The Renewable Energy Community of the Telheiras/Lumiar parish, in Lisbon, came in third place in a European Commission competition by proposing that “producing renewable energy should not be limited to those who can install solar panels at home.”
A statement released by the European Climate Pact informs that the Telheiras/Lumiar Renewable Energy Community (CER) received a financial distinction of €100,000 for finishing in third place in the European prize “Governance Innovations in Energy Communities,” promoted by the European Commission.
The result was announced on Tuesday, in Brussels, during the European Research and Innovation Days, with the Portuguese project selected among ten energy communities from across the European Union, “for its model of organization and governance, which values citizen participation, the sharing of the benefits of renewable energy production, and social inclusion.”
In Telheiras/Lumiar, 70 members – including families, small businesses, condominiums, and the parish council itself – produce and share solar energy, in a community-based manner, an energy management model that was considered “innovative” by the European Commission.
With two solar energy production units installed at Antigo Lagar da Quinta de São Vicente and at the Pavilhão do Alto da Faia, “citizens participate in the decisions, the benefits of renewable production are shared, and there is a special concern for the inclusion of economically vulnerable families,” the statement says.
This special concern was valued by the European Commission, as it allows “the energy transition not to be limited to those who have resources to invest individually in electricity production equipment.”
The recognition shows that “the energy transition does not depend only on large investments or decisions made by governments,” says Miguel Macias Sequeira, coordinator of the CER and ambassador of the European Climate Pact, cited in the statement.
The CER would like to see its model replicated across the country and, in this sense, has developed tools to facilitate the creation of similar projects, including a practical guide with 10 steps to establish an energy community.
“The objective is to find ways to produce and share renewable energy adapted to each local context, directly involving the members in transparent and democratic decision-making processes and also supporting those facing greater economic difficulties,” explains Miguel Macias Sequeira.
The Telheiras/Lumiar CER is one of the first citizen-led energy communities in Portugal, promoted by the Viver Telheiras Partnership and the Lumiar Parish Council, operated by the Viver Telheiras Association, with technical support from Coopérnico and CENSE of the NOVA University of Lisbon.
The third phase of the project’s expansion will involve installing solar panels at Primary School No. 1 of Telheiras, which will increase the community’s renewable energy production capacity, the statement adds.
