The ECOEMPOWER project aims to support regional authorities in triggering and facilitating energy communities. It sets up a One Stop Shop (OSS) in the form of a physical and virtual center where citizens and stakeholders can access integrated services and digital tools to set up energy communities. 

ECOEMPOWER (ECOsystems EMPOWERing at regional and local scale supporting energy communities) is a three-year project, funded with 1.5 million euros under the LIFE program and the Clean Energy Transition sub-programme.

The aim of the project in France is to develop the services offered by the Association des Centrales Villageoises, to help create new energy communities or develop existing ones.

The ECOEMPOWER consortium is an association of 10 partners from 6 European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Czech Republic, Belgium), forming a team of complementary structures including public bodies/associations, research centers and private companies. ECOEMPOWER was officially launched on September 1, 2023, under the coordination of the Fondazione Bruno Kessler, and runs until August 31, 2026.

The partners:

• Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Italy) - Research center
• L'Università degli Studi di Trento (Italy) - Research center
• UBITECH Energy (Belgium) - Company
• BAUM Consult (Germany) - Company
• Energie- & Umweltzentrum Allgäu (eza!) (Germany) - Association
• Association Centrales Villageoises (France) - Association
• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Energie Environnement (France) - Association
• PERIFEREIA STEREAS ELLADAS/Région de Grèce centrale (Greece) - Public body
• Provincia Autonoma di Trento (Italy) - Public body
• Pražské společenství obnovitelné energie (Czech Republic) - Public body

ECOEMPOWER will create services to support existing and new energy communities. Services will be tested in pilot sites, where communities and their stakeholders will be actively involved and engaged. This experience will then be valorized as a methodology, and policy recommendations will be developed to support regional one-stop-shops and energy communities across Europe.

In France, 3 pilot sites have been identified:

• Eau et Solaire du Lac
• VercorSoleil
• Centrales Villageoises de Vezouze-en-Piémont