Community Energy Transition, a meeting to build the future from the ground up

• by OEGA
• 0 Comments

The Galician Wind Energy Observatory (OEGA), together with EC4RURAL, Community Energy (enercom), the Interprofessional Research Centre for Atlantic Cultural Landscapes (CISPAC) and the Observatorio dos Montes, is organising the Meeting of Community Entities working and driving the Community Energy Transition on 28 and 29 May 2026, to be held in the Degree Hall of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FCCEE) at the University of Vigo.

The meeting is conceived as a space for dialogue between the various actors who, from a community perspective, are leading or driving energy transition processes in Galicia. Communities of Neighbourhood Woodlands in Common (CMVMC), associations, cooperatives, notaries, lawyers, researchers and representatives from the private sector and public administrations will share experiences, knowledge and proposals over two intensive days.

Thursday 28 May: film and reflection

The first day will open at 18:00 with a screening of the film “Vidas Irrenovables”, followed by a debate with its director, Francisco J. Vaquero. Through the language of cinema, the film offers a critical and human perspective on the effects of the energy transition on rural communities, opening up the space for reflection that will continue throughout the Friday session.

Friday 29 May: technical and participatory day

The second day, of a more technical and participatory nature, will unfold throughout the morning and afternoon. At 9:00, a block dedicated to community experiences in energy transition will begin, featuring contributions from international and Galician references: Pep Puig and Miguel Cabré from Eolpop (Viure de l’aire), Ralf Marpert from Energieland2050 e.V. (Germany), and Cristina Sánchez from Enerxía Comunitaria S.L., who will present the case of community wind energy in Galicia.

At 10:30, notary and Civil Law professor at the University of Vigo Ernesto Regueira Núñez, together with lawyer Xoan Antón Pérez Lema, will address the role of Communities of Neighbourhood Woodlands in Common in the energy transition, from a legal and strategic perspective. After a coffee break, at 11:30 community energy transition projects already underway will be presented, led by the CMVMCs of Tameiga (Mos), Puga (Toén) and Cabeiras (Arbo), as well as Nosa Enerxía, SCG. At 12:30, the session will focus on how CMVMCs can directly manage their CO₂ absorption capacity without the need to commodify those assets, thereby developing their own projects within the framework of the energy transition, with contributions from Jose Manuel Iglesias Espiño (Tenza Consultores) and Jose Taboada (CMVMC of Vincios, Gondomar).

To close the morning, at 13:15, Emilio Bruquetas, Managing Director of Recursos de Galicia, will deliver a talk on public and community participation in the energy transition.

After a lunch break, at 16:00, Enrique Saez, president of the Fundación Juana de Vega, and Manuel Meixide, president of the Fundación Isla Couto, will reflect on the role of the private sector as a driver of the energy transition.

At 16:30, the debate will focus on the repowering of wind farms and the opportunities this process opens up for CMVMCs. Participants will include Xavier Simón (Galician Wind Energy Observatory), representatives of the CMVMC of Covelo, in the municipality of A Lama, and the CMVMC of Seixo, in the municipality of Cerdedo Cotobade, Xoan Antón Pérez-Lema as a negotiator in repowering processes, and Alfonso Álvaro from Repowerlab.

The meeting closes at 17:30 with a working session to advance the formation of a Network of Community Entities for the Energy Transition, followed by the closing ceremony at 18:30.

Registration

Registration is free for members of community entities (CMVMCs, associations and cooperatives linked to community energy), with a maximum of two people per entity and subject to the submission of supporting documentation. For companies, local councils and other entities, the registration fee is €120 per person, payable by bank transfer to account ES62 3070 0045 1464 2228 9022.

Registrations can be submitted through the following form

The meeting is supported by the Fundación Juana de Vega, the Fundación Isla Couto, Fundación Paideia Galiza and the University of Vigo.