Regulatory challenges and opportunities for collective renewable energy prosumers in the EU

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 138; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Inês, Campos, Guilherme, Pontes Luz, Esther, Marín-González, Swantje, Gährs, Stephen, Hall, Lars, Holstenkamp
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2020; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Citizen energy communities; Citizens; Collective RE prosumers; Collectives; Comparative studies; Consumers; Cross-country comparison; Energy; Energy consumption; Energy policy; Energy sources; Regulatory frameworks; Renewable energy; Renewable energy communities; Renewable energy sources; Renewable resources; Netherlands; United Kingdom > UK; France; Portugal; Germany; Spain; Regulatory frameworks; Collective RE prosumers; Renewable energy communities; Citizen energy communities; Cross-country comparison
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111212

The transition to a low-carbon future based on renewable energy sources is leading to a new role for citizens, from passive energy consumers to active energy citizens - the so-called renewable energy (RE) prosumers. Recent EU energy policy seeks to mainstream RE prosumers in each Member State. This study carries out a cross-country comparison between the regulatory frameworks of nine countries and regions - Belgium (Flanders region only), Croatia, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Netherlands and the United Kingdom - to reveal the main challenges and opportunities that these have posed to collective RE prosumers (i.e. renewable energy communities, citizen energy communities and jointly-acting renewable self-consumers). Four countries have had more favourable frameworks for collective prosumers: France, Germany, Netherlands and United Kingdom. The results indicate that the current legal framework at the EU level represents a clear opportunity for collective prosumers. Spain and Portugal have both already shifted from a restrictive regulation to implementing in 2019 a legal framework for collectives. The study provides a starting point to distil policy implications for improving legal frameworks relevant for collective RES prosumers across Europe. •Key barriers for collective RES prosumers are of regulatory nature.•Countries with a friendlier framework: France, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands.•Changes in national policies are to be expected when transposing EU law.