Public call for funding for energy communities in Western Balkans

The Emilia-Romagna Region in northern Italy is supporting the creation and strengthening of renewable energy communities (RECs) in five countries in the Western Balkans. Ten projects can receive up to EUR 200,000 each, alongside technical and other support.

For-profit and non-profit entities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia are eligible for an open call for the setup, empowerment and potential investment in renewable energy communities (RECs). Within a project funded by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG Regio), the Emilia-Romagna Region invited expressions of interest.

The initiative is called Better Cohesion through Development of Energy Communities in the Western Balkans. The administration of the northern Italian region is conducting the activity with the support of its consortium ART-ER Attractiveness Research Territory. It includes universities, research institutions, the regional chamber of commerce, local authorities and other stakeholders.

Up to 10 projects, or two per country, would receive a maximum of EUR 200,000, together with support in financial planning and community governance, technical assistance and mentoring and access to a digital energy management tool.

Phase 2 is for existing renewable energy communities

Eligible applicants in phase 1 include municipalities, nongovernmental organizations, associations, cooperatives, small and medium-sized enterprises and informal citizen groups with the capacity to formalize. All project activities must be carried out on a not-for-profit basis, meaning any surplus must be reinvested in the community.

Cross-border projects with partners in Croatia, Greece, Slovenia and Italy are eligible

Phase 1 is for candidates looking to activate a new energy community from the ground up — from stakeholder mobilisation to legal establishment. Existing renewable energy communities can enter in phase 2, to assess feasibility and conduct small-scale energy infrastructure investment.

The Emilia-Romagna Region pointed out that the call is also open for cross-border projects with partners in Croatia, Greece, Slovenia, and Italy – the European Union member states within the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR).

Second deadline to submit drafts is October 20

Applicants are encouraged to engage with the process even at an early or conceptual stage of their initiative, as technical support and guidance will be provided to strengthen and finalize proposals, according to the documentation. The call will consist of two rounds.

The first draft proposal submission deadline is July 16, followed by the negotiation phase until August 22 and a deadline for final proposals on September 8. The respective dates for the second round are October 20, November 21 and December 5.

Applicants that are not yet ready can participate in the second round. It is also the opportunity to fulfill the quota of two projects per country.

Members of RECs must be located near their projects

The Western Balkans are introducing the legal framework for citizen energy communities (CECs) and renewable energy communities (RECs).

Shareholders or members of a renewable energy community are located in the proximity of the renewable energy project that it owns and develops. They are natural persons, small and medium-sized enterprises and local authorities.

A private enterprise can participate in RECs if it isn’t its primary commercial or professional activity

RECs utilize technology for energy production only from renewable sources, encompassing electricity, gas and heat. Private enterprises can participate in such a community only if it isn’t their primary commercial or professional activity.

CECs are limited to electricity but they can use fossil fuels

Citizen energy communities gather individuals, local authorities including municipalities and small enterprises. They engage in generation, distribution, supply, consumption, aggregation, energy storage, energy efficiency services and charging services for electric vehicles. CECs can also provide other energy services to its members or shareholders.

They can operate on a national scale and have the flexibility to employ both fossil fuel– and renewables-based technologies, but solely for electricity production. The range of activities of CECs is broader than for RECs.