ECOsystems EMPOWERing at regional and local scale supporting energy communities

Introduction

The main idea of ECOEMPOWER is to support regional authorities in their role of energy community facilitators through the creation of a One Stop Shop (OSS).

OSS Overview

1. Physical and Virtual Place
   It is a physical and virtual place where citizens and stakeholders can receive information and assistance through a set of integrated services and digital tools for the setup of energy communities. This includes not only technological support but also economic, financial, legal, organizational, communicational, and educational assistance.

2. Raising Awareness
   It aims at raising citizens’ awareness about the potentials and benefits of collective energy initiatives.

3. Emergence/Pre-development Phases
   In the emergence/pre-development phases, it assists citizens and stakeholders involved in the energy communities in:

   • Analyzing the underlying motivations and expectations
   • Establishing the project technical, legal, economical, and social feasibility and viability
   • Providing information about funding opportunities

4. Creation/Operation Phases
   During the creation/operation phases, it provides assistance in:

   • Implementing a detailed business model
   • Supporting capacity building
   • Guaranteeing multi-sectoral assistance

5. Networking Point
   It will be a networking point between energy communities (including co-learning opportunities), public authorities (from the municipal up to the regional scale), and, when required, technology and financial providers (e.g., RES manufacturers and installers, energy aggregators, ESCOs, DSOs).

6. Aggregator Role
   It may also act as an aggregator of small sustainable energy projects.

Project Development

ECOEMPOWER’s activities will be developed and tested with the active participation of 5 regional authorities and will lead to the creation of 5 regional OSSs and 15 local energy communities.

Partnership and Support

ECOEMPOWER brings together 10 high-profile partners from 6 European countries (IT, FR, DE, CZ, GR, BE), forming a balanced team of complementary institutions including:

• 5 public bodies/associations
• 3 research centres
• 2 private companies

Finally, another 45 key stakeholders in the 15 pilot sites have already provided Letters of Support.