Resources

Here you will find articles, reports, case studies, event presentations and videos related to the project. In this section you will find resources related to the project, categorised as follows:

  • Publications
  • Project reports
  • Project videos

PUBLICATIONS

VIDEOS

REPORTS

Conference Energy Communities in the rural world

The conference Energy Communities in the Rural World: Challenges, Opportunities and Realities. Training trainers and decision makers, which took place on the 23rd November in the Faculty of Economics of the UVIGO, was organised by the Galician Wind Energy Observatory (OEGA). It was part of the programme of activities of the EC4RURAL project.

OEGA is a tool for research, information, advice and consultation for all people, companies and groups interested in wind energy in Galicia, born from the collaboration between the Isla Couto Foundation, the Juana de Vega Foundation, the Paideia Galiza Foundation and the University of Vigo. This public-private alliance is essential to try to work together to involve rural collectives in the processes of energy transition.

The activity involved more than 70 people and groups from areas as diverse as local administrations, rural development groups, forest communities, small energy distributors, consumer associations, energy company professionals, etc.

Present and future of energy communities. The role of local authorities

Jorge Andrey Sterner, lawyer and partner at the law firm Schlaich Dauss SLP, discussed the legal present and possible future of energy communities as an ideal tool for empowering and involving citizens, highlighting the crucial role of local authorities in this process, as they are closest to the citizens.

Cooperative business models for energy communities

Jesús Sánchez-Ostiz, Director General of energy community network cooperative society (Red de Comunidades Energéticas S. Coop.), within the network of communities, gave us some key data. He explains the success story of Esparza, the first energy community in Navarre, and its evolution since 2019. He provides a schematic view of the barriers and the breadth of energy communities and ends by detailing his cooperative business model for energy communities.

Purposeful energy communities… for a just transition

Juan Carlos Sacristán Antoni, President of Sapiens Energía, introduces Sapiens Energía as a consumer and user cooperative and associated work company. Its vision is characterised by being in the local area, with a legal entity of 50 square metres, with a long-term vision of collective self-consumption and with a special emphasis on social participation, with legal entities with self-managed decision-making capacity.

Albalat 0,0 Project

Nicolau Josep Claramunt Ruiz, Mayor of Albalat dels Sorells, presented the development of the community initiative in a municipality of 4,100 inhabitants. Based on a proposal from the Rubí Town Council, they started their journey by promoting the reduction of emissions. Their philosophy is to reduce energy consumption, generate economic savings and invest these savings in further improvements.

Solidarity and sustainable Portell

Álvaro Ferrero Ferrer, Mayor of Portell de Morella, presented the case of a small rural community of 178 inhabitants that combines community development based on solidarity and sustainability with environmental action.

The experience of Alava’s energy communities

Rafael Larreina, President of the Red de Comunidades Energéticas S. Coop. Navarra, contextualised the network of communities and presented the three common models of most rural energy communities, working to promote participatory processes that empower people to change the energy management model.

Urroztarra Energy Community, Navarre

Carmentxu Etxarte, President of the Urroztarra Energy Community, explained her experience in the cooperative, its achievements, past and future difficulties, and her enthusiasm to continue growing and being part of the Energy Communities.

Garesbide Energy Community, Navarre

Raquel Campillo, President of the social initiative Garesbide Cooperative, spoke about the experience of her community, its challenges and the difficulties faced by her cooperative, without forgetting her enthusiasm for continuing and improving local initiatives to strengthen the social and rural fabric.

Arousa en Transición Energy Community

Ana Millán Dieste, President of the Arousa en Transición Association, spoke about the experience of the Arousa Island Promoter Group in becoming the first community initiative in Galicia.

Arteixo Citizen Energy Cooperative of Arteixo Galician Cooperative Society

José Manuel Álvarez Campana, President of the Sumarte public company of the Arteixo Town Council, presented the Arteixo Civic Energy Cooperative initiative, which is the result of cooperation between Ekiluz of the REPSOL group and the Arteixo Town Council, with the aim of promoting the creation of a local energy community from which the citizens of the municipality can benefit.

Energy transition in Terra Chá. The case of the energy community of Begonte

José Ulla, Mayor of Begonte, accompanied by Miguel Angel Zamorano of Masinteligencia SL, presented the development of renewable energy in a rural community, highlighting the technical, administrative, and environmental difficulties involved.

Cross-border rural energy communities: an emerging reality in the power of citizenship

José Luis Pascual Criado, Director General of the Duero-Douro European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, traced a path from the past to the creation of the EFIDUERO cooperative, which aims to achieve energy for the people, i.e. energy independence.