Energy communities are increasingly recognised as vital players in the transition to a sustainable and decentralised energy system. By enabling citizens and small consumers to actively participate in renewable energy generation, storage, and efficient consumption, these communities foster collective action and promote local clean energy solutions. Digitalisation, including emerging technologies like blockchain, further enhances the management and incentives within energy communities, opening new avenues for engagement and efficiency. Recent replication workshops held in Spain within the framework of the LIFE InEExS project provide valuable practical insights into these developments, showcasing both progress and challenges in replicating innovative energy community models.
Spanish Replication Webinar: Digitalising Energy Communities with Blockchain
On 24 February 2025, an online workshop organised by ESCAN and supported by Enercoop and Verdia Legal gathered almost 50 participants from public authorities, energy communities, technology developers, and other stakeholders across Spain. The event highlighted pioneering examples of energy communities in Crevillente, Rivas Vaciamadrid and Gran Canaria and explored the integration of Blockchain technology within the InEExS digital platform model. Moreover, the legal and regulatory conditions for their digitalisation were presented.
Speakers detailed how Blockchain can create incentives for efficient energy use and improve the local utilisation of renewable energy, although this technology remains relatively novel and complex. The workshop emphasised that while energy cooperatives hold significant potential, they also face challenges due to regulatory uncertainties, technical integration complexities, and the need for deeper understanding of Blockchain systems.
Participants appreciated the InEExS pilot project as an exemplary case demonstrating active citizen engagement in the digitalisation of electricity systems. The workshop concluded that practical impact assessments are necessary before wider replication efforts proceed, with further pilot results expected by the end of 2025.
Roundtable on Energy Communities in agri-food cooperatives: Development and digitalization example from InEExS
On 27 May 2025, a roundtable event at COARVAL offices in Picassent convened representatives from agri-food cooperatives, regional authorities, and the InEExS project team. The session hosted by ENERCOOP and COARVAL and in the context of the community transformation office, focused on sharing experiences and exploring digitalisation opportunities in energy communities specifically within the agricultural sector.
The discussion covered regional support programs, operational challenges, and the potential of the InEExS platform to enhance collective self-consumption of solar PV energy. Operational cooperatives like Montitxelvo and Villalonga highlighted tangible savings and community cohesion benefits arising from shared renewable installations. The InEExS app was identified as a promising tool to strengthen digital skills and incentivise efficient energy use through friendly competition.
Administrative hurdles emerged as the main obstacle, particularly the lengthy procedures involved in updating membership and production sharing agreements, which can delay energy community operations by several months. The roundtable ended with plans to assess technical readiness and appetite for wider app replication among participating cooperatives.
What’s next…
Both workshops underscore the promising role of digital tools, including Blockchain, in supporting the growth and efficiency of energy communities across diverse sectors. While technical and regulatory challenges remain, ongoing pilot projects and collaborative stakeholder engagement pave the way for informed replication strategies.
Next steps involve maintaining close dialogue with engaged participants, resolving administrative barriers, and leveraging practical insights from pilot implementations expected later in 2025. This progressive approach will help scale the InEExS business model, fostering more active citizen participation and accelerating Europe’s clean energy transition.
