communities. We are convinced that Energy Communities will be powered above all by solar energy and, as we wait for the norms to become definitive, we already have a growing and structured pipeline of projects.” Energy Communities for a Fair and Sustainable Energy Market Energy sharing within RECs makes it possible to balance supply and demand in different areas, without the need to source energy over considerable distances. In this way the energy produced by the plants is made available to all members of the community, by automatically regulating the incoming and outgoing flows. This results in reduced waste, more effective management of renewable resources and more straightforward energy distribution, both inside and outside the community. The goal is to create a fair and sustainable energy market that brings benefits, not only environmentally, but also socially and culturally. It’s a way of combating energy poverty and dependence, by encouraging the development of increasingly efficient and widespread distribution systems. The important thing is, of course, the development of a great number of energy-sharing groups, thus making a substantial contribution to meeting energy needs. One of the Advantages: Speed The fact that a single Energy Community produces, distributes and consumes only a relatively small amount of energy has a further advantage, as authorizations are obtained very quickly for small plants. At the same time, the regulatory framework and the incentives promoted by the European Union are intended to encourage energy sharing, starting with the commitment of individual citizens.

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Renewable Energy Communities, Sustainable Strength in Numbers

Renewable Energy Communities, Sustainable Strength in Numbers

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