Join us in Brussels: 11 June session “Is energy sharing possible? Empowering communities for inclusivity”

Five LIFE sister projects present the creativity of energy communities on the ground to build flexible and inclusive energy systems despite legal barriers. How can EU policy better support their work?

Wednesday 11 June, 11:30-13:00

EUSEW Policy Conference, Brussels (Martin’s Hotel, Bd Charlemagne 80, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium) and online

Organisers: LIFE sister projects Life Beckon, Life Comanage, Life ConnectHeat, Life Loop, Life Tandems

For whom: local, national and EU policy-makers, energy regulators, local authorities, citizens.

The session will explore how energy sharing can become a cornerstone of a fair transition with energy communities as the ideal mediums for it. EU provisions on energy sharing must be properly transposed and implemented at the national level to allow energy communities (ECs) to contribute to ambitious EU targets.Through activities like energy sharing, energy communities could contribute to a more flexible and inclusive energy system, offering solutions to energy poverty and improving social acceptance of renewables. 

Energy communities can be an entry point for vulnerable people to get involved in the whole energy chain from planning to consumption. However, especially where ECs start small, they cannot become suppliers from the get-go. This is also why energy sharing is so important as it allows ECs to be set up also in many Member States where the concept is rather new. Regulatory uncertainty and a lack of tailored incentives often favor large-scale corporate players over citizen-led initiatives, undermining the principles of the Clean Energy Package. 

---

🚦This is also the release event for our brandnew joint policy brief: Enabling Frameworks For energy Communities: A state of play 🚦

It was authored by a coalition of 44 multi-sector organisations take stock of national & local policies for energy communities in 11 EU countries. 📜 What barriers remain? What policy change is needed? And what lessons can the EU draw for its upcoming legislative work, including its Citizens Energy Package? 

---

Policy session agenda11 June

Session moderated by Sylvia Breukers – Duneworks – Researcher

11:30 OPENING by moderator 

Interactive poll: The good, the bad and the ugly of community energy

11:40 CONVERSATION 1: Energy sharing: mission (im)possible?

Gabrovo (Bulgaria): The municipal rollercoaster of creating one of the country’s first energy communities – Tanya Hristova, Mayor of the Municipality of Gabrovo

Copenhagen (Denmark): Collective self-consumption, the minimal viable solution to current legislation. Barriers and pathways for more favorable energy community options for housing associations in Northern Europe – Erik Hagelsjaer, Project Manager at Urban Renewal

Advocacy sounding board with 2 policy experts: 

• Achille Hannoset – European Commission – Policy officer
• Josh Roberts – REScoop.eu – Senior Policy expert

Voices from the audience – Q&A

12:10 CONVERSATION 2: Energy-sharing for vulnerable consumers 

Barcelona (Spain): The right to energy – engaging vulnerable consumers in local energy sharing initiatives – Marcel Camps Inglés, Metropolitan Area of Barcelona – Technician at the Energy Transition Office

Campania (Italy): Co-creating a municipal energy sharing scheme with energy poor households – Claudia Carani, AESS Energy

Advocacy sounding board

Voices from the audience – Q&A

12:50 Wrap-up

13:00 END

Five LIFE-funded sister projects focusing on energy communities, spanning 17 countries, join forces to host a session where speedy and visual (Pecha Kucha style) expert talks will alternate with audience feedback, echoing the tensions between community energy ambitions and limiting legal and administrative realities. The expertise shared by panelists and participants from city governments, NGOs or cooperatives shall give new perspectives on effective solutions for business and cooperation models around shared energy.