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sunshare cooperative

Proposal code: CONSUL-2026-06-40

A PV cooperative located in rural Italy. Activities: capacity building, promoting renewables, creating efficiency, and lowering costs

1. Who are the initial promoters?

Local municipalities and public entities, providing institutional support and managing legislative frameworks.

2. Who is expected to participate?

Private citizens as consumers and prosumers, and local SMEs interested in sharing renewable energy.

3. Brief description of the concept:

Produce, share, and consume green energy to generate social, economic, and environmental benefits.

4. Initial objectives:

Introduce energy community and energy efficiency concepts, promote local renewable energy sharing, reduce emissions, and lower energy costs.

5. Planned activities:

Implement energy efficiency measures, organize training activities, and monitor energy performance and environmental impacts.

6. Financing the different phases:

Public and EU grants, member contributions, private investments, and partnerships with financial institutions and energy service providers.

7. Main expected challenges or barriers:

Limited energy awareness and difficulty engaging citizens, together with complex Italian bureaucratic and administrative requirements.

8. What is the anticipated geographical scope of the Energy Community?

A phased approach starting in specific rural areas and municipalities within the Primary Substation grid, with possible expansion to the regional level.

9. What legal form is currently envisaged or under consideration?

Different legal forms are being considered, but a cooperative is preferred to ensure democratic participation and equal benefit distribution.

10. What are the next steps foreseen?

Engage citizens and local businesses, conduct technical and economic feasibility studies, draft the cooperative statute, and establish the legal entity.

11. What type of support would be most useful at this stage?

Networking with successful energy communities and expert mentorship to guide the setup process and avoid common mistakes.