The growth of energy communities is a priority for the EU, which remains committed to its climate targets. The building sector is an important pillar in the effort to cut CO2 emissions by 55 % by 2030 and be carbon-neutral by 2050. 

In this context, the EU-funded SCCALE 203050 project will scale the growth of energy communities across Europe in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy production, district heating and more in households and non-residential buildings. It will set up energy communities and directly support the replication of the SCCALE 203050 methodology in additional communities. The project will also develop a guide for potential community leaders to support the creation, maturation and replication of energy communities.

The project aims to build at least 26 energy communities, trigger the creation of 34 community projects, and develop a comprehensive methodology for the creation of energy communities that can be replicated in Europe and beyond. The methodology will be tested and validated in 5 pilot communities.

Building on the experience of the cooperative movement and a wide range of cities and municipalities, they will:

• Set up at least 25 energy communities, and directly support the replication of the SCCALE methodology in 34 additional communities
• Develop a step-by-step guide for potential community leaders to support the creation, maturation and replication of energy communities.
• Develop currently specific key performance indicators for community leaders and municipalities to assess the maturity and growth of the energy communities in their territories, and for external partners to assess a community's maturity and financial viability.
• Gather proven technical tools and financing models suitable for citizen collective action.
• Identify viable contractual models for energy communities and the involved stakeholders.
• Encourage the proliferation of energy communities across Europe via a network of experts (including municipalities, SMEs, NGOs and academic institutions) to support new and existing energy communities.
• Support policy makers at the European, national and local level in identifying suitable policies to foster the growth of energy communities in Europe through recommendations and discussions with policy makers.

Partners

• RESCOOP EU ASBL
• ECOPOWER
• ENERCOOP
• ZELENA ENERGETSKA ZADRUGA ZA USLUGE
• KOINONIKI SYNETAIRISTIKI EPICHEIRISI SYLLOGIKIS KAI KOINONIKIS OFELEIAS ILEKTRA ENERGY KOINONIKI SYNETAIRISTIKI EPICHEIRISI ANANEOSIMON PIGO
• ENERGY CITIES/ENERGIE-CITES ASSOCIATION
• TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT
• BEDRIJFSBUREAU ENERGIE SAMEN BV
• GRAD POREC
• STAD LEUVEN

Start date: 1 June 2021 - End date: 30 November 2024