Research news

ROLECS report identifies key legislative challenges for energy communities in Belgium

The European legislation establishing the climate and energy policy framework for 2030 introduces 'energy communities' as a major innovation in order to advance renewable energy and the energy transition. Under the relevant EU Directives, the applicable provisions have to be transposed into national law this year. To support this process in Flanders and Belgium, part of the Flemish funded Flux 50 project called ‚ROLECS‘, or, Roll Out of Local Energy Communities, explores the existing legal frameworks for energy communities at national level and how these could be adapted to comply with European requirements and to facilitate the creation and development of energy communities.

Based on an in-depth analysis of Belgian federal and regional law as well as the relevant EU Directives, the IES - along with the law firms Metha, Blixt and Fieldfisher and with ENGIE - have now released a summary report on "Legislative options and obstacles for energy communities in Belgium". In the report, the team investigates key challenges that Belgian policy makers and energy community organisers may face and suggests concrete steps to address these issues through legislative and organizational adaptations. Sebastian Oberthür, Ólöf Söebech, Carlos Soria Rodriguez and Jesus Moreno have participated in the project for the IES, which coordinated the report and analysed the EU legislative framework.