Community Energy Watch | Funds

Just Transition in the Making
Last modified: March 2023
  • RECs, CECs and Energy Communities under Law no. 4513/2018 can be included in: the development law as a distinct form of cooperative organization; the Law on Social Cooperative Enterprises; as well as in other programs funded by national or European resources, in accordance with state aid rules.
  • The Ministry of Environment and Energy may use EU funds and National Development Program resources to support the implementation of virtual net-metering by RECs by launching programs for the installation of their photovoltaic plants and storage systems.
  • The Regional Operational Programs for the period 2021-2027 may foresee resources for Energy Community projects.
  • Bank loans constitute another source of funding for Energy Community projects. However, they are extremely difficult or even impossible to obtain for virtual net-metering projects; therefore, local communities that depend on these resources to support their projects are typically deprived of this possibility.
  • To date, no distinct funding instrument exists for Energy Communities, such as a development fund.

Lignite Regions

Sources of funding for energy communities in lignite regions
Fund Program Period Total Budget (million €) EnCom budget (million €)
Green
Fund
Emission allowances
auction revenues
2018 31,4 3,5
2019 30,2 0
2020 5 -
2021 45 -
2022 14,9 -
By 2030 -
Just Transition
Fund
Just Development
Transition Program
2021 - 2027
2021 - 2027 1406 132,5

Especially in the lignite areas, Energy Communities have access to additional national and European resources in the context of the Just Transition.

Greenhouse gas emissions auctioning revenues: national resources managed by the Green Fund, part of which is directed to support Energy Communities in lignite areas, in the context of the lignite phase-out program.

Just Development Transition Program (PDAM) 2021 – 2027: European resources channeled via the European Just Transition Fund (JTF). The beneficiaries of the program include Energy Communities with regard to projects involving energy efficiency; self-production from RES; the installation of heat pumps for heating/cooling; the construction of residual biomass plants; and the construction of small biogas plants utilizing livestock and agricultural residues.