A new study published in Progress in Photovoltaics (DOI: 10.1002/pip.70009) details the creation of a unique rooftop solar energy community at Aarhus University under the AURORA project.
The AURORA demonstration in Aarhus centers on a 98‑kW rooftop PV installation at Aarhus University, financed and owned collectively by students and employees. Participation is structured through 900 solar “shares” available for purchase. The generated electricity is consumed by the university, and community shareowners receive annual economic benefits—a novel model promoting stakeholder investment in clean energy.
The paper outlines the top 10 challenges the project team faced, from regulatory barriers to stakeholder engagement, and offers practical lessons and policy recommendations to encourage similar initiatives across Europe.
This publication underscores the growing trend toward distributed generation and citizen-led clean energy projects as seen in the AURORA demonstration sites. As more institutions and municipalities consider similar models, insights from the AURORA demonstration at Aarhus University offer a valuable blueprint for building effective, sustainable energy communities.
For stakeholders in academia, local government, and community energy planning, this paper with real-life experiences is a timely resource—demonstrating both the promise and complexities of democratized solar power.
