Inspirational stories and useful tips show what can be done
Community energy is key to action on the climate crisis, boosting local economies, and reinvigorating communities. It has been at the forefront of spurring the transformation to 100% renewable energy. And it’s a growing movement across Europe.
But how can communities and municipalities actually begin to generate and sell their own renewable energy?
A new, beautiful step-by-step handbook takes lessons from 27 inspirational success stories around Europe to walk you through it.
Useful & inspirational handbook
Community Energy: A practical guide to reclaiming power, produced by Friends of the Earth Europe, Energy Cities and REScoop.eu, is a useful and inspirational handbook, packed with instructions, practical tips, powerful success stories and invaluable resources to build a local, community-led renewable energy revolution.
It takes inspiration, and shares practical learning from projects like the Ecopower cooperative in Belgium, which started around the kitchen table of a co-housing project 30 years ago, restored an old watermill, and now powers 50,000 local homes with 100% renewable energy.
So if you might be thinking about setting up an energy community, but aren’t sure where to start; if you’re a group or local authority making plans; or if you’re just curious – this practical guide is for you!
The energy transition needs you
Community energy is about more than windmills and solar panels. It can involve community heating, energy poverty action, and renewable transport. And it can help find a new balance between local economies and the global economy. It can help overcome the urban and rural divide, and close the gap between north and south, between rich and poor – because it empowers local people.
Community energy leads to energy democracy, holding the promise of an economy and society based on co-operation rather than competition, within the boundaries of planet earth. But to change our energy system we need everyone.
A changing landscape
Community energy has been gaining growing recognition in recent years. The European Union has acknowledged the important role community energy is playing in the energy transition, and EU law now requires every EU country to actively support its development. But citizens, communities, and local municipalities need the right resources to turn this opportunity into a reality.
A call to action
This guide is a call to action. It’s a call to get active locally, and become part of a growing movement of people who are reclaiming power.
As the book reminds us, to change our energy system we need everyone. And what might seem impossible can actually become practically probable. So what are you waiting for?!
