Our ECOEMPOWER Whitebook is out now!

Our ECOEMPOWER Whitebook is out now. Under the titel "Voices from the Grid" we have gathered inspiring stories powering policy change as a synthesis of three years of collaboration with Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in our five European regions. 

Far from being a purely technical report, the Whitebook combines vivid stories from local communities with concrete policy recommendations and thus turns everyday experiences "from the grid” into levers for real policy change.

Readers are taken from a 2050 vision of citizen‑led energy systems into the practical realities of energy communities in Greece, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Germany. "Voices from the Grid” shows how RECs tackle energy poverty, build social solidarity and diversify energy ownership – and why this matters for a just and resilient clean energy transition in Europe.

On this narrative basis, the Whitebook distils recurring challenges and formulates targeted measures for policymakers and administrations, covering all phases of an energy community’s journey from first idea to mature cooperative. It offers accessible entry points for readers who want to understand not only which policies are needed, but also what they feel like on the ground for volunteers, municipalities and local businesses.

"Voices from the Grid – Stories Powering Policy Change” is therefore both a policy guide and a source of motivation for anyone working with or within RECs. It invites readers to discover the people behind community energy, to learn from their successes and setbacks, and to translate these lessons into better support structures such as regional One‑Stop Shops across Europe.