Step by step, meeting by meeting, the EC4RURAL project consortium continues to advance on the path toward the establishment of Rural Energy Communities in the two pilot projects, Galicia and Estonia. From its start in September 2023 and to date —already close to the halfway point of the implementation phase—, the level of involvement of each municipality varies, as does the level of development of each initiative.

Driving Group and Tractor Group
In Galicia, as a result of the first meetings, the municipalities with a formalized ‘Driving Group’ are Mazaricos, Muras, O Rosal, Tomiño, O Valadouro, and Vedra. On the other hand, the municipalities of Entrimo, Moeche, Muíños, Sober, Vilasantar, Silleda, and Outes have taken a further step by forming a ‘Tractor Group’, made up of residents, the city council, and other stakeholders. This group is established through a legally established association that serves as a legal vehicle for the Renewable Energy Community (In the case of Outes, this association has not yet been formally established).

It is worth noting that the municipalities of Entrimo, Moeche, Muíños, Sober, Vilasantar, Silleda, and Outes have taken a further step by forming a Tractor Group, made up of residents, the city council, and other stakeholders. This group is established through a legally established association that serves as a legal vehicle for the Renewable Energy Community (In the case of Outes, this association has not yet been formally established).

In Estonia, the municipalities with a Driving Group are Alutaguse, Põltsamaa, Tori, and Viru-Nigula, respectively. In Elva, Hiiumaa, Järva, Lääne-Harju, Saku, Rõuge, Türi, and Viimsi, residents and municipal administrations have already taken the next step by legally establishing the Tractor Group and the association that will promote each of the energy communities.

As a next step, once the seven Tractor Groups of the Galician Pilot had been formed, the EC4URAL consortium conducted an energy and economic feasibility study for each energy community. This document analyzes the social, technical, and economic potential of implementing a photovoltaic installation. Each study also includes information on consumption and available coverage, as well as an estimate of the financial contributions to be made by each partner.