Nationwide community for citizen-based energy supply in regional innovation ecosystems CommunitE-Innovation

In Germany, over 2,000 citizens' energy communities with more than 500,000 members are an important driver of the decentralized energy transition. Citizens join forces and jointly operate renewable energy plants. Through their entrepreneurial activities with private capital, they create local added value, jobs, acceptance and strengthen the development of their municipalities. However, limited resources, a lack of professionalization or knowledge gaps often stand in their way. In addition, the current framework conditions in Germany limit further areas of dissemination and application. This limits growth potential and hinders the development of innovations.

The project aims to establish a nationwide citizen energy innovation community that will act as the first point of contact for all questions relating to the introduction of new and the strengthening of established concepts in the field of community-based energy supply. This community consists of a cooperative network of citizen energy communities, scientific institutions and other stakeholders in society. The focus is on social innovations in the energy sector that are based on technical and regulatory innovations.

A central component of the project is the establishment of a management team. This team evaluates and supports project applications, promotes the exchange of knowledge, undertakes a status and needs analysis and provides political impetus. In addition, innovation transfer projects, research projects and many community projects are initiated. The project is one of 20 new DATIpilot projects funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).