Through on-site visit and direct expert consultations, we obtained a comprehensive understanding of the community’s technical, economic and social model, as well as the digital energy management solutions that support its operation.
Particular attention was given to how different renewable energy sources are integrated and coordinated within the system. We examined how local energy sharing is organised, and how the automatic backup mechanism functions when local generation temporarily cannot meet consumption.
The key lessons identified during the visit were the following:
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Energy communities are fundamentally organisational projects rather than purely technological ones.
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A robust Smart Meter infrastructure is essential.
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Municipalities play a crucial catalytic role in initiating and coordinating the community.
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Involving public institutions as consumers provides a stable foundation for the system.
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Continuous communication with residents is indispensable.
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Without a digital settlement and accounting platform, long-term operation is difficult to sustain.
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Real-time measurement (e.g. via Smongle devices) significantly enhances transparency and trust.
The visit clearly demonstrated that the combination of advanced technologies and strong community cooperation is what makes the system both reliable and efficient and that the energy community model is not a theoretical possibility, but a fully functioning, economically viable and socially successful practice.