Ireland has an ambitious target to produce 80% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. More specifically, small-scale community-owned renewable electricity generators have already been identified as a part of meeting that target, with the Climate Action Plan targeting at least 500 MW of local community-based renewable energy projects. To realize these benefits, it is crucial community leaders and local project developers understand how ownership models of these community energy projects work. The ownership model dictates who owns what share of the project and who benefits from the energy and revenue produced. To ensure communities benefit from local energy community projects, it is crucial for project supporters and initiators to understand the nuances and opportunities of different ownership models.
This report provides an overview of several different energy community ownership models, providing specific details on how the models are set up and operate, as well as information about tangible examples across the EU. Across each model there are various possible forms of cooperation with different stakeholders, including energy companies, local and national authorities, community groups, and even utilities. However, for the Irish case, some models are easier to implement than others, and thus more suitable to implement community owned energy communities. Other legal structures, that share ownership between different bodies, are still a work in progress, particularly given the lack of supporting regulatory or incentive mechanisms for these projects. This report aims to spark initial interest and showcase best practices of what is possible when determining the ownership model of an energy community in Ireland.
Access the report here
