Best Practices on Renewable Energy Communities across Europe
Have a look at the new LocalRES collection of good practices, showcasing Energy Communities all over Europe
Community energy
About
Authors
Marta Arosio Daniele Sormani
Alejandro Martín Crespo, Fundación CARTIF
Francisco Javier Miguel Herrero, Fundación CARTIF
Publication year
2026
In Europe, the transition towards climate neutrality requires deep transformation of the way energy is produced, distributed, shared and consumed. In this context, Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are increasingly recognised as powerful means to accelerate this transition, especially at the local level. RECs contribute not only to decarbonisation, but also to energy democracy, participation, social cohesion and local economic development, by involving citizens, local authorities, public institutions and small businesses to collectively produce, manage and consume renewable energy.
The LocalRES project “Empowering local renewable energy communities for the decarbonisation of the energy systems” is a European funded project under the HORIZON 2020 Programme. Over the past five years, it aimed at engaging citizens and communities in the energy transition by developing and demonstrating RECs as key drivers for the decarbonisation of local energy systems.
This collection of good practices aims to showcase a diverse range of RECs from across Europe, with a particular focus on Italy, Spain and Austria, as well as inspiring examples from other EU countries.
The practices presented are the results of direct exchanges with project partners and energy communities, mainly via written interviews, and complemented by secondary sources such as institutional reports and online documentation. This approach ensures both the reliability of the information and the richness of perspectives captured.
