Press Release – 15 April 2025 – Ricardo, a global energy, environment and engineering consultancy, is supporting the European Commission’s European Energy Communities Facility (EECF), an initiative by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA).

The EECF initiative aims to empower and support the development of emerging energy communities across the EU, Iceland and Ukraine. Through small lump sum grants, it will assist at least 140 energy communities in developing and implementing solid business plans for their sustainable energy projects.

As part of the project, Ricardo will leverage its extensive experience in empowering energy communities and citizen-led energy projects and oversee their implementation to ensure alignment with long-term resilience and wider energy transition goals. 

In addition, Ricardo will act as the Italian National Expert on local projects, holding information sessions and advising citizens during the preparation of their applications, overseeing the grant evaluation process and validating the business plans. Two grant events will take place in 2025 and 2026.

Ricardo’s Associate Director, Policy Strategy and Economics, Eugenia Bonifazi, said: “We’re excited to be working further with the European Commission to drive energy independence and resilience across the EU. Initiatives such as these help to build stronger communities through job creation and decentralisation of energy.” 

Ricardo’s position is part of the consortium coordinating the facility. The other consortium members are Rescoop.eu (project lead), Akaryon, Ecorys, Energy Cities, Fedarene, and GNE Finance.   

The EECF was launched at the European Parliament in late March. The launch was co-hosted by MEPs Anna Stürgkh (Renew Europe), Bruno Tobback (S&D), Dario Tamburrano (GUE/NGL), Michael Bloss (Greens-EFA), and Paulo Do Nascimento Cabral (EPP), a demonstration of the wide-spread support for energy communities and their role in the decarbonisation of energy and securing the EUs energy future.  

In addition to the EECF, Ricardo are also supporting the European Commission’s Citizen’s Energy Advisory Hub, which seeks to encourage EU citizens investment and adoption of sustainable energy.

ENDS

Source : Ricardo

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