Assessment and Roadmap for Promoting Energy Communities in Riera de Caldes
- Client: Diputació de Barcelona
- Period: 2024
- Place: Catalunya
Assessment and Roadmap for Promoting Energy Communities in Riera de Caldes
Motivation
The six municipalities that make up the Riera de Caldes area and their association, AMERC (Caldes de Montbui, La Llagosta, Palau-solità i Plegamans, Polinyà, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda and Sentmenat), have made progress towards the energy transition at different paces. Nevertheless, they share a strong commitment to moving forward together.
Solar photovoltaic self-consumption has become a major driver of the energy transition in Catalonia, both in the residential and business sectors. At the same time, energy communities are emerging as a key mechanism for empowering citizens, fostering collective knowledge and encouraging new behaviours that support the energy transition.
With this vision in mind, ERF has developed a report outlining a series of measures to be implemented at both municipal and intermunicipal levels, aimed at accelerating the development of energy communities and other initiatives supporting the energy transition.
Results
The establishment of energy communities across the Riera de Caldes area, at both municipal and intermunicipal levels, represents a strategic opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening social cohesion through the active involvement of local associations. These initiatives can deliver direct and indirect environmental, economic and social benefits to the wider community.
Successful initiatives already established in municipalities such as Caldes de Montbui and Santa Perpètua de Mogoda demonstrate the transformative potential of this approach. Replicating and scaling up these practices could position the region as a leading example of energy innovation and regional resilience to climate change.
Beyond supporting the creation and development of energy communities, the six municipalities of the Riera de Caldes area have an opportunity to promote a wide range of measures to advance the energy transition. The recommendations outlined in ERF’s report emphasise the importance of sustained, active collaboration between municipalities, with initiatives tailored to the real needs of local residents and businesses.
