Energy is a central sector that makes our modern way of life possible. Almost every aspect of our daily lives in modern civilisation is linked to or dependent on energy. It provides our lighting, keeps our food fresh in the fridge, does our laundry, entertains and relaxes us when we watch television, transports us to our desired destinations, enables us to communicate via telephones, heats our homes and generally powers our entire industrial society. But energy production and consumption also have major negative consequences. The impact on climate change, pollution of air, water and soil, the negative impact on human health and the potential risk of a nuclear accident. The energy sector is the largest anthropogenic source of greenhouse gases and pollutes with other gases and substances (SO2, NOx, particulate matter). Energy and energy-related costs represent an increasing share of household expenditure, making energy increasingly unaffordable for certain social groups and increasing the problem of energy poverty. When it comes to the use of the energy products we import, we have no influence on their prices, which are set on global markets.
It would therefore make sense to start thinking about how to reduce or limit greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions, reduce risks, limit the use of non-renewable energy sources and increase community sovereignty over energy supply. Reducing energy consumption can reduce the cost of energy products and, if local renewable resources are used and used sustainably, can influence their prices, making them independent of world markets. Both policies contribute to reducing the negative impact on the environment and human health, while at the same time increasing the sovereignty of the local community by reducing dependence on external factors such as companies and governments.
Community energy projects assume that communities and citizens own or participate in energy reduction and efficiency projects, generation from diffuse renewable energy sources, community energy purchasing and network management. Such projects are part of the so-called energy transition. They have great potential for involving communities in assessing and planning their own energy future and providing mechanisms for disseminating technical information on energy. They represent local and collective approaches to sustainable energy on a small scale.
Such projects allow communities to use local energy resources to build social capital, generate savings, increase local employment opportunities and generate revenues to address community development needs. They also raise the level of understanding and commitment to sustainable energy, support the local economy and increase its competitiveness. They enable individuals to have a real stake in their local energy project.
Community participation in the management of locally available energy resources helps to generate public support and acceptance and to reduce local opposition to low carbon projects. At the same time, mobilising individuals and their investment in such projects can provide new resources for investment in energy reduction and renewable energy use. Project benefits and profits go back to the community or are invested back into the community.
Energy saving and energy use efficiency projects: Energy saving and energy efficiency are the most sustainable steps in the energy sector, with wide-ranging positive impacts in terms of reducing pressures on the environment, reducing the need to import energy products and improving the quality of life in the local environment. By involving the local community in the project and allowing the participation of the population, we can provide the additional resources needed to implement the project. The result is a win-win situation for all involved, especially for energy consumers, as their costs are reduced due to lower energy consumption.
Energy self-sufficiency and renewable energy projects: One of the main objectives of community renewable energy projects is to contribute to energy self-sufficiency, i.e. to reduce dependence on imported (fossil) energy and on the (large) companies that sell us energy. The use of renewable energy also contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other negative impacts on the environment, promotes local employment and community development, and allows for a better matching of the type of energy sources with local conditions and community needs.
