About SHAREs+

SHAREs+ is a LIFE-funded project that seeks to accelerate the uptake of citizen-led renewable energy initiatives across Southeast Europe. It builds on the Horizon 2020 SHAREs project, which between 2021 and 2024 supported local communities through platforms, tools, mentoring, and capacity building, enabling the launch of 38 pilots and triggering 386 citizen-led collective actions across 6 European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Georgia, Hungary), each progressing in community energy at its own pace.

The main objective of SHAREs+ is to replicate this success in new geographical areas – Cyprus, North Macedonia, Romania, and Ukraine – which share similar stages of community energy adoption, possess little knowledge and experience in community energy. By leveraging frontrunner expertise, proven tools, and functional technical platforms, SHAREs+ empowers local communities to launch, grow, and sustain renewable energy initiatives.

The SHAREs+ conceptual framework is built around four key dimensions:

• INTEGRATE: needs-based tools into the platform to support both established and emerging initiatives

• ENHANCE: capacity of public and private actors to implement EU policies on collective action within local contexts

• LEARN: through scalable networks of strategic partners to facilitate ongoing knowledge exchange

• EMPOWER: stakeholders and replication actors to drive broader adoption and impact

Partner countries of SHAREs+ operate in three complementary groups:

• Replication countries: Cyprus, Romania, North Macedonia, and Ukraine receive tailored support to replicate and scale energy community initiatives while addressing their unique local barriers

• Frontrunner: Austria with its demonstrated potential of ambitious energy policies and exemplary approach to energy communities provides primary capacity-building, supporting knowledge transfer and providing expert guidance

• Emerging pioneer: Bulgaria acts both as an emerging pioneer in developing an energy community framework and as a pilot site for citizen-led thermal renewable projects and vulnerable consumer engagement

At the heart of SHAREs+ are the SHAREs National Gateways, digital platforms designed to support local heroes in creating and expanding energy communities. Developed through co-creation with pioneers, pilots, and policymakers, the Gateway has proven effective in addressing local challenges, supporting the growth of energy communities, and enhancing citizen engagement. 

In SHAREs+, the Gateway will be replicated and adapted for the four replication countries, ensuring content, messaging, and tools reflect local regulatory, socioeconomic, and technical contexts. Key features include:

• Localized technical guidance and customized needs-aligned resources

• Decision-making tools: financial calculators, project planning templates, and step-by-step business model guides

• Legal support: Q&A catalogues, community agreements, and permitting advice

• Financial resources: updated database of grants, incentives, and funding options

• Communication materials to help local heroes reach new members

You can explore more about the blueprint of the SHAREs Gateway here: https://shares-project.eu/blueprint. 

SHAREs+ promotes inclusive, practice-oriented policymaking through National Citizen Energy Forums (NCEFs). These forums engage local authorities, policymakers, citizens, and businesses in collaborative decision-making, contributing for the implementation of EU energy policies at the local level and helping communities overcome barriers. Through 23 co-creation workshops across the replication and pilot countries, NCEFs will address regulatory, socioeconomic, and technical barriers, screen practical solutions for citizen-led energy initiatives, co-create policy recommendations based on local needs, and collect structured feedback to continuously improve SHAREs+ activities and outcomes.

SHAREs+ pilots will also be equipped with structured training, capacity building, and learning facilitation through network activation. The SHAREs+ Community Energy Peer Circle (CEPC) connects experienced stakeholders with emerging initiatives in the replication countries, helping them address specific knowledge gaps and implementation challenges. Through peer-to-peer mentoring, stakeholders gain practical knowledge on governance models, financing structures, technical implementation, and citizen engagement:

• Virtual mentorship sessions, titled “How to cook an energy community”, recorded and shared via the National Gateways and dedicated YouTube channels

• Two-day on-site study visits in Austria, allowing participants to observe operational energy communities and exchange hands-on experience

• Expert Q&A catalogues addressing common legal, technical, and financial challenges

Building on the foundations established in previous phases, SHAREs+ advances its objectives through geographical and thematic expansion based on replication and co-creation. Over the next 2.5 years, the project will support the establishment of 13 new initiatives – including Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), Citizen Energy Communities (CECs), and collective actions for improved energy efficiency – while ensuring the sustainable growth of at least 50 existing citizen-led initiatives across the partner countries. The pilots receive tailored technical, legal, and financial guidance, along with mentoring and access to practical decision-making tools. By building the capacity of local authorities and citizens, SHAREs+ enables communities to move from planning to implementation and to scale up their renewable energy and energy efficiency actions in line with EU legislation. SHAREs+ encourages:

• Inclusive participation, including vulnerable households

• Development of innovative business models, such as thermal RECs

• Citizen-driven investments and public-private partnerships

• Increased awareness of energy communities through multimedia campaigns and co-creation platforms

Effective citizen-led energy initiatives depend on identifying and engaging the right stakeholders. SHAREs+ conducts systematic stakeholder mapping to identify local leaders, organizations, and societal groups, establish a national directory of energy project supporters, and develop tailored engagement strategies based on their level of influence and interest. Depending on their role, stakeholders participate in National Citizen Energy Forums (NCEFs), contribute to the Community Energy Peer Circle (CEPC), provide expertise for the development of Gateway tools, or engage directly in pilot initiatives and other SHAREs+ activities. Network activation also includes existing initiatives, enabling them to share experience, provide feedback, and take part in national events. Through multimedia campaigns and self-guided resources, even communities not directly involved in SHAREs+ pilots can access the Gateway’s tools and participate in collective energy actions.

 

Lyubimka Georgieva, Project coordinator

Black Sea Energy Research Centre (BSERC)

7, Viktor Grigorovich Str., Fl. 2, “Kriva reka” RA, 1606 Sofia, Bulgaria

Tel. (+359-2) 980-68-54

Mob. +359 894749430

https://bserc.eu/en/