22.04.2025 | Find a recap of our first Online Knowledge Conference.
Energy communities (ECs) are expected to play a key role in the future of Europe’s energy systems—but who truly benefits? This two-day event brought together stakeholders from across Europe to explore this vital question, highlighting the diverse motivations behind energy communities and the expectations of citizens, municipalities, system operators, and businesses.
Day 1 Highlights – 9 April 2025
The first day kicked off with an overview of the ECOEMPOWER project by Cinzia Morisco (Fondazione Bruno Kessler), followed by an engaging introduction from Ludwig Karg (B.A.U.M. Consult) on the many "flavors" of collective energy action.
A powerful keynote from Loïc Cobut (FEDARENE) titled "Who Needs Energy Communities and Why?" explored policy and social drivers behind the EC movement.
One of the most anticipated sessions was the round table discussion, moderated by Ludwig Karg, bringing together experts from the European Commission, academia, civil society, and implementation projects. The conversation explored the gap between expectations and real-world impacts, with participants sharing honest insights on motivation, challenges, and success stories from across Europe.
Day 1 concluded with a demo of the ECOEMPOWER Community Platform (EECP) by Carlos Ayon Mac Gregor (B.A.U.M. Consult), designed to support and connect energy communities.
Watch selected sessions:
Day 2 Highlights – 10 April 2025
Day 2 featured interactive group discussions focused on real-world experiences and needs.
Group 1: Energy Communities
Moderated by Teresa Notz (eza!) and Carlos Ayon Mac Gregor (B.A.U.M.), this session featured inspiring best practices from:
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Elena Stopelli, KönCeRT Cooperative
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Jean-Eric de Rango, VercorSoleiL
Moderated by Juliette Rasse (Centrales Villageoises) and Naomi Levannier (AURA-EE), with practical insights from:
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Association Centrales Villageoises
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Provincia Autonoma di Trento
These parallel discussions offered valuable insights into the support structures ECs need to thrive, from technical guidance to administrative simplification.
Takeaways
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ECs must balance community empowerment with regulatory and technical realities.
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Stakeholder motivations are diverse: from climate action and energy autonomy, to social cohesion and local investment.
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Platforms like EECP and support models like One Stop Shops can lower barriers to entry for citizens and municipalities.
Stay tuned for more updates, recordings, and tools to help foster the energy communities of tomorrow.
