Energy Communities in Italy: current status and new perspectives
This research report examines the evolution of Energy Communities (RECs) in both the national and European contexts, with a particular focus on their role in energy transition processes and territorial development. This work forms part of EURICSE’s research projects on various forms of civic self-organisation and on cooperative models for the management of goods and services of general interest, and contributes to the activities set out in the Programme Agreement with the Autonomous Province of Trento, which aims to support the spread of RECs and strengthen local capacity in sustainable energy planning.
Communities based on renewable energy are now one of the most significant socio-technical innovations in Europe: these are models in which citizens, businesses and public authorities collaborate on the production, sharing and self-consumption of energy from renewable sources. In this context, the report highlights how such communities integrate environmental, economic and social dimensions, contributing to the reduction of energy poverty, the resilience of local areas and greater energy self-sufficiency for local communities.
Building on the evolution of the European regulatory framework (RED II and RED III Directives) and the national framework (including the CACER Decree and the implementing instruments of ARERA and GSE), the report provides an updated overview of the phenomenon at both Italian and European levels. The analysis is based on a dataset of 597 RECs (as of 30/09/2025), examined in terms of territorial distribution, installed capacity, number of plants, and user composition.
The research also includes a strong qualitative component, with 48 case studies and an in-depth investigation of organizational models, legal forms, governance arrangements, and financing instruments. Particular attention is given to local activation processes and the role of the various actors involved, highlighting operational challenges and enabling factors. To provide a more articulated reading of the phenomenon, the report also proposes a typology of ideal-type REC models: initiatives led by public administrations, by local businesses, and by citizen-driven communities, highlighting differences in governance, objectives, and development dynamics.
Finally, a specific focus is dedicated to the Trentino region context, where local policies and incentives are analysed, along with the role of cooperatives and consortia, implementation challenges, and the impact of geographical and territorial characteristics on technological choices. The aim is to highlight both opportunities and constraints for the development of RECs in a territory that is particularly advanced yet also complex from an energy perspective.
The report concludes with a synthesis of the main findings and a set of policy recommendations aimed at supporting the future development of Energy Communities as social infrastructures capable of generating economic, environmental, and collective value.
This study was carried out within the framework of the Programme Agreement between EURICSE and the Autonomous Province of Trento 2023/2025.
