Energy communities are collective cooperation projects that can involve individuals, citizens' associations, SMEs and/or municipalities in a nearby area that join together to generate, consume and manage their own renewable energy.

There are different types of energy communities, including cooperatives, non-profit associations, homeowners' communities, clusters and business parks, also known as business or industrial energy communities.

The latter are an alternative for companies to become self-sufficient in renewable energy with an investment that, in addition to being publicly financed, is recovered in a short period of time due to the significant return it generates.

The Energy Institute of Galicia (Inega) has different lines of support and incentives aimed at self-consumption projects and the decarbonisation of economic sectors, renewable and efficient energy for families, the self-employed and the public sector (promotion of local energy communities), sustainable mobility, circular economy and energy innovation.

Pilot project

The Technological Park of Galicia (Tecnópole), in the municipality of San Cibrao das Viñas, was the location chosen by the Regional Government of Galicia to implement a pilot project of what will be the first Galician business energy community.

This measure is part of the Galician Energy Agenda 2030, to which the Regional Government of Galicia gave the green light last June. Its objectives are to turn Galicia into a carbon neutral region by 2050, reduce energy dependence on foreign countries, decarbonise the economic and social sectors, position the region as an innovative energy hub and consolidate an efficient and sustainable industry. The Agenda has a budget of 621.5 million euros for the 2022-2024 period, with a projected public-private investment of 1.5 billion euros.

The Tecnópole business energy community possesses an installed capacity of two megawatts. The project arises from a growing concern about energy consumption in companies and its economic impact, as well as from the interest in promoting green industrial areas, capable of developing their own technology, also contributing to the fight against climate change and in favour of sustainable development in the environment.

Towards a change of energy model

The proposal consists of the creation of an energy community within the Technological Park of Galicia in which companies can have a place and, together, generate their own renewable energy, have access to public aid to facilitate certain investments in this area and, as companies, can use a production that allows them to reduce their electricity consumption bill and benefit from the economic and social advantages of this type of action.

The energy community to be installed at Tecnópole will promote a change in the energy model, the promotion of the use of clean energy, the participation of all companies and the commercialisation of 100% renewable energy.

A high percentage of companies located in the plots of the Technological Park of Galicia expressed their interest in joining the project, coordinated by Tecnópole, with the essential support of the Regional Government of Galicia through Inega.

The initial activities that will be promoted until the constitution of the community will not have any cost for the companies participating in it, since these will be assumed entirely by Inega and Tecnópole.

The first studies point to the installation of solar panels on the roofs of the complex itself, with the aim of reducing energy consumption and making companies more competitive in the current context of rising costs. Initially, up to 70 companies will be able to benefit from this project.