Renewable energy production with solar panels and local energy community in Buteni, Romania

The main problem addressed is the creation of a framework that would give residents the possibility to purchase electrical energy directly from members of the community. This assures that capital is kept within the residents of the commune, contributing to both economic and energetic stability. The proposed objectives were achieved with the installation of a total photovoltaic capacity of 800 kWp. The main stakeholders of the initiative are the local citizens.
The initiative primarily aims to tackle the issue of high electricity market prices, the strengthening of local energy security and combat energy poverty.More than a quarter of the population of Buteni commune had difficulties paying their energy bills. To tackle these challenges the local public authority offered support to more than 100 households to submit projects for installing PV systems.
The first step involved installing PV systems using available European funds,followed by the creation of a prosumer community. The initiative encouraged and supported residents to collectively apply for funding to install individual PV systems, thereby fostering civic responsibility and contributing to the local community and the energy stability of the commune. These actions support the potential formation of an energy community once it is regulated at the national level, aligning with the public authority's goal of becoming the first rural energy-active commune to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035.