Are energy communities a viable policy instrument for battling energy poverty? A country comparison

Abstract

While the energy transition seeks to deliver sustainable solutions for society, it does not automatically ensure equality. Energy poverty (i.e., households’ lack of access to essential energy services needed to achieve a decent standard of living) remains a widespread phenomenon across all European Union (EU) member states. The manifestations of energy poverty (EP) vary significantly and require solutions tailored to the specific contexts in which they occur. Energy communities (ECs), enhancing community participation and economic benefits for their members, present opportunities to reduce EP. In this paper, we compare EC models and their potential to address EP in three EU member states, located in different geographies: Finland, Poland, and Spain. Our research question is: How do different types of ECs in the European Union contribute to alleviating EP in their specific contexts? First, existing scientific literature on ECs and EP in Europe was reviewed along with regulatory and policy documents. A comparative study was conducted after data collection and analysis. Results showed that the role of contextual factors and actors is often overlooked in defining EC models, which also in turn reduces EP alleviation potential. Concluding remarks with policy implications are provided.