The ‘APE – Appunti di Energia’ (energy notes) series by RSE continues with a new issue. This month, Federico Aleotti, Valerio Angelucci, Debora Cilio and Antonino Rollo from the ‘Active Networks: Distribution and Demand Management’ group, Energy Systems Development Department, describe the main features of a Renewable Energy Community (REC).

A (REC) is a legal entity in which different types of actors come together to produce, share and consume energy generated from renewable sources, with the aim of providing environmental, economic and social benefits to the members and the territory where operates. Individuals and legal entities with (at least) one electricity utility can participate in a REC, i.e. citizens, small and medium-sized enterprises, territorial entities and local authorities, third sector entities, research and training institutions, religious institutions, and environmental protection entities.

The establishment of renewable energy communities is associated with some benefits regarding different aspects – across the board – of the RECs, which are by their nature scalable in time and space.

According to GSE data, as of January 9, 2024, there were 122 associations for widespread self-consumption of renewable energy. Of these, 88 define as collective self-consumption (CSC) and 34 are Renewable Energy Communities (RECs).

In this month’s APE you’ll find all the details and features shown in the photos.