Project DISCOVER is committed to creating a comprehensive handbook to support energy communities (CEPs), drawing on the expertise of its partners who are actively involved in promoting energy communities in different regions. Recognising the common obstacles faced by such projects, ranging from legal complexity to financial and organisational challenges, DISCOVER is aligning with the Clean Energy for all Europeans package to address these problems. Energy communities are increasingly important in Europe, seen as platforms for environmental, social and economic benefits, including tackling energy poverty.
By encouraging CEPs, DISCOVER will empower citizens and other stakeholders and mobilise significant investments in renewable energy production across Europe.
DISCOVER is an innovative project within the LIFE Programme This will have a real impact on the transition to a renewable energy-driven society, accelerating the energy transition and enabling a sustainable energy future.
MISSION
The Clean Energy Package for all Europeans highlights the central role of energy communities in Europe.
DISCOVER addresses common challenges faced by community energy projects (CEPs), which often struggle to start up and gain momentum. These challenges include a lack of knowledge and range from legal and administrative complexity to financial and organisational problems.
OBJECTIVES
Community energy projects often stop at an early stage. Typical barriers include a lack of knowledge, network or access to financial services, which causes bottlenecks at an early stage.
DISCOVER aims to facilitate the launch of new CEPs by offering support services to CEP initiators including:
- Providing guidance and reducing barriers.
- Simplification of the decision-making process.
- Interconnecting stakeholders.
DISCOVER will result in significant investment in renewable energy production and improved knowledge of stakeholders.
ACTIONS
The DISCOVER project combines multiple support services into a holistic guide. Regional partners will facilitate the implementation of the guide and set up local hubs.
The DISCOVER consortium covers five pilot regions across Europe, including Italy, France, Croatia, Bulgaria and Austria. These hubs will provide guidance and expert support on technical, economic, financial and legal aspects.
Support services will cover all phases of CEP, thus accompanying them throughout the lifecycle
- Identify challenges and develop support services.
- Develop a guide tailored to each pilot region.
- Collaborate with regional partners.
- Develop an online service hub.
- Set up four local service hubs.
RESULTS
- Launch more than 20 new community energy projects.
- Generate approximately 3 GWh per year of renewable energy.
- It attracts more than €7.7 million in investment in renewable energy production.
- Training of more than 400 market stakeholders.
- Reaching out to over 20,000 people.
PARTNERS
- AISFOR, Rome, Italy (Coordinator)
- AGENA, Teramo, Italy
- Pixel Energy Solutions, Linz, Austria
- AGENCE PARISIENNE DU CLIMAT ASSOCIATION, Paris, France
- WITHOUT BORDERS, Rijeka, Croatia
- IESDI, Sofia, Bulgaria
CONTACT
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