Support System Aspect
Associations or NGOs
There are many organizations at national or European level supporting energy communities in various ways, e.g providing information, legal support or supporting the network development.
The Green Tank is an independent, non-profit environmental think tank, focusing on the development of policy solutions for a sustainable future. The organization analyzes all the publicly available data regarding the energy communities and the self-production projects in Greece, in order to provide all the facts needed for promoting the energy communities, as it is the most important tool for citizens to have an active role in the energy transition.
For this purpose an Energy Community Observatory has been developed, including information about the current status, the legislation, institutional framework etc. The observatory can be found here.
Some examples are:
Hover to read in light mode.
REScoop.eu
About
REScoop.eu is the European Federation for renewable energy cooperatives. It represents over 1,900 energy cooperatives and one million citizens across Europe who are engaged in renewable energy production and consumption.
Mission
Its mission is to empower citizens to actively participate in the energy transition by supporting the establishment and growth of energy cooperatives. REScoop.eu promotes citizen ownership of renewable energy and advocates for more democratic, decentralised, and sustainable energy systems.
Activities
REScoop.eu provides valuable resources and training for starting and growing energy cooperatives, ensuring that communities have the knowledge and tools to succeed. It fosters networking among cooperatives, enabling them to share experiences and solutions. Additionally, REScoop.eu engages in advocacy at the EU level, influencing energy policy to support community-led initiatives. It also manages projects aimed at accelerating the energy transition, such as the Clean Energy for EU Islands initiative, which promotes renewable energy solutions in isolated regions.
Distinctive Good Practice
Facilitating cross-border knowledge sharing through its extensive network, allowing communities across Europe to exchange insights and best practices. The federation also provides comprehensive support to communities by offering legal, technical, and financial advice to help set up and manage energy projects effectively. Furthermore, REScoop.eu pioneers innovative financial models for energy cooperatives, such as collective ownership structures, enabling citizens to jointly invest in and benefit from renewable energy infrastructure.
Benefits to Participating individuals
Access to resources and guidance on forming energy cooperatives. Opportunities to engage in energy democracy and own renewable energy infrastructure. Networking with like-minded communities across Europe.
Electra Energy
Country: Greece
Contact information:
- 7, Olympionikon Street, Ilioupolis,
Attica, Greece - contact: Dimitris Kitsikopoulos
- dimitris@electraenergy.coop
- info@electraenergy.coop
- (+30) 697 395 70 10
- www.electraenergy.coop
About
Electra Energy is a social enterprise that empowers citizens, small and medium sized businesses and municipalities, to actively participate in the energy transition. Electra has been very active in policy advocacy and has supported a number of energy communities across Greece and South-East Europe.
Mission
Facilitate the transition towards a democratic, inclusive, and sustainable energy system, placing citizens and local communities at the forefront of this movement.
Activities
Electra Coop offers several services on solar and renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy certification of buildings and homes. At the same time, they provide consultancy services to the public sector on community energy investments and innovative PPP collaborations involving the local community.
Electra is also active in research focusing on community energy, encompassing business modelling, financing, governance, social impact, and mitigating energy poverty and knowledge transfer and foster networking with local authorities, organizations, Universities, and energy communities in Greece and abroad focusing on advocacy and monitoring policies, regulations, targets, and strategies related to community energy.
Distinctive Good Practice
So far, Electra has supported over 25 energy communities and citizen-led initiatives, and has executed more than 20 advocacy actions. They have also contributed to a number of publications including the ‘Best Practice Guide for South East Europe’ (2022) and the report on ‘The Social Impact of Energy Communities in Greece’ (2023).