IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i18p14016-d1244794.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Cross-Case Analysis of the Energy Communities in Spain, Italy, and Greece: Progress, Barriers, and the Road Ahead

Author

Listed:
  • Luisa Losada-Puente

    (Department of Specific Didactics and Research Methods and Diagnosis in Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, University of A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain)

  • José Antonio Blanco

    (Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain)

  • Adina Dumitru

    (Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Studies, University of A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain)

  • Ioannis Sebos

    (School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 106 82 Athens, Greece)

  • Aggelos Tsakanikas

    (School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 106 82 Athens, Greece)

  • Ioanna Liosi

    (EUDITI LTD—Energy and Environmental Design, 114 71 Athens, Greece)

  • Stelios Psomas

    (EUDITI LTD—Energy and Environmental Design, 114 71 Athens, Greece)

  • Mariangela Merrone

    (ASSISTAL—Associazione Nazionale Costruttori di Impianti e dei Servizi di Efficienza Energetica—ESCo e Facility Management, 00198 Rome, Italy)

  • Diego Quiñoy

    (Fundación Centro Tecnológico de Eficiencia y Sostenibilidad Energética EnergyLab, 36310 Vigo, Spain)

  • Eduardo Rodríguez

    (Fundación Centro Tecnológico de Eficiencia y Sostenibilidad Energética EnergyLab, 36310 Vigo, Spain)

Abstract

The current regulatory context for the energy sector and in which Energy Communities operate is fragmented and unclear in most EU countries. Although some initiatives have existed in Northern Europe for some time, this concept is considered relatively new. Indeed, EU legislation has only recently recognised Energy Communities through EU Directives 2018/2001 and 2019/944. In the framework of the Erasmus+ EU project EU-NETs (Grant Number KA220-VET-62435110), this qualitative research gathered information regarding the current adaptability and applicability of directives within national legislation, together with the legal and administrative frameworks in Spain, Italy, and Greece. Desk research and semi-structured interviews with 20 key informants from Spain, Italy, and Greece were conducted. Cross-case analysis was focused on the regulatory framework for ECs, its structure, and the models of governance. The results showed that the process of harmonisation of renewable energy legislation has not yet been completed in Southern Europe, with notable differences in the degree of implementation between countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Luisa Losada-Puente & José Antonio Blanco & Adina Dumitru & Ioannis Sebos & Aggelos Tsakanikas & Ioanna Liosi & Stelios Psomas & Mariangela Merrone & Diego Quiñoy & Eduardo Rodríguez, 2023. "Cross-Case Analysis of the Energy Communities in Spain, Italy, and Greece: Progress, Barriers, and the Road Ahead," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:14016-:d:1244794
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/14016/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/18/14016/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Alessandro Sciullo & Gregory Winston Gilcrease & Mario Perugini & Dario Padovan & Barbara Curli & Jay Sterling Gregg & Osman Arrobbio & Erika Meynaerts & Sarah Delvaux & Lucia Polo-Alvarez & Chiara Ca, 2022. "Exploring Institutional and Socio-Economic Settings for the Development of Energy Communities in Europe," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Gjorgievski, Vladimir Z. & Cundeva, Snezana & Georghiou, George E., 2021. "Social arrangements, technical designs and impacts of energy communities: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1138-1156.
    3. Weckesser, Tilman & Dominković, Dominik Franjo & Blomgren, Emma M.V. & Schledorn, Amos & Madsen, Henrik, 2021. "Renewable Energy Communities: Optimal sizing and distribution grid impact of photo-voltaics and battery storage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    4. Dorian Frieden & Andreas Tuerk & Ana Rita Antunes & Vasilakis Athanasios & Alexandros-Georgios Chronis & Stanislas d’Herbemont & Mislav Kirac & Rita Marouço & Camilla Neumann & Esteban Pastor Catalayu, 2021. "Are We on the Right Track? Collective Self-Consumption and Energy Communities in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-26, November.
    5. Grigorios L. Kyriakopoulos, 2022. "Energy Communities Overview: Managerial Policies, Economic Aspects, Technologies, and Models," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-45, November.
    6. Anita Tatti & Sibilla Ferroni & Martina Ferrando & Mario Motta & Francesco Causone, 2023. "The Emerging Trends of Renewable Energy Communities’ Development in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.
    7. Dimitrios Stamopoulos & Petros Dimas & Ioannis Sebos & Aggelos Tsakanikas, 2021. "Does Investing in Renewable Energy Sources Contribute to Growth? A Preliminary Study on Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Lowitzsch, J. & Hoicka, C.E. & van Tulder, F.J., 2020. "Renewable energy communities under the 2019 European Clean Energy Package – Governance model for the energy clusters of the future?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    9. Anna Grignani & Michela Gozzellino & Alessandro Sciullo & Dario Padovan, 2021. "Community Cooperative: A New Legal Form for Enhancing Social Capital for the Development of Renewable Energy Communities in Italy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Avelino, Flor & Wittmayer, Julia M. & Pel, Bonno & Weaver, Paul & Dumitru, Adina & Haxeltine, Alex & Kemp, René & Jørgensen, Michael S. & Bauler, Tom & Ruijsink, Saskia & O'Riordan, Tim, 2019. "Transformative social innovation and (dis)empowerment," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 195-206.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kubli, Merla & Puranik, Sanket, 2023. "A typology of business models for energy communities: Current and emerging design options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    2. Shoaib Ahmed & Amjad Ali & Antonio D’Angola, 2024. "A Review of Renewable Energy Communities: Concepts, Scope, Progress, Challenges, and Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-34, February.
    3. Roberta Roberto & Gabriella Ferruzzi & Viviana Negro & Michel Noussan, 2023. "Mapping of Energy Community Development in Europe: State of the Art and Research Directions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-29, September.
    4. Michael Krug & Maria Rosaria Di Nucci & Lucas Schwarz & Irene Alonso & Isabel Azevedo & Massimo Bastiani & Anna Dyląg & Erik Laes & Arthur Hinsch & Gaidis Klāvs & Ivars Kudreņickis & Pouyan Maleki & G, 2023. "Implementing European Union Provisions and Enabling Frameworks for Renewable Energy Communities in Nine Countries: Progress, Delays, and Gaps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-29, May.
    5. Mehmet Efe Biresselioglu & Siyami Alp Limoncuoglu & Muhittin Hakan Demir & Johannes Reichl & Katrin Burgstaller & Alessandro Sciullo & Edoardo Ferrero, 2021. "Legal Provisions and Market Conditions for Energy Communities in Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Turkey: A Comparative Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-25, October.
    6. Fioriti, Davide & Frangioni, Antonio & Poli, Davide, 2021. "Optimal sizing of energy communities with fair revenue sharing and exit clauses: Value, role and business model of aggregators and users," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    7. Bianchi, F.R. & Bosio, B. & Conte, F. & Massucco, S. & Mosaico, G. & Natrella, G. & Saviozzi, M., 2023. "Modelling and optimal management of renewable energy communities using reversible solid oxide cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 334(C).
    8. Herenčić, Lin & Kirac, Mislav & Keko, Hrvoje & Kuzle, Igor & Rajšl, Ivan, 2022. "Automated energy sharing in MV and LV distribution grids within an energy community: A case for Croatian city of Križevci with a hybrid renewable system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 176-194.
    9. Pinto, Edwin S. & Gronier, Timothé & Franquet, Erwin & Serra, Luis M., 2023. "Opportunities and economic assessment for a third-party delivering electricity, heat and cold to residential buildings," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    10. Gjorgievski, Vladimir Z. & Velkovski, Bodan & Francesco Demetrio, Minuto & Cundeva, Snezana & Markovska, Natasa, 2023. "Energy sharing in European renewable energy communities: Impact of regulated charges," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    11. Elisa Moretti & Ettore Stamponi, 2023. "The Renewable Energy Communities in Italy and the Role of Public Administrations: The Experience of the Municipality of Assisi between Challenges and Opportunities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-23, August.
    12. Álvaro Manso-Burgos & David Ribó-Pérez & Manuel Alcázar-Ortega & Tomás Gómez-Navarro, 2021. "Local Energy Communities in Spain: Economic Implications of the New Tariff and Variable Coefficients," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    13. Osman Arrobbio & Dario Padovan & Alessandro Sciullo, 2022. "Collective Action Initiatives as a Tool for a Peaceful Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-4, April.
    14. Georgios Yiasoumas & Lazar Berbakov & Valentina Janev & Alessandro Asmundo & Eneko Olabarrieta & Andrea Vinci & Giovanni Baglietto & George E. Georghiou, 2023. "Key Aspects and Challenges in the Implementation of Energy Communities," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-24, June.
    15. Berg, Kjersti & Hernandez-Matheus, Alejandro & Aragüés-Peñalba, Mònica & Bullich-Massagué, Eduard & Farahmand, Hossein, 2024. "Load configuration impact on energy community and distribution grid: Quantifying costs, emissions and grid exchange," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 363(C).
    16. Gjorgievski, Vladimir Z. & Cundeva, Snezana & Markovska, Natasa & Georghiou, George E., 2022. "Virtual net-billing: A fair energy sharing method for collective self-consumption," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PB).
    17. Volpato, Gabriele & Carraro, Gianluca & Cont, Marco & Danieli, Piero & Rech, Sergio & Lazzaretto, Andrea, 2022. "General guidelines for the optimal economic aggregation of prosumers in energy communities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    18. Julien Lemaire & Rui Castro & Fátima Montemor, 2024. "Empowering Remote and Off-Grid Renewable Energy Communities: Case Studies in Congo, Australia, and Canada," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-19, September.
    19. Davide Strepparava & Federico Rosato & Lorenzo Nespoli & Vasco Medici, 2022. "Privacy and Auditability in the Local Energy Market of an Energy Community with Homomorphic Encryption," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-14, July.
    20. Federico De Santi & Matteo Moncecchi & Giuseppe Prettico & Gianluca Fulli & Sergio Olivero & Marco Merlo, 2022. "To Join or Not to Join? The Energy Community Dilemma: An Italian Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-20, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:18:p:14016-:d:1244794. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.