The model of rural energy communities in Valencia. The power of the council for the energy transition
23 December, 2023
by OEGA
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The conference Energy Communities in the Rural World: Challenges, Opportunities and Realities. Training for Trainers and Decision-Makers, held on 23rd November at the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies of UVIGO, was organised by the Galician Wind Energy Observatory (OEGA).
The OEGA is a research, information, advice and consultancy tool for all people, companies and groups interested in wind energy in Galicia, born from the collaboration between the Isla Couto Foundation, the Juana de Vega Foundation, the Paideia Galiza Foundation, and the University of Vigo. This public-private alliance is essential to try to work together to involve rural communities in the energy transition processes.
This conference was part of the programme of activities of the EC4RURAL project, a LIFE project funded with 1.6 million euros, which started in September 2023. Led by the University of Vigo, it has ten partners from Spain, Estonia, and Belgium, who together will promote the transition to clean energy in European rural areas through Energy Communities in 34 municipalities (22 Galician and 12 Estonian) until August 2027.
The activity was attended by more than 70 people and groups from different areas such as local administrations, rural development groups, forest communities, small energy distributors, consumer associations, energy company professionals, etc.
Vídeos available. The model of rural energy communities in Valencia. The power of the council for the energy transition
Energy communities with a purpose… for a just transition
Juan Carlos Sacristán Antoni, President of Sapiens Energía, presents Sapiens Energía as a cooperative society of consumers and users, and associated work.. Its vision is characterised by being local, with a legal entity of 50 km, with a long-term vision of collective self-consumption and with a special emphasis on social participation, with self-managed legal entities with decision-making powers.
Nicolau Josep Claramunt Ruiz, Mayor of Albalat dels Sorells, presented the development of the community initiative in a municipality of 4,100 inhabitants. Based on the proposal of the Rubí town council, they began their work by promoting the reduction of emissions. Its philosophy is to reduce energy consumption, generate economic savings and invest these savings to continue improving.
Álvaro Ferrero Ferrer, Mayor of Portell de Morella, showed the case of a small rural town council of 178 inhabitants combining community development with a focus on solidarity and sustainability, and environmental actions.