From the climate schools program, which has been ongoing since 2022 with the city of Sint-Niklaas and the schools of Sint-Niklaas, arose the question of energy sharing. Schools want to invest in solar panels, but during the summer months when energy production is highest, they do not have consumption themselves.
Therefore, there was a need for guidance in setting up an energy community involving schools, businesses, and other organizations. A broad call was spread to gather prospective participants. With this group, three workshops were conducted, each addressing a key aspect of establishing an energy community: potential assessment, legal framework, and financial model.
After the workshops, 15 candidates remained who wanted to pioneer in the energy community. They were further concretely guided in establishing a non-profit organization and setting up a financial and administrative model. Since October 2023, these parties have been sharing their energy. Since January 2024, the energy community has been operating independently, and new parties can still join.