From virtual net metering to community agri-PV projects

CommonEN in the North-West of Greece creates local, renewable energy projects, co-designed and co-owned by local people. They have the backing of the municipality of Ioannina. Everything started with two energy sharing projects through virtual net metering. But this marks just the beginning of CommonEn’s journey: The community is now planning the first urban community agri-photovoltaic project in Greece, and a replication will follow in Skopje, North Macedonia. A parking lot will be transformed into an urban vegetable garden that will be combined with the production of clean energy from special photovoltaic panels. People with disabilities and youngsters may find employment or leisure activities in the garden. Now the community seeks to engage the municipality to promote such projects jointly. Their gateway to start the conversation with municipal authorities has been the LIFE LOOP accreditation programme.

Since End of May, the Municipality of Ioannina is involved in the LIFE LOOP accreditation programme. Thanks to a very committed Mayor, they “proactively work with local stakeholders to promote citizen-led energy projects that can help us reach climate neutrality by 2030.” explains Sotiris Tsoukarelis, CEO of the Ioannina Municipal Real Estate Company, and a member of CommonEn.

CommonEn was pioneered by Electra Energy (also LIFE LOOP partner) and Peer to Peer Lab, a research organisation, in the context of the SCCALE203050 Horizon project. 

Read more about this wonderful example of city-citizen collaborations