The Galician Ecosystem of Energy Communities

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The event Energy Communities and Community Initiatives: The Galician Ecosystem provided a platform to share proposals aimed at promoting a citizen-driven energy transition, supported by municipalities and local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The event was organized by the Galician Wind Observatory with the collaboration of the Inter-University Research Center for Atlantic Cultural Landscapes (CISPAC), the University of Vigo, and the EC4Rural Project. These entities are united in their commitment to advancing the energy transition from a community-based approach, particularly in rural areas.

Held at the Faculty of Economics and Business Sciences, the event brought together key initiatives and actors from Galicia’s community-focused energy ecosystem. Participants included INEGA (Galician Energy Institute), community transformation offices, local entities, municipalities, provincial councils, community land groups, and European projects with Galician involvement, among others.

The event began with a presentation by José Ángel Abad, head of INEGA’s Energy Savings and Efficiency division, who outlined key aspects of Galicia’s energy system, the Galicia Energy Agenda 2030, and the details of the Energy Planning Call for local entities and energy communities.

A roundtable discussion with representatives from the community transformation offices of the Pontevedra Provincial Council and the O Rosal Municipality emphasized the importance of tailored advice for each initiative, based on their unique social, economic, and environmental conditions.

During a debate on collective rural development initiatives, José María Lago, delegate for Environment and Energy at the Ourense Provincial Council, and Susana Rodríguez, president of Galeosol SCG, highlighted the need for local authorities to use their resources to foster the energy transition. The mayors of Vilasantar and Moeche presented their advanced municipal energy transition projects, both of which have already established legal entities to manage collective energy installations. Similarly, the Municipality of Muíños secured funding from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE). The Municipality of Xeramade introduced its XERando energy community, which has received financing from the Galician Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEGAMP) through the CEL RURAL project to develop a photovoltaic installation set to be completed by year-end.

The afternoon session featured presentations of four European projects with Galician participation—Adelalix, CEL Rural, Comenerg, and EC4Rural—focused on identifying technological solutions tailored to the specific social circumstances of each territory. These projects have a clear cross-border or international dimension.

A panel discussion with Communities of Shared Neighboring Lands demonstrated their significant potential for driving community-led transformation in rural Galicia. The A Reigosa energy community in Ponte Caldelas was celebrated as Galicia’s second grid-connected energy community, following A Illa de Arousa. Meanwhile, the communities of Buchabade (Ponte Caldelas) and Tameiga (Mos) showcased collective self-consumption solutions with surplus compensation as an alternative when legal barriers arise. The Froxán community in Lousame highlighted the challenges posed by energy distributors in granting necessary authorizations and shared its pioneering success in shared electric mobility.

Additional initiatives like Moña Solar on the Morrazo Peninsula and E.nova’s community projects in the Xallas and Barcala regions underscored the need to involve livestock farms and highly urbanized municipalities, such as Moaña, in citizen-controlled energy transitions.
Galicia’s First Community Wind Farm

First community wind farm in Galicia

The event also launched the social engagement process for Galicia’s first community wind farm. As explained by Xavier Simón, after a year of preliminary discussions, the Galician Wind Observatory is initiating the development of the Quiñón do Ar Community Wind Farm, featuring a single 4.2 MW wind turbine. This project, a key outcome of the Wind Observatory’s research, involves the creation of a cooperative-based company by researchers at the University of Vigo.

The wind farm will be located in the Municipality of A Lama, following agreements with local landowners. The project will require an investment of approximately €6 million, funded by contributions from individuals and organizations interested in producing carbon-neutral electricity and showcasing alternative methods of managing natural resources in rural areas. The initiative seeks to engage citizens, Communities of Shared Neighboring Lands, municipalities, SMEs, and even the Galician Government (Xunta), aligning with the recently enacted Law 2/2024 of November 7, which promotes the social and economic benefits of projects utilizing Galicia’s natural resources. This law allows the Xunta to participate in the capital of initiatives like the Quiñón do Ar wind farm.

For more information please contact enerxia.comunitaria@uvigo.gal .