Report on Tailor-Made Business Models for RECs in four selected Target Regions

In 2019, Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) were formally defined in the European regulatory framework within RED II. As Lowitzsch et al. (2020) state, RECs are regarded as a valid option for an inclusive energy transition in Europe. RED II defines that the motives for a REC shall not be purely economic but mostly driven by ecological aims and social benefits. As a REC still represents a business that has to be economically viable, a focus on successful business models is necessary in order to assist the various COME RES regions and beyond to get a good element for their individual toolboxes to promote/engage in RECs. In the context of COME RES transfer activities, workshops have been carried out in Germany, Italy, Latvia and Poland scrutinizing best practice cases from the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Poland. During these workshops, a good practice business model from a concrete REC (or energy cooperative/cluster) from an EU member state has been discussed in a so-called learning region. The transferability of the business model to the learning region was assessed and necessary adaptations due to national legal frameworks and market conditions have been discussed. Methodologically, the Business Model Canvas by Osterwalder and Pigneur (2013) was applied to structure the focus of the transferred business models and to evaluate how a tailor-made business model could look like in the learning regions. Some similarities were noticeable over all transfer cases: Local municipalities are regarded as key partners of a well-functioning REC business model, as those are key actors in any local context, and can provide suitable areas for the installation of RES plants (e.g. rooftops) and also stand as an enabler of the project in general. Funding is regarded as a key resource, alongside knowledge and members of a REC. The cost structure is similar as well and revolves around the initial cost that relates to the setup of the RES infrastructure and tariffs or fees that have to be considered for the use of public distribution grids. In conclusion, the transfer of business models from other contexts is possible, if those are translated and adjusted and not only copied to another context. To facilitate the business possibilities of a REC, the proper transposition of RED II, especially regarding enabling conditions for Energy Sharing should be implemented