Overcoming Barriers in the Development of Energy Communities: A Workshop Recap
SHARES+ Initiative | April 2nd, 2026
On April 2nd, 2026, Cooperativa de Energie hosted a workshop as part of the SHARES+ initiative, bringing together 15 participants eager to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in the energy transition: the barriers that prevent communities from developing their own energy projects.
The event drew a diverse group of attendees — representatives of agricultural cooperatives, active citizens, and winners of the ENERCOM grant — creating a rich environment for exchange, where local realities met broader developments in the field of community energy.
Identifying the Challenges
Participants explored the main obstacles communities encounter when initiating and developing energy projects. These ranged from limited access to financing and complex regulatory frameworks, to subtler but equally significant challenges around governance, trust-building, and long-term sustainability. Rather than simply mapping the problems, the workshop moved quickly toward solutions: through open discussions and practical examples, attendees identified concrete approaches to help communities move forward with confidence.
Understanding Energy Communities in Practice
A key part of the session was dedicated to deepening participants' understanding of what energy communities actually are — who can join them, how they are structured, and how they function day to day. The discussion covered the roles different stakeholders can play, and underscored the importance of local engagement, meaningful collaboration, and equitable sharing of benefits.
A Dynamic and Interactive Exchange
What set this workshop apart was the active involvement of every participant. Attendees brought their own experiences, questions, and ideas to the table, turning the session into a genuinely collaborative conversation rather than a one-way presentation.
Cooperativa de Energie thanks all participants for their valuable contributions and looks forward to continuing this journey together within the SHARES+ framework.
This workshop was organized as part of the SHARES+ project, which supports the development of energy sharing and community energy initiatives across Europe.