Fostering an inclusive community approach to renewable energy in rural and remote European areas as backbone of the sustainable socio-economic growth of the local communities

The project aimed to equip both partners and citizens with skills to establish RECs in rural areas, bridging knowledge and regulatory gaps while fostering local energy autonomy. Specifically, it p...

The project aimed to equip both partners and citizens with skills to establish RECs in rural areas, bridging knowledge and regulatory gaps while fostering local energy autonomy. Specifically, it provided technical, legal, and socio-economic training through three workshops, each focusing on REC setup and management. The creation of a Handbook offered stakeholders actionable guidance for establishing RECs locally. By organizing public events and open enrollment workshops, the project sought to educate the broader community on renewable energy’s potential and lay the foundation for green jobs. Additionally, the partnership aimed to establish a cross-border network, enabling Italy and Liechtenstein to share best practices and address energy production challenges through the lens of EU Directives 2019/944 and 2018/2001.

This project aimed to empower rural communities in Italy and Liechtenstein with the tools to establish Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). While urban areas benefit from advanced energy initiatives, rural communities face barriers like limited information, regulatory challenges, and access to resources. There is a real need to reduce this gap by supporting the flow of knowledge and skills toward the small centers. SOLE and EuropAledro sought to expand SOLE’s REC in Ledro, an area constrained by geographic isolation and infrastructure limitations, and facilitate the liaison of SOLE with all the relevant experts and partners in order to provide the learning tools to address the existing blocking points and increase the attractiveness of the REC among the socio-economic actors of the area. Integrity.Earth focused on educating local stakeholders and youth in Liechtenstein about renewable energy, creating pathways for green job opportunities. The project fostered collaboration between these communities to overcome structural barriers, address shared challenges, and equip local actors with the skills needed to drive energy independence, thereby creating resilient, self-sustaining energy models across rural Europe.