From planning to operation: LocalRES was at Sustainable Places 2024

Karine Laffont-Eloire from DOWEL Innovation gave a presentation titled Digital tools to support the growth of energy communities, from planning to operation during a two part workshop called Energy Community 2050 at Sustainable Places 2024 – it offered a comprehensive exploration of the technologies, regulations, and challenges shaping the future of energy communities.

The first session was dedicated to digital tools and strategies to support user engagement in energy communities, featuring contributions from the LocalRES, MASTERPIECE, DE-RISK, RESCHOOL, and COMMUNITAS projects. These initiatives focus on innovative solutions that empower citizens and enhance their participation in renewable energy production, ranging from digital platforms and smart energy management systems to community-led renewable initiatives. Projects also presented their perspective on the “citizens journey” to build an energy community and how and when to support it.

The second session addressed the regulatory frameworks and barriers that energy communities face in scaling up their operations. Representatives from the COMANAGE, SUSTENANCE, BECKON, ACCEPT, and FEDECOM projects introduced key policy challenges, legal hurdles, and economic constraints that must be overcome to unlock the full potential of energy communities across Europe.

This was followed by a panel discussion which enabled exchanging lessons learnt, common challenges and best practices to inspire other projects.

Sustainable Places proves yet again to be a very useful conference to meet other EU-funded projects related to energy and to the built environment, network with peers and academics, and share insights about ongoing projects.