Inspiring Examples and Best Practices
Solarity
Country: Greece
Contact information:
- 215 Demirdesiou Street, Nea Ionia, 14233
- solaritycoop@gmail.com
- https://solarity.coop/
About
SOLARITY R.E.C. is an energy community-based in the region of Attica. It was founded in 2023 and operates as a civil cooperative. It constitutes and promotes the Social Solidarity Economy, focusing on people and not on financial profit.
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Mission
Aiming to produce and consume clean energy collectively and to implement green solutions in everyday life, The main objectives of Solarity are:
- Reducing energy costs for its members through collective self-consumption projects
- Application of the cooperative principles in the energy sector
- Social economy and solidarity
- Research, experimentation, training seminars, and dissemination of know-how for innovative green solutions
- Participative design for a just energy transition
- Promote electromobility, shared EVs and charging stations
- Do business with a social dimension
- Achieve equality of membership – elimination of discrimination of any kind
- Support innovation in the energy sector through training workshops and seminars
- Cooperation with academic institutions, local authorities, and other energy cooperatives
Activities
In 2023, the cooperative completed a full economic and technical study for the creation of a photovoltaic park (400 kWp) that will operate with the “Virtual Net Metering” model.
As of July 2024, their solar park is under construction and by the end of 2024, their photovoltaic park will be ready for energy production.
Distinctive Good Practice
Solarity Renewable Energy Community is the first open-in participation energy community established in Athens, following the provision of the Greek Law 5037/2023. It was established very soon through digital procedures, probably a case study for other energy communities being under development.
Barriers & How they were addressed
1. Legal framework for energy communities
2. Not available economic incentives for energy communities
3. Very limited grid availability
4. Extensive bureaucracy to establish a new energy community
They addressed many of the barriers they faced through the experience of some of their older members and with the help of other energy communities participating in the Hellenic Cluster “Desmi”.
Benefits to Participating individuals
1. Reducing energy costs through our collective self-consumption project.
2. Capacity building for a just energy transition.
3. Usage of community and cooperative principles.