LoGyCo – Setting Basis for the Establishment of LOcal Citizen EnerGY COmmunities

The European Union’s Solar strategy envisions the establishment of energy communities in every municipality and town with more than 10.000 inhabitants by 2025. Energy communities organise collective energy actions through a high degree of citizen participation, contributing to the clean energy transition and using energy more efficiently within local communities. In line with that, the European directive encourages citizens to become energy producers – not just consumers –, hence, defining them as energy prosumers. However, national legislation is discouraging at best and mostly complex or even non-existing. Neither Croatia nor Serbia has established energy communities so far. In Croatia, the legal establishment of such a community is yet to be defined by bylaws and in Serbia, the ruling legislation promotes housing communities as the legal entity for getting prosumer status but does not recognise citizen energy communicates. Additionally, local authorities’ capacities and competencies are capable of improvement.

In cooperation with municipal authorities, citizens, and other local partners such as small and medium-sized enterprises and non-governmental organisations, the project established citizen energy communities (CECs) in Croatia and Serbia. It analysed legislation in the partner countries and provided recommendations and funding options for local authorities and citizens. The project also developed and supported the implementation of guidelines to enhance their knowledge in establishing such CECs. In two municipalities – one in Serbia and one in Croatia – and drawing on best practices from Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm as an exemplary town, the project contributed to the formation of energy communities as demonstration models and to the preparation of a subsequent study.

Educational training organised by DOOR, Foto: ©Anamari Majdandžić | DOOR

Within the two newly established CECs, citizens applyied their acquainted knowledge, and became prosumers as well as active participants in the energy market ensuring the sustainability and sufficiency of local communities. Finally, the project results’ dissemination gave other local authorities the opportunity to learn from these examples and use the developed guidelines to establish energy communities in other municipalities in Croatia, Serbia, and other European countries.

• Local initiatives strengthened: Two community energy communities were established – an association in Ivanić-Grad (Croatia) and a cooperative in Serbia. A consulting office was established in Stara Pazova to provide ongoing support. In addition, seven feasibility studies and technical documents were prepared, creating a solid foundation for long-term impact.
• Policies and instruments improved: Two bilingual studies (Croatian/English) on legislation and financing, as well as two practical guidelines, were developed. They provided decision-makers with impetus for legal improvements and provided local stakeholders with concrete tools for establishing energy cooperatives.
• Capacity built: 292 participants from municipalities, NGOs, and SMEs were trained in four information days and nine workshops. Two study trips to Pfaffenhofen, Croatia, and Serbia provided practical knowledge and best-practice examples.