Community Energy in Gabrovo, Bulgaria: Citizens and the City Join Forces

In 2023, the city of Gabrovo, Bulgaria, became home to one of the country’s first renewable energy communities. Located in central Bulgaria, Gabrovo is a small city with a big ambition - to give local people a direct role in the clean energy transition. Through a shared solar project and a new energy cooperative, citizens, local government, and businesses came together to build something new: a power system that works for everyone.

How it started and who was involved

The story of Gabrovo’s energy community began with a growing local commitment to climate action. In 2021, Gabrovo became the first Bulgarian municipality to declare its intent to become carbon-neutral by 2050. As part of that vision, the city joined Greenpeace Bulgaria’s “Energy Communities” pilot initiative,  a program aimed at helping municipalities lead the way in community-owned renewables.

In 2022, Gabrovo Municipality initiated the development of the first energy community in Bulgaria by sponsoring feasibility studies, legal and financial analysis, and exploring community ownership models. Local officials participated in EU-funded capacity building and applied to projects like TANDEMS and LIFE Loop to support the planning and the design of the REC. 

In November 2022, a public call was issued to recruit members for the energy community. Local citizens, NGOs, SMEs, and the municipality participated. Membership was opened in two phases, first for residents of Gabrovo, then for others across Bulgaria, to ensure local prioritization. Investment contributions ranged from BGN 500 to BGN 5,000 per member. The membership campaign raised BGN 180,000 (approximately €92,000), reaching its target three weeks ahead of schedule. The fast response highlighted strong community interest and trust in the project from the very start.

The community planned and constructed a 100 kWp photovoltaic solar power plant on a former municipal landfill site. Technical coordination and community engagement were managed as an ongoing partnership between the municipality and project members.

Why this project matters

Gabrovo is showing that even small cities can lead the energy transition. In a country where citizen-led energy is still new, this project is a pioneering example of what’s possible when people are invited to co-create the solution.

It’s not just about solar panels. It’s about building trust, spreading ownership, and giving people a voice in shaping the future of energy. The project also demonstrates the value of strong local leadership: by stepping in to organize and support, the city made it easier for people to join and act.

Although connecting the system to the national grid has faced delays, the cooperative remains active, and members are working together to push the project forward — showing how resilience and cooperation go hand in hand.

What we can learn from Gabrovo

Gabrovo’s story offers valuable lessons for other communities. It show how important is to:

• Start with trust: The city’s leadership helped create a safe, transparent environment for participation.
• Keep it fair: Capping investments and offering equal decision-making power made the process inclusive and democratic.
• Make it real: People were eager to join, once they had a clear, practical way to get involved.
• Work across sectors: Success came from cooperation between citizens, the municipality, technical experts, and supporting institutions.

Working together for a shared future

Gabrovo’s energy community proves that the clean energy transition isn’t just for experts or big companies, it’s something communities can lead themselves. With shared ownership, open participation, and strong partnerships, energy becomes more than a utility, it becomes a common good.

This project is a reminder that when we break down barriers between people, policy makers, and institutions, we don’t just generate power, we build stronger, more connected communities.