Developing a legal framework for energy communities beyond energy law

European Union legislation aims at integrating energy communities in the liberalized energy market. At the same time, energy communities have to fulfill the main purpose of contributing to environmental, economic, or social “community benefits.” Drawing from experiences of an energy community in the Netherlands and related innovation in Dutch energy law, this chapter seeks to identify the main legal obstacles for energy communities between liberalization and community benefits. Findings show that an enabling legal framework for energy communities needs a broader reform extending beyond purely energy-related law