"Energy Communities for a Resilient Ukraine" is a two-year project aimed at supporting the creation of renewable energy communities in Ukraine. The initiative is implemented by the cooperative wechange eG (Berlin) in partnership with the NGO “Agency for Sustainable Development “SYNERGIA”, with the support of the German Federal Foreign Office.
The project seeks to make a sustainable contribution to the energy transformation and "green" recovery of Ukraine by offering citizens pathways for responsible energy consumption and production.
What are energy communities?
Energy communities are associations of citizens who jointly own and manage renewable energy projects. The activities of renewable energy communities in EU countries are enshrined in the 4th Energy Package "Clean Energy for All Europeans" (2019), although they have a long tradition dating back to the late 19th century. Members of energy communities may include individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, or local authorities, including municipalities. Energy communities may take any legal and organizational form, such as associations, cooperatives, partnerships, non-profit organizations, or small and medium-sized enterprises. Such associations increase the ability of their members to jointly invest in energy assets. This, in turn, enhances the energy independence of communities, reduces energy costs, and contributes to the decarbonization of the energy system.
What does the project offer?
Participants of the Civil Society Energy for Resilient Ukraine project will join a cohort of ambassadors of green energy transformation in communities and will elevate the work of “green” energy communities to a new level by implementing existing practices and developing new business models.
Target audience: employees of municipal energy efficiency departments, representatives of professional civil society organizations, business representatives (investors), representatives of companies capable of implementing and servicing renewable energy projects, researchers, students, community activists, representatives of civil society organizations
Civil Society Energy for Resilient Ukraine is a project that will help participants:
- develop renewable energy projects in communities based on modern technologies and the principles of self-consumption and distributed generation;
- develop management and mentoring skills and become leaders of energy communities;
- make communities resilient to current challenges and attractive for investment;
- address the lack of competencies and limited knowledge in the field of management and financing of renewable energy projects
- establish connections and receive community support
- gain basic knowledge and skills for creating “green” energy communities
WHAT DO WE OFFER?
CHALLENGE
Issues of autonomous and environmentally friendly energy supply can be addressed through the creation of “green” energy communities, while the development and solution of energy cases will provide an opportunity for students, professionals, social entrepreneurs, and renewable energy enthusiasts to present their solutions for communities. During May, together with representatives of communities and businesses, the most important problem cases in the field of renewable energy that are currently on the agenda will be developed. In June–July, all interested activists with basic knowledge of renewable energy will form teams to work on solving the proposed green energy cases.
MENTORSHIP FOR TEAMS
Participants will have the opportunity to work in teams for a month and consult with mentors during group and individual online meetings, which will help evaluate developed ideas, identify weaknesses, and suggest useful resources to improve solutions. Based on the submitted final solutions, community representatives will review the proposals and select the best ones, whose authors will present their ideas in the championship final. The best teams and solutions (5 teams of up to 5 people each) will receive individual mentorship from Ukrainian and German mentors, a ready-made project business plan, and the opportunity to participate in a study visit to Germany in 2024.
MENTORSHIP FOR EXPERTS
Ukrainian and German experts will share the knowledge and experience necessary for planning, developing, and managing renewable energy projects and creating “green” energy communities, which they will gain during the study visit to Germany.
FOCUS GROUP RESEARCH
To identify opportunities, barriers, and potential benefits of creating energy communities in Ukraine, the project plans to conduct a mixed-format focus group study. Financial, technical, and legislative aspects of creating energy communities will be addressed through 3 expert online focus groups (municipal energy efficiency staff, representatives of professional civil society organizations, business representatives (investors), representatives of companies capable of implementing and servicing renewable energy projects, researchers), while socio-environmental and informational aspects will be discussed within 2 offline focus groups (community activists, representatives of civil society organizations, media). Issues related to the legislative framework, state support, potential models, and expected benefits in energy security and decarbonization will be addressed to 5 small expert groups within moderated focus groups. The focus group research will become part of an analytical document, the white paper “Development of Green Energy Communities in Ukraine” (working title), which will be published in 2024.
PUBLIC DIALOGUE
The idea and prospects of creating energy communities, the roadmap for supporting potential energy communities, as well as the first research results will be discussed during 2 public dialogues with representatives of civil society and local communities in Ukraine, with media involvement. The discussions will take place offline in two regional centers: Vinnytsia and Lviv. Within these events, the results of 3 previously conducted online expert focus group studies will be presented. The research results will be presented by Ukrainian and German experts. In addition, 2 offline focus groups are planned, and the program will conclude with an open media demo presentation of the best projects developed by participants within the case championship for representatives of communities, national and civil society organizations.
COMMUNITY
Activists and initiators of energy transformation will unite on a single platform for effective cooperation, experience exchange, mentoring, and support, creating energy communities.
COMMUNICATION SUPPORT
The successes and results of participants and the project as a whole will be published on social media and partners’ online platforms (with consent).
WE INVITE
to propose your own case for participants to solve. A case is a description of a specific task, problem, or challenge currently facing the leadership of your rural, settlement, or city territorial community, the solution of which will have a positive economic or social effect for community residents.
Do you have expertise (financial, technical, legislative, socio-environmental, or informational) that would be useful for the development of energy communities or renewable energy projects?
WE OFFER to become part of the project
Support Ukrainian communities with advice, consultations, and mentoring support in the areas you work in: project management, management and financing of renewable energy projects, technical expertise, fundraising, etc.
As well as become a respondent in expert focus group studies on the challenges and prospects of developing energy communities in Ukraine.