Funding opportunities for energy efficiency and energy community projects

One of the key issues in identifying solutions to tackle energy poverty is related to their sustainability over time and the possibility of involving vulnerable households without creating a financial burden for them. One-shot solutions, such as welfare public-funded projects and government support, may help solve the issue for a few beneficiaries but are usually not self-sustainable in the long term and are applied top-down. Funds from governments or public institutions (grants, tax credits, incentives, etc.) are key in supporting initiatives to fight energy poverty. Still, several other options are available, including the involvement of market players (e.g. ESCOs) or exploiting opportunities from the new EU regulation on energy communities.

The POWER UP project pilots chose different ways of financing the implementation of the solutions, as well as exploiting the opportunities available in their countries. This report gives an overview of these approaches using different funding and business models to ensure their long-term sustainability. You will learn about

  • incentives for the setting up of renewable energy communities;
  • roof provision to energy communities under the condition they share energy with vulnerable households;
  • public incentives to install a PV plant on the roof of a social housing building and the households living inside can gain a benefit;
  • municipally pre-financed social shares in an energy cooperative

This report is deliverable D4.3 of the POWER UP project.

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