In partnership with the Educate for Climate Community, the AURORA PROJECT ran a community café for members across Europe to join and discuss how to set up energy communities within schools and universities in Europe. They were inspired by the story from the Palomeras Cultural Community school in Madrid, Spain. Sarah Moreno a teacher at the school, told her story about the development of the energy community which has delivered €140,000 investment in 43kWp solar panels for the school and in addition heat pumps to keep the buildings cool during the hot summer months in Madrid. She made it clear she was astonished that such a scheme was possible for a working class school and that the rewards were so amazing. Everyone in the community was overwhelmed with joy at the success of the scheme.
Lowering energy bills and a lower carbon footprint for the school. The scheme is all the more remarkable as this is the first school in Madrid to set up an energy community funded by its teachers, staff and the surrounding community. They were supported by the solar co-operative Ecooo who advised them on the share scheme that funded this renewable energy scheme and by the Technical University of Madrid as part of the AURORA project.
The event was the most successful café event put on by the Education for Climate Community and the two videos https://youtube.com/watch?v=YVPRnwznb9A and https://youtube.com/watch?v=IcLd0bPsXAk that show how the scheme started and the installation phase are available for anyone else interested in following the lead of the Palomeras School.
The event has so inspired Members of the Education Community that they have now set up a Challenge Community to promote the idea across Europe. So what’s stopping you from doing the same for your school – surely it’s time to put smiles on the faces of your kids as they can see we can beat climate change, we can take ownership of the energy transition and we can push fossils fuels into being a fuel of our past. What’s more lots of help now exists to get you started and includes:
The EU Energy Communities Facility – includes details on the Citizen Energy Advisory Hub, National Information Sessions, and opportunities for grants to develop business plans for energy communities:
https://energycommunitiesfacility.eu/
A short YouTube explainer video that introduces the concept of energy communities in a clear and engaging way:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=wwg3K_Km5ac&t=1s
REScoop.EU – the European federation of citizen energy cooperatives, with case studies and practical resources:
https://www.rescoop.eu
Project AURORA – detailed report and tools on business plans for setting up energy communities:
https://www.aurora-h2020.eu/
The EU’s upcoming Citizen Energy Package (launching in 2026) – an initiative to protect and empower consumers in the just transition:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiativ…
EU advice and support for Energy Communities – practical guidance and resources:
https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/markets-and-consumers/energy-consume…
