UT to Support Creating Solar Energy Communities

On November 1, 2023, the international project StartSun started, supporting the kick-off of solar energy communities. Within three years, the project will find solutions to barriers related to running energy communities, creates the opportunities and means to start them, and gains knowledge on this all from six different communities.   

The StartSun ("Start-ups for Solar Energy Communities") project was born from the need to help and encourage the starting and leading of energy communities within the Baltic Sea region, by both the local governments, small- and medium sized enterprises, local citizens, and interest groups.   

This need stems from the general European need for locally produced sustainable energy, related to both energy security and EU’s climate neutrality goals of 2050. Unfortunately, following all sustainable energy directives and the various applicable laws, regulations and obligations is often complicated, which is an important obstacle in the creation of energy communities. Additionally, a lack of technical and financial know-how is often a factor. Therefore, it was found that to popularise the starting of energy communities, and to sustainably support the newcomers, it is helpful and important to share both practical materials and successful pilot examples that would introduce the interest groups to possible strategies and models and would encourage them to take initiative.   

The international StartSun project offers solutions to the challenges relating to starting an energy community, as it includes creating the necessary knowledge bank, sharing information on documentation, as well as leading some pilot projects. Using local resources, this increases the energy independence of the Baltic Sea energy sector and helps retain local jobs in the communities.  

Total project cost is 3,2 million EUR of which, 2,6 million comes from the Interreg Baltic Sea Region programme. Altogether, the international project of 13 partners includes organisations from Estonia, Finland, Latvia, and Sweden. Next to UT, Estonian University of Life Sciences is also included in the project, as well as Tartu Regional Energy Agency, and the piloting communities within Setomaa and Mustvee. 

Within the project, CASS is leading the charge in conducting social and political research into energy communities, but is also teaching piloting communities in cooperation and sustainable financing. On top of this, UT is responsible for developing and testing the project materials to offer best solutions to including all related parties when starting and running energy communities.

The project is funded by the European Union INTERREG Baltic Sea Region programme until the end of the project on October 31, 2026.