What does it take to move from the initial idea to the day-to-day management of a Renewable Energy Community?

This question was at the heart of a recent stakeholder engagement workshop organised in Ispaster at the Iñigo Egiluz Culture Centre. The event forms part of a broader series of LocalRES stakeholder engagement workshops, designed to bring together renewable energy community (REC) stakeholders as well as network operators, manufacturers, software developers and other actors interested in the integration of multi-energy networks.

The workshop in Ispaster gathered a diverse group of participants, including the mayor Garbiñe Sáenz de Buruaga, municipal technicians, members of the local Ekogella Renewable Energy Community, representatives from nearby energy communities, and local stakeholders interested in joining the initiative. The session began with a welcome from the mayor and continued with two presentations providing both strategic and technical perspectives on renewable energy communities in Europe. The presentations triggered lively discussions among participants, reflecting strong local interest in understanding both the opportunities and the practical challenges of community energy projects. A central part of the workshop focused on the experience of the Ekogella Renewable Energy Community, which shared its journey from the initial idea to the concrete implementation of solar installations.

Several concrete questions emerged:

1) How can PV production be increased to accommodate new members?

2) Should the community prioritise installing new solar roofs or adding additional panels to existing installations?

3) How can self-consumption be improved?

The current self-consumption rate of around 50% also led to discussions about introducing battery storage systems with hybrid inverters, which could both increase energy autonomy and help prevent power outages. The meeting also demonstrated growing interest in the initiative. Three participants expressed their willingness to join the Ekogella REC, while several residents living on farms with available roof space showed interest in hosting photovoltaic installations. The presence of representatives from nearby energy communities further enriched the exchange, allowing participants to compare experiences and identify potential collaboration opportunities across territories.