Contributing to the energy transition
A local energy community (LEC) is a set of energy users who have decided to make common choices about how to meet their energy needs.
Users seek to maximise the benefits of this collegial bottom-up approach by drawing on a range of electricity and heat technologies, on energy storage and on optimised management of energy flows.
LECs are a key component in the transition towards green, decarbonised power from local and renewable sources. eNeuron project from November 2020 to January 2025 strived to make local energy communities better!
Energy communities with many moving parts: Read our Best Practice Book
Despite their many benefits, LECs can be complex and conflicting in their design and operation.
Business models, infrastructure and divergent objectives among community members all need to be addressed, balanced and managed.
Sound design, planning and optimisation will therefore be crucial if LECs are to play the role expected of them in efforts to decarbonise society.
Find more information about all the challenges of implementing local energy communities and how have been tackled in our Best Practice Book.
A practical evidence-based LEC framework: Watch the eNeuron toolbox video tutorial
The EU-funded eNeuron project set out a practical framework for optimising the design and operation of local energy communities acting as energy hubs.
Pioneering software and hardware solutions have been developed, putting them to the test in real energy communities and introducing new governance models.
Watch the video here to know more about eNeuron toolbox developed for a more efficent management of local energy communities.
