Portuguese energy community wins European award for social inclusion

The Telheiras/Lumiar Renewable Energy Community in Lisbon, Portugal, won third place in a European Commission competition for its innovative management of solar energy.

The European Commission awarded the community 100,000 euros after selecting it as a winner of the Governance Innovations in Energy Communities prize. The project stood out among ten energy communities across the European Union because it prioritizes citizen participation, social inclusion, and the sharing of benefits from renewable energy production.

The community consists of 70 members, including families, small businesses, apartment buildings, and the local parish council. These members share solar power produced at two sites: the Antigo Lagar da Quinta de São Vicente and the Pavilhão do Alto da Faia. The model ensures that families with lower economic resources can access renewable energy, preventing the energy transition from being restricted to people who can afford to install private solar panels.

Miguel Macias Sequeira, the community coordinator, stated that the project shows energy transitions do not rely solely on large investments or government decisions. To help other regions replicate this model, the group created a practical guide with 10 steps to establish a community energy project. The community plans to expand its production capacity by installing solar panels at the Escola Básica n.º 1 de Telheiras.