12.02.2025 / Expert Comments

Global changes challenge the present, affect the lives of individual citizens, and require changes in daily life. Politics follows these changes, both at the local and international levels—or rather, at the supranational level, as in the case of the European Union. For many years now, the primary issue has been the fight against climate change, which often feels like a race toward entropy, a never-ending battle that has begun but seems to have no end. The difficulties facing the global community are, in many cases, addressed through policies aimed at transforming the current capitalist model, focused on perpetual economic growth, into sustainable development.

Author: Zoe Alice Deotto, M.A. Candidate

Among these efforts is the pressing need to reform the concept of citizenship. The goal is to foster an informed and participatory citizenship that takes into account the impact of its choices on future generations and on the citizens of other countries.^[1] Solutions to global problems, indeed, cannot rely solely on the ability to implement international cooperation policies: as a famous environmentalist slogan goes, “think globally, act locally”, and therefore the implementation of a series of conscious behaviors is necessary, always taking into account the different social, economic, and ecological conditions.

A concrete example that demonstrates how different consumption is possible is represented by Renewable Energy Communities (REC). But what are they?

Created to achieve economic benefits and an advantage for the planet, RECs are associations that produce and share renewable energy. The goal is to generate and manage green energy independently at favorable costs, reducing carbon dioxide emissions and minimizing energy waste. Any public or private entity can be part of them: in fact, RECs bring together citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises, commercial activities, and public administrations.^[2] They usually arise on large unused industrial sites that are big enough to accommodate photovoltaic systems. In a REC, renewable electricity is shared among the various producers and consumers located within the same geographic area, thanks to the use of the national electricity distribution grid.^[3] The self-consumption of renewable energy occurs virtually.

These communities have their own charter, which states that their main purpose is to provide environmental, economic, and social benefits both for the member-shareholders and for the local area. Therefore, the goal is not to generate financial profits.^[4]

Energy Communities have open and voluntary participation and aggregate renewable energy producers and energy consumers. Participants can take part in three ways: the first is to participate as a “producer” of renewable energy, by creating a photovoltaic system (but also hydroelectric, wind, biogas, or solid biomass plants); one can participate as a “self-consumer” if they own a renewable energy production system that produces energy to meet their own consumption needs and share any excess energy with the rest of the community; and finally, one can join as a “consumer” of electric energy if they do not own a plant but have their own electricity usage, where some of the consumption can be covered by the renewable electric energy produced by other community members.^[5]

To encourage the creation of these Communities, the EU and the Italian government have allocated PNRR funds that can be requested by entities investing in the creation of renewable energy production plants with a capacity of up to 1 MW, located in Communities established in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 inhabitants.

Creating Smart Energy Grids is possible, as demonstrated by the small municipality of Ferla. Located in the inland region of eastern Sicily, Ferla began a shared path in 2021 to create an energy community in its territory. Thus, CommOn Light – Mettiamo insieme le nostre energie was born, the first Sicilian REC, a pilot project of the Municipality, carried out in collaboration with the University of Catania and ENEA (National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development). Projects like these not only require (national and European) funds but also require extensive involvement from citizens and businesses in the area. They are an example of how, without the daily commitment of the community, sustainability cannot be achieved.

This “circular economy laboratory” is not only good for the environment. Engaging private citizens, public entities, and companies, in the role of co-producers or consumers, all with equal dignity, allowing each participant to actively take part in the energy transition and simultaneously reduce their utility bills, is also a way to strengthen democratic and participatory practices.

The municipality of Ferla represents a milestone on the road to sustainable energy: this is demonstrated not only by CommOn Light, but also by the installation of photovoltaic panels and solar thermal systems, and the construction of a heat pump system to cover the thermoelectric needs of the municipal schools and reduce electricity consumption. When discussing virtuous examples of this phenomenon in Italy, it is also important to mention other Energy Communities, such as MalpensaFiere in the north of the country, created to reduce the economic burden related to the energy costs of the exhibition center, or the one founded by the Tuscan municipality of Montevarchi (Arezzo) which produces 1.119 MWp, equivalent to 23.41% of the consumption of 2,216 households or 27% of the consumption of 31,800 square meters of commercial spaces.^[6]

These realities show that a concrete response to the climatic and environmental challenges of our time is possible. Promoting energy self-sufficiency, reducing emissions, and encouraging sustainable development should be among the goals not only of policymakers but also to guide the daily choices of individuals. Investing in RECs means not only ensuring a greener future but also promoting a model of active citizenship based on solidarity and resource sharing. Think globally, act locally!

Departments: School for Sustainable Development; Research Department; Policy Analysis and Outreach Department; Society, Crisis, and Resilience Program; Community Foundations & SDGs.

Regions: Europe.

Themes:  Architecture and Urbanism; Cities; Environment and Climate Change; European Union; Innovation, Science & Research; Public Policy; Sustainable Development Goals.