The development of energy communities in Navarre, Álava and other territories

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The conference Energy Communities in the Rural World: Challenges, Opportunities and Realities. Training for Trainers and Decision-Makers, held on 23rd November at the Faculty of Economics and Business Studies of UVIGO, was organised by the Galician Wind Energy Observatory (OEGA).

The OEGA is a research, information, advice and consultancy tool for all people, companies and groups interested in wind energy in Galicia, born from the collaboration between the Isla Couto Foundation, the Juana de Vega Foundation, the Paideia Galiza Foundation, and the University of Vigo. This public-private alliance is essential to try to work together to involve rural communities in the energy transition processes.

This conference was part of the programme of activities of the EC4RURAL project, a LIFE project funded with 1.6 million euros, which started in September 2023. Led by the University of Vigo, it has ten partners from Spain, Estonia, and Belgium, who together will promote the transition to clean energy in European rural areas through Energy Communities in 34 municipalities (22 Galician and 12 Estonian) until August 2027.

The activity was attended by more than 70 people and groups from different areas such as local administrations, rural development groups, forest communities, small energy distributors, consumer associations, energy company professionals, etc.

Videos available. The development of energy communities in Navarre, Álava and other territories

Experience of the Energy Communities of Alava

Rafael Larreina, president of the Red de Comunidades Energéticas S. Coop. Navarra, contextualised the network of communities and presented the three common models of most rural energy communities and the work to promote participatory processes that empower people to change the energy management model.

https://tv.uvigo.es/video/656df1725d728f74310c4762

Urroztarra Energy Community, Navarre

Carmentxu Etxarte, president of the Urroztarra Energy Community, shared her experience of the cooperative, its achievements, its past and future difficulties, and the common enthusiasm for continuing to grow and be part of the Energy Communities.

https://tv.uvigo.es/video/65671a415d728f40622faa36

Garesbide Energy Community. Nafarroa

Raquel Campillo, president of the social initiative Garesbide Cooperative, spoke about the experience of the Garesbide community, the challenges, and difficulties of its cooperative, without forgetting their hope to continue and improve local initiatives to strengthen the social and rural fabric.

https://tv.uvigo.es/video/65671a425d728f4066719fe2