ACCE Best practice report on Community Energy Financing Schemes

Building on the first ACCE (Access to Capital for Community Energy) project report, “Database Community Energy Financing Schemes”, where the project partners identified and analysed existing Community Energy Financing Scheme (CEFS) across Europe, this second report shifts the focus to isolating the key success factors as well as the barriers encountered by the most prominent schemes. It also highlights pioneering initiatives that faced the challenges of operating within an emerging community energy sector lacking established knowledge and experience.

The results section further provides a synthesis of best practices observed across the various CEFS examined.

In particular, the conclusions emphasize the following points:

• Alignment between investors and management is essential for CEFS success: all parties involved must not only understand the risks and expected returns of community energy projects but also be familiar with the principles and practices of the social economy.
• Strong structural foundations are critical: a robust business model supported by a well-defined organizational structure (where roles and responsibilities are clearly assigned) is a key determinant of success.
• Active support and involvement in funded projects are vital: this not only ensures a better understanding of their needs and expectations but also facilitates more effective monitoring of progress.
• Networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration expand impact: cooperation among stakeholders strengthens the reach and resilience of CEFS.