Évora Renewable Energy Community

Through innovative approaches, the AURORA project in Évora continues to overcome challenges and drive the integration of renewable energy in a historically protected city. By establishing a Renewable Energy Community, leveraging distributed energy models, and engaging in educational and social initiatives, the University of Évora is setting a benchmark for sustainable energy solutions. While challenges remain, these efforts demonstrate how renewable energy, heritage conservation, and community engagement can coexist, paving the way for a greener future in historical urban settings.

Advancing Renewable Energy at the University of Évora: Challenges and New Opportunities

The initial concept of the AURORA project in Évora aimed to enhance the energy self-consumption of the University of Évora through a 200 kW photovoltaic (PV) power plant, covering approximately one-fifth of the campus’s peak electricity demand. The project sought to involve 1,500 participants, primarily students and university employees, contributing between €20 and €1,000, fostering inclusive participation. To simplify governance and minimize legal and administrative costs, the university was to own and manage the facility directly, avoiding the need for a separate legal entity. This model ensured compliance with public procurement rules, allowing seamless integration of academic community members into the initiative.

The project envisioned the establishment of a Renewable Energy Community (REC), internally managed by the university. However, legal and financial constraints prevented the university, as a public institution, from providing financial returns to participants. Instead, a model offering discounts on university services, tuition fees, or goods was analysed and unfortunately this approach was deemed unfeasible. The only viable alternative was a donation-based scheme, which ultimately failed to attract sufficient community participation.

Exploring Alternative Models: Partnership with the Red Cross

Given these challenges, the AURORA team in Évora explored alternative approaches, engaging with IPSS in Évora, particularly the Red Cross in Évora, as a potential partner. The revised concept proposed the installation of a PV power plant on the Red Cross’s rooftop, making use of available space for renewable energy generation. A key component of this model involved the Red Cross managing the financing process, facilitating community participation through micro-lending mechanisms while ensuring an inclusive and socially driven investment framework. The Red Cross would benefit directly from the energy produced through self-consumption, significantly reducing electricity costs and enabling the reallocation of savings toward its core social support programs. This initiative aims to generate both economic and social impact, showcasing the potential of decentralized renewable energy to strengthen community resilience. However, despite a promising start, the project has not yet moved forward.

Overcoming Heritage Restrictions: The Creation of a Renewable Energy Community

In parallel, the AURORA team in Évora has been working on the establishment of a Renewable Energy Community (REC) to facilitate collective self-consumption across the university’s buildings within the city of Évora. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Évora is subject to strict regulations that limit visible modifications to buildings, making on-site solar energy generation within the historic center highly challenging. Given these restrictions, the team developed a distributed energy model, where solar energy is generated outside the city walls and can be consumed within, ensuring compliance with heritage preservation requirements while advancing the energy transition in an area that otherwise would be left behind.

Portuguese legislation only permits energy sharing through the grid when a REC is formally registered. Recognizing this as a viable path, the University of Évora is in the process of registering a REC, enabling solar energy produced in less restricted areas to power university facilities within the historic center. This solution ensures that heritage conservation does not hinder access to clean energy, allowing the university to optimize self-consumption while adhering to regulatory constraints.