CommonEn: The Greek model for tackling energy poverty

Across Central and Eastern Europe, rising energy prices continue to place a heavy burden on households. In the Greek city of Ioannina, a community initiative is tackling energy poverty with renewable energy sources.

Founded in 2021, the CommonEn energy community now has 53 members and 181 beneficiaries and produces solar energy.

Thanks to urban agrophotovoltaics, CommonEn is able to integrate vegetable cultivation under special solar panels. This approach maximises land use by combining sustainable food production with energy independence.

Members benefit directly from the energy they produce, leading to lower energy costs and greater energy security.

A member of the CommonEn community says that electricity bills are now much lower. As community members, they have a very significant advantage in terms of energy costs. They pay about 60% less for electricity.

Community members have common goals and support each other. This project also contributes to the social and economic development of our city by creating new jobs.

Two 100 kWp solar parks have been installed as part of a virtual net metering system, which ensures that the energy produced is consumed by community members and not sold to the grid. The start-up was not easy, and many local residents were sceptical at first. After overcoming regulatory and supply obstacles, CommonEn members report that they began receiving negative energy bills in February 2024.

According to CommonEn co-founder and president of the Greek Federation of Energy Communities Dimitris Kitsikopoulos, "It took about two years for members to see a reduction in their bills. But then there was a surge of interest. Every day, people would call us and say that their cousin had become a member and that they wanted to join too. My aunt joined the group, and I want to join too. So we built a second solar park and are planning more. We are pushing the government and energy companies to give us what we are entitled to in the energy market."

The whole of Southern and Eastern Europe remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas, which can be expensive, unreliable and sensitive to geopolitical and market instability.

Sharp rise in energy prices
Between 2021 and 2022, SEE and CEE countries experienced the steepest energy price increases in Europe: Bulgaria saw a 19% increase, Slovakia and Hungary 13% each, and the Czech Republic topped the list with a 38% increase. In 2024, electricity prices in Greece more than doubled.

In 2024, SEE countries faced sharp increases in energy prices, ranging from 50% to 170%.

Communities using renewable energy sources
Communities using renewable energy sources seek to motivate citizens, small businesses and local authorities to produce, manage and consume their own renewable energy.

There are currently more than 9,000 energy communities in the EU.

At European level, it is estimated that energy communities could mobilise more than €200 billion for the energy transition by 2030.

By 2050, more than 50% of the EU's energy could be produced by citizen-led renewable energy communities.

On average, every £1 invested in a community energy project in the EU returns £2.57 within 20 years.