This paper titled 'Looking at energy communities through a local authority lens - Perceptions, experiences and needs' presents an analysis based on structured interviews with local authorities across Europe, conducted with the help of the Smart Cities Marketplace network.

The selection of municipalities, covering Belgium, Italy, Germany, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Croatia, Spain, and the Netherlands, aimed to reflect diverse legal contexts and experiences with energy communities.

The energy transition is reshaping the system from fossil fuels to renewable sources, with decentralised production.

The European Commission's Clean Energy for All Europeans package empowers consumers to manage energy independently, and energy communities are defined in EU directives.

These communities aim to deliver environmental, economic, and social benefits, not profit.

Municipal support is crucial, as it provides access to subsidies and development opportunities.

The paper concludes with lessons on how local authorities can better support energy communities