ACCE Business and strategy plan EU organisation including EU potential for CEFS

Developed under the ACCE project (Access to Capital for Community Energy), 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: a comprehensive review of the existing funding landscape for energy communities within the 2021–2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) reveals structural barriers, including limited awareness and access to funds. This mapping provides a detailed view of available funding sources while identifying common challenges faced by community organizations seeking financial support.
• Supporting structures and secondary-level organizations: the report analyzes how secondary structures—such as national federations and support organizations can play a vital role in guiding smaller and newer energy communities. These secondary structures are essential for building capacity, providing technical assistance, and fostering networking opportunities to help energy communities overcome institutional gaps and build viable projects.
• EU Intermediary facilitation Service: the report proposes an EU-level facilitation service to further support energy communities. This intermediary service would focus on providing structured guidance, consolidating best practices, and coordinating access to resources across member states. Its goals include fostering collaboration between energy communities, assisting with funding applications, and streamlining engagement with EU-level programs.

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.

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Given its value, this resource has been reviewed as part of the SHINE project and selected for inclusion in the SHINE Tool for financing energy communities, alongside other relevant tools. You will find the accompanying review notes on this page, offering useful context to complement your reading.

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