Through scalable, inclusive and efficient energy communities
Local Energy Communities has been consolidated as a key tool to boost a fairer and more participatory energy transition. Beyond producing renewable energy, they enable citizens, SMEs, and administrations to collaborate in generating and managing energy, prioritizing social and environmental benefits over economic ones.
The advantages are clear:
- They promote shared investments from a bottom-up approach.
- They facilitate access to more affordable energy.
- They drive a just transition, addressing energy poverty and social inclusion.
- They increase renewable penetration and the reliability of the multi-energy system.
- They open the door to innovative models such as flexibility or P2P exchange.
In Spain, the ecosystem is showing significant growth: in 2024, 200 new CELs were established, reaching a total of 659. However, most continue to focus on photovoltaic self-consumption, while areas such as mobility, rehabilitation, storage, and thermal technologies remain in the minority. In addition, many have fewer than 50 members, which limits their scale.
“A total of 659 CELs have been established in Spain, the last 200 of which were established in 2024, but many have fewer than 50 members, which limits their scale.”
This context shows remarkable progress, but also a decisive challenge: citizen participation.
In this context, the Urban-MOME Network poses a key question: how can digital tools improve the scalability, participation, and efficiency of energy communities? Answering this question involves going beyond technology and understanding people’s needs, barriers, and motivations.
Creating a CEL is not just a technical challenge. There are barriers in terms of knowledge, governance, financing, and stakeholder involvement. As has been rightly pointed out: “A CEL without members is not a community.” Generating interest, consolidating a driving force, and maintaining collective motivation are essential. Without active participation, the energy community loses its transformative capacity.
Digital tools for understanding, participating and deciding
In this context, digitization becomes a strategic element. Digital tools can facilitate understanding of the various solutions available, visualize economic and environmental impacts, and support transparent participatory processes.
Among the most relevant are:
- energy analysis, prediction, and management tools
- savings measurement and verification systems
- environmental footprint visualization and emissions reduction
- gamification strategies to encourage proactivity
- platforms to support collective decision-making
These tools translate technical complexity into understandable information, helping citizens understand not only how much they can save, but also the social and environmental impact of their participation.
LocalRES: flexible tools for everyone
The LocalRES project positions Renewable Energy Communities as key players in leading decarbonization through citizen participation and awareness.
As part of the project, an energy planning tool has been developed that allows communities to catalog assets, design future scenarios, and assess impacts on costs, emissions, sustainability, and energy security.
Its main innovation is its dual approach: supporting experts and decision-makers with a global vision, while enabling citizens to visualize individual decisions (such as installing heat pumps or solar panels) and understand their impacts.
Thus, digitization becomes a bridge between technical complexity and citizen action.
The real challenge is to design digital solutions tailored to people’s real needs, capable of transforming information into understanding, understanding into participation, and participation into collective impact.
More about energy communities…
- Energy communities and digital tools: bringing the energy transition closer to citizens - 13 March 2026
- Heating: alternatives to gas that are easy on the wallet - 11 November 2022