New Framework Conditions for Energy Communities and Data-Driven Refurbishment Policy

Topics: Energy Efficiency Energy Transition and Climate-Neutral Buildings

Countries: Bulgaria Croatia Czech Republic Greece Romania

The CONGREGATE project provided important political and institutional impetus for the energy transition in Central and South Eastern Europe. In the Czech Republic, the project work led to amendments to the Energy Act, which integrated the EU RES II (Renewable Energy Sources Directive II) and EMD (EU Electricity Market Design Reform) directives. Since 1 January 2023, a new regulation has allowed the use and sharing of solar power in apartment buildings for the first time, making energy communities legally possible and strengthening the participation of citizens in the energy transition. At the same time, the project became institutionally anchored in Croatia: the CONGREGATE data collection methodology was incorporated into the National Reconstruction and Resilience Programme (NPOO). This will ensure the systematic collection and analysis of energy and building data across the entire residential sector in future - a key step towards effective national energy management and the targeted financing of refurbishment measures.