In the initial project phase, SHAREs laid critical groundwork to support and promote energy communities. Key activities centred on building a robust framework, engaging diverse stakeholders, and creating a scalable, country-customisable Gateway to address the specific needs of local energy communities.
Key achievements in early phases:
- National Framework Analysis: SHAREs began with an in-depth analysis of the legal and regulatory frameworks for energy communities in each partner country (Austria, Germany, Georgia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Hungary). This analysis produced a foundational overview to identify national barriers, policy enablers, and best practices. This overview became a core resource for policymakers, providing essential insights into establishing, managing, and expanding energy communities across varying regulatory landscapes.
- Stakeholder Network and Pioneer Circle: Six national policy-developer working groups were established to facilitate continuous dialogue with local actors, which was essential for gathering feedback on legal barriers and refining national SHAREs Gateways. SHAREs also created a transnational “Pioneers’ Circle” of experts, expanding it to 16 organisations. Through this network, SHAREs facilitated best-practice exchanges, mentored new pilots, and enabled direct input on developing community initiatives at regional and local levels.
- SHAREs Gateway Development and Launch: The first step in Gateway development involved designing an English blueprint as a modular WordPress template. This blueprint served as a foundation for each national Gateway, integrating essential resources on project design, legal considerations, funding options, and best practices to support local heroes in establishing energy communities. The SHAREs Gateway offers resources like FAQs, a Q&A catalogue, and a “pick-and-mix” communication campaign that equips local heroes with white-label materials for community outreach.
Expanded activities and results in the second phase:
- Extensive Gateway Outreach: The SHAREs Gateways exceeded expectations, with 175,173 unique visitors—far surpassing the target of 4,500. This success demonstrated significant public interest in the project’s resources and validated SHAREs’ user-centric design. Further dissemination efforts included social media, press releases, and newsletters, collectively reaching 21.5 million consumers and exceeding the outreach target for multipliers by achieving a reach of 74,041.
- Pilot Expansion and Customisation: Starting with a target of 20 pilot communities, SHAREs successfully expanded to 38 pilots, adapting the Gateway and mentoring approaches to align with each pilot’s unique national and local conditions. The rollout process was supported by a detailed rollout strategy, covering mentoring, support activities, and continuous feedback integration to refine and localise Gateway resources.
- Capacity Building Through Mentorship and International Exchange: SHAREs prioritised pilot support through hands-on mentorship, study tours, and exchanges with established energy communities. Pioneers from Austria and Germany provided direct mentorship, offering practical knowledge on financial, legal, and operational aspects of energy communities. This mentoring approach was instrumental in Croatia, where SHAREs supported the regulatory groundwork that resulted in a 10-year permit for Croatia’s first renewable energy community. This success underscored SHAREs’ ability to drive regulatory support and foster impactful, long-term community energy initiatives across Europe.
