Citizens and their community involvement are an important part of the energy transition: through financial participation in community energy companies, they contribute to the expansion of renewable energies . However, with the urgency of the energy transition, rising energy costs and the desire for greater independence, citizens no longer just want to contribute financially, but want to be active themselves with locally generated energy. As a result, energy communities are transforming from pioneers of renewable expansion to transformation actors in local energy systems.

In Germany, the further development of energy communities is being implemented hesitantly or restrictively within the directives of the European Union. A coherent strategy is needed so that the added value of energy communities can be exploited for the climate-neutral energy system of the future. In order to develop their potential, energy communities need to be considered as an important strategic and regulatory element in the future energy system. To this end, European regulations should be implemented consistently and opportunities for community activities beyond the electricity sector should be created by removing bureaucratic hurdles or de minimis regulations.

The policy brief therefore recommends three strategies to establish energy communities as an important pillar in the energy system of the future:

1. Firmly integrate energy communities into strategic processes
2. Create incentives for community models with a new regulatory framework
3. Supporting local energy communities