On 28 and 29 March 2023, the Policy Learning Platform is organising a peer review for the benefit of the municipality of Ascó, Spain. It will focus on renewable energy communities.

Current State of Affairs

The municipality of Ascó is a large rural village known for its nuclear power station and excellent fishing in the Ebre river, located in Catalunya, Spain.

The municipality aims to gather the abilities to support citizens to develop Local Energy Communities and guide them through the legal framework.

In the framework of this challenge, the peer review is looking to answer the following questions:

• To what extent shall the municipality involve itself in the Energy Communities and their formation?
• What kind of resources shall the municipality foresee?
• What are real options when considering the financing of the infrastructure as well as resources, and effectively ensuring its profitability?

Peers from across Europe

Under the moderation of Katharina Krell and Astrid Severin, Thematic Experts on Low-Carbon Economy, and Environment & Resource efficiency, a team of excellent peers from across Europe will gather to discuss these challenges and draft recommendations. The selected peers are:

• Benjamin Wilkin, Energie Commune, Brussels and Walloon region, Belgium
• Caitriona Strain, ERNACT, Donegal, Ireland
• Jaume Castellà, Miembro de ePlural, Alianza para impulsar Comunidades Energéticas desde la economía social, Catalunya
• Marc Roselló, Som Energia, Spain
• Marco Bailo, Mayor, Magliano Alpi, Italy
• Sergio Olivero, Manager of the REC of Magliano Alpi, Italy

The peer review is an invitation-only event. However, key learnings of the peer review will be published afterwards in a follow-up article on the Interreg Europe website.