Section outline

  • The possibility for citizens to share energy is a right established by European legislation. The Clean Energy for all Europeans Package has laid the foundations to transform consumers from passive actors into active "prosumers."

    The two main regulatory pillars are:

    • Renewable Energy Directive (RED II – Directive (EU) 2018/2001): Formally introduces and defines "Renewable Energy Communities" (RECs). It establishes that REC members have the right to produce, consume, store, and sell renewable energy, including through the sharing of energy generated by the community’s installations.
    • Internal Electricity Market Directive (Directive (EU) 2019/944): Defines "Citizen Energy Communities" (CECs), a broader concept not limited to renewable sources. It guarantees the right of communities to participate in all energy markets, either directly or via aggregators, without discrimination.

    These directives have required Member States to create an "enabling framework" that removes unjustified barriers and actively promotes the development of energy communities (Lowitzsch et al., 2020). The most revolutionary aspect introduced is the concept of virtual energy sharing.