The European Commission has published a citizen-focused guide to help apartment owners, residents and building managers plan and deliver renewable energy projects in multi‑apartment buildings. The document explains how owners’ associations provide the formal structure for collective decision‑making, procurement and long‑term management, ensuring shared assets such as rooftops and electrical rooms can be used effectively for solar installations.

The guidance sets out practical steps covering governance, technical feasibility, financing, installation and operation. It highlights common models including rooftop solar for shared services, collective self‑consumption among participating apartments, and participation through energy communities. These approaches are shaped by national rules on metering, allocation and condominium voting procedures, which determine how electricity can be shared and how decisions are taken.

The document also situates building‑level solar within the wider EU policy framework. Under Article 10 of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Member States must ensure new buildings are designed to optimise solar generation and support suitable installations. The European Affordable Housing Plan reinforces this by linking sustainability and energy efficiency to lower utility bills and improved living conditions.