The Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria is the contact point for energy communities (REC) in Upper Austria. As a "one-stop shop" it advises and supports projects related to this topic. You are interested in a consultation – then get in touch with us!
ADVANTAGES OF AN REC
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A “RENEWABLE ENERGY COMMUNITY”?
"Renewable Energy Communities" (RECs) offer new possibilities towards 100% local renewable energy supply. In these energy communities it is possible to generate, store and use renewable electricity together.
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Citizens, communities and SMEs can join forces locally and use this new form of the "sharing economy" to promote the energy transition together. The Renewable Energy Sources Expansion Act (EAG) defines the legal framework for the RECs. Generation and consumption of the REC must be in the same area of a low or medium voltage grid (grid levels 5, 6, 7) of the same distribution grid operator. Within this community, RECs may consume, store or sell self-generated renewable electricity. RECs act on a non-profit basis with no primary intention of making a profit - they serve to create new opportunities for citizens, communities and SMEs to participate in the energy transition and to make a contribution to decentralized and renewable energy supply.
RECs can take advantage of corresponding subsidies for new renewable energy systems, they also benefit from the permanent exemption from the green electricity subsidy, the elimination of the electricity tax and reduced grid usage fees.
MEMBERS
WHO CAN TAKE PART IN AN ENERGY COMMUNITY?
Members of an energy community can be citizens, municipalities and other public institutions as well as SMEs whose production or consumption facilities are located in the area of an REC.
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Within an REC, consumption and generation of the members within the concession area of the same network operator must be linked:
- through a low-voltage distribution network and the low-voltage part of the same transformer station (local area)
- via the medium-voltage network and the medium-voltage busbar in the substation (regional area).
The REC area must be within the concession area of the same distribution system operator and be connected there via network levels 5-7. All those producers and consumers who are outside of this area cannot participate. Large corporations cannot be members. However, they could be involved as a service provider, for example.
A renewable energy community consists of its members (at least 2) and has its own legal personality, its main purpose must not be financial gain.
All essential questions are regulated in an "REC founding document", the Renewable Energy Expansion Act (EAG) provides for a number of minimum contents. It is likely that many RECs will be organized as associations or cooperatives.
SUPPORT
WHAT SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE FOR FOUNDING?
The Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria is the contact point for energy communities in Upper Austria. As a "one-stop shop" it advises and supports projects on this topic and offers information on technical, legal, organizational and economic issues relating to RECs.
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The 4 phases of an energy community and the support offered by the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria:
Preparation phase (phase 1)
- First considerations around an energy community, driven by initiators
- Clarification of the basic spatial possibilities (local/regional REC)
- Clarification of possible members (consumers and existing/planned green power plants)
- Initial assessment of their consumption and generation profiles
- Initial consideration of company form
Support from the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria
- Initial information (framework conditions)
- first generation/consumption estimate
Specification phase (phase 2)
- Specification of future members by initiators (e.g. declarations of interest)
- Clarification of grid operators: who is connected to which part of the distribution grid, power availability, other RECs in the vicinity
- Clarification of technology: which renewable systems/consumers, timing of generation and consumption, power distribution, etc.
- Clarification of profitability: which subsidies, which investments, which costs for the establishment/operation of the REC
- Clarification of law: determination of legal form, articles of association/statute, possibly other contracts
- Clarification of organization: division of roles in the REC, selection of external service providers (possibly)
Support from the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria
- Advice and ongoing support, events
- Rough analyses, funding, FAQs
Construction phase (phase 3)
- Formal founding of an association/cooperative (or any other legal form)
- Joining Members
- Finalization of the billing system
- Registration as a market participant (market partner ID), network operator agreement (Participant/share allocation, individual participants), registration in the EDA user portal, activation of metering points for the individual consumption/generation systems
Support from the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria
- Advice and ongoing support
- Rough analyses, funding, FAQs
Operating phase (phase 4)
- Invoice
- Admission of new members/resignation of existing members
- possibly: Optimization of generation and consumption in the direction of high renewable self-sufficiency
- Interaction with the network operator
- Construction of additional green power generation plants
Support from the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria
- Advisory
- Presentation of pioneers, FAQs, exchange with other RECs
More information at: https://www.energiesparverband.at/upstairs
We are the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria
WHO IS THE REGIONAL ENERGY AGENCY OF UPPER AUSTRIA?
WHY IS THE REGIONAL ENERGY AGENCY OF UPPER AUSTRIA OPERATING THIS OSS?
The Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austrian (Energiesparverband Oberösterreich) is an institution of the region of Upper Austria and the central point of contact for product-independent energy information in Upper Austria. The Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria promotes energy efficiency, renewable energy, e-mobility and innovative energy technologies and advises households, communities and companies.
The "Renewable Energy Communities" (RECs) offer new possibilities towards 100% local renewable energy supply. As part of the H2020 project UP-STAIRS, the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria supports and accompanies the establishment of energy communities.
REQUEST FOR ADVICE
I am interested in advice from the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria on the subject of energy communities.
WHY FOUND AN REC?
RECs operate on a non-profit basis with no primary intention of making a profit - they serve to create new opportunities for citizens, communities and SMEs to participate in the energy transition and to make a contribution to decentralized and renewable energy supply. RECs can take advantage of corresponding subsidies for new renewable energy systems, they also benefit from the permanent exemption from the green electricity subsidy, the elimination of the electricity tax and reduced grid usage fees. Interest? Register now.
Energiesparverband Oberösterreich
Landstraße 45
A-4020 Linz
Office hours
Monday through Thursday: 8am-4:30pm
Fridays: 8am-12pm
+43-732-7720-14380
What is Up-Stairs?
UP-STAIRS is an EU-funded project program and supports and accompanies the establishment and operation of energy communities. It develops flexible and iterative business model frameworks for one-stop shops for local collective action. UPSTAIRS facilitates citizen participation in the energy transition. One-stop shops will be set up in 5 pilot regions in Upper Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Ireland and Spain. In this project, the Regional Energy Agency of Upper Austria is working with 9 partners from 6 European countries (Ireland, Spain, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Latvia)..
Find out more about the UP-STAIRS project and the team