ACCE toolbox

D7.5 Final publishable report

Report

Our project Access to Capital for Community Energy (ACCE) is slowly coming to an end. Over the past three years, we worked with partners across Europe to test and scale Community Energy Financing Schemes (CEFS) — innovative tools that help citizens invest directly in renewable energy. The results are impressive: by mid-2024, CEFS had already mobilised €738 million for local solar, wind, and heating projects in seven countries. Along the way, we developed practical tools like the ACCE Toolbox, a Financial Handbook, and policy recommendations to make citizen-led finance more accessible. We have now summarised our insights, lessons learned, and case studies in the final publishable report. It highlights how CEFS can unlock billions in citizen capital and make Europe’s energy transition more democratic and resilient.

CEFS charter

Report

The present charter defines the shared ethical and organisational principles of energy communities operating in accordance with the seven cooperative principles, for guiding the establishment and governance of community energy financing schemes. CEFS implementation varies across Member States due to differences in regulatory frameworks and financial cultures. The Charter acknowledges these differences and provides flexible principles that can adapt to local contexts while ensuring core principles are upheld. This charter is meant as a set of guiding principles for future CEFS but does not exclude the establishment of their own principles based on their local values.

Enabling framework report

Report

This report explores the critical elements required to establish a supportive enabling framework for energy communities across Europe. It highlights the challenges faced by energy communities in the five ACCE replication countries (Croatia, Romania, Germany, Spain, and Belgium) and provides tailored recommendations to address these challenges.

Regulatory framework analysis

Report

Deliverable 6.1 provides an overview of the legal framework for Community Energy Financing Schemes (CEFSs) under Work Package 6 of the LIFE ACCE project. It focuses on European-level barriers, identified through interviews with partners and experts. Rather than a full legal review, this report serves as a practical guide, drawing on project partners' experiences.

EU potential for CEFS Opportunities for Energy Communities in the current EU Budget

Report

This report explores how energy communities can gain improved access to EU and national funding instruments, presenting an analysis in three main components:: mapping the current state of funding, supporting structures and secondary-level organizations, and the EU Intermediary facilitation Service. By addressing these three areas, the report outlines actionable steps to bridge funding gaps, streamline access, and support energy communities in seeking access to finance.

Webinar: "Community-based financing: new schemes flourishing across Europe"

Policy paper

Our webinar explored innovative Community Energy Financing Schemes across Europe and strategies to accelerate citizen energy initiatives through structured funding mechanisms. The session featured two insightful case studies: 1) Belgium Case Study: Karel Derveaux from Ecopower presented the cooperative's successful model in Flanders. Their approach demonstrates how citizen-driven cooperatives can effectively finance and operate renewable energy projects. 2) Croatian Perspective: Goran Cacic from ZEZ (Green Energy Cooperative) shared examples from Croatia, highlighting the growing interest in community energy projects in Eastern Europe.

Webinar: "Community-based financing: tools and learning from the ACCE project"

Policy paper

The ACCE project has built knowledge upon the successful experiences of Energy4All, Energie Samen and Energie Partagée. It is also empowering 5 energy community players to set up the ground for developing their own Community Energy Financing Schemes. As such, the knowledge built within the ACCE project is back by hand-on experimentations and trials. In our webinar, we present the tools and learnings from the project.

Webinar: Introduction to ACCE and Community Energy Financing Schemes

Policy paper

Are you an energy community that has often found it impossible to finance your projects due to a lack of confidence on the investor side? Are you an investor interested in a just and democratic energy transition but do not want to take big risks? Then we recommend you watch the first webinar of the ACCE project!

ACCE Financial Handbook

Policy paper

This guide aims at facilitating the set-up of a CEFS. For doing so, it identifies the main barriers, and their resulting bottlenecks to set up a CEFS, and highlights solutions to overcome those barriers and transform obstacles into opportunities.

RES Project Development Guide

Policy paper

In this guide, we identify the main types of CEFSs that energy communities could use. We also describe the key characteristics and and success factors of each of these CEFS.

ACCE Self-Management Guide

Policy paper

Here you will find practical examples to help energy communities create financing tools dedicated to community energy projects.

Flyer ACCE

Brochure

Take a look at our multilingual flyer - a glimpse into the essence and impact of our project.