We recently hosted the "CLR Webinar on Energy Communities and EU Policy Updates," bringing together experts and stakeholders to discuss the latest developments in European energy policies and the pivotal role of energy communities in achieving sustainability goals.

The event featured insightful presentations and discussions on integrating citizen-led renovation initiatives within the broader EU climate and energy strategies.

Key highlights included:

• Stavros Spyridakos (CLR) emphasised the importance of European policy updates on energy communities.
• Julien Tami (European Commission) highlighted the Citizen Innovation Initiative and its phases, stressing the role of energy communities in driving energy efficiency and sustainability.
• Sofia-Natalia Boemi (AUTh) provided an overview of the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) and its revisions, focusing on the Energy Efficiency First Principle (EE1st).
• Clemens Mayer (CLR) explained the legal framework for energy communities under the Electricity Market Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive.
• Dimitrios Athanasiou discussed the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and its impact on decarbonising the building stock by 2050.
• Stavros Spyridakos highlighted the role of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) in supporting energy communities, showcasing a community ESCO in Hungary.
• Javier Avendaño presented a case study on an ESCO project in Mexico.
• Tommaso Ferrucci (EnGreen) shared insights from a renewable energy community project in Italy.

The panel discussion, moderated by Jan Bormans (CLR), focused on the future of citizen-led renovation initiatives and integrating energy communities into EU policies. Key points included the need for regulatory frameworks, financial support mechanisms, trust and community engagement, and the potential for energy communities to contribute to the EU's climate goals.

The webinar underscored the critical role of energy communities in achieving the EU's energy efficiency and sustainability targets. It explored synergies between Citizen-Led Renovation (CLR) and Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), highlighting the need for supportive policies, financial mechanisms, and community engagement.