Empowered: A Matchmaking Platform Unleashing the Potential of Renewable Energy Communities

The European Union (EU) has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, with an ambitious interim goal of reducing net emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels. The EU is also revising its renewable energy goals, aiming for a 42.5% share of renewable sources in its energy mix by 2030.

To contribute to the realisation of these goals, the European Commission advocates for the development of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs)—community-driven entities dedicated to the production and distribution of renewable energy. In 2022, only 2 million EU citizens took part in a REC, corresponding to about 9,000 RECs across Member States, with Germany hosting half of them.

Despite RECs’ modest achievements, academic research highlights their significant untapped potential. Fully leveraged, RECs could contribute to half of the EU’s renewable energy production and engage 264 million citizens by 2050. Research and data show that the underexploitation of RECs is attributed to three main challenges: (1) limited awareness of RECs and their operational dynamics; (2) difficulties in obtaining financial support and the necessary legal and technical expertise to establish and manage RECs; and (3) inconsistent transposition and implementation of EU directives concerning RECs across Member States.

Addressing these challenges and capitalising on the potential of RECs to mitigate the climate crisis, this policy proposal calls for the creation of a user-based matchmaking platform to enhance collaboration among REC stakeholders across Europe. The proposal is structured into four key sections: (1) outlining the benefits and expected impact of RECs; (2) examining the causes of RECs’ underperformance and the role of a user-based matchmaking platform in unleashing their full potential; (3) detailing a comprehensive policy recommendation for the platform’s deployment; and (4) introducing a pilot version of this platform, considering the identified advantages and challenges associated with RECs.

Keywords: Renewable Energy Communities, European Union, Climate Crisis, Matchmaking Platform, Environmental Law

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Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Bertram, Caroline and Brosseau, Jonathan and Fassiaux, Sébastien and Haubner, Gina and van der Meulen, Lucia and Oakes, Isabel and Oimann, Ann-Katrien and Ricau, Alix and Salenius, Viktor, Empowered: A Matchmaking Platform Unleashing the Potential of Renewable Energy Communities (October 1, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4775024 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4775024