The Impact of Renewable Energy Cooperatives on the Welfare of Local Communities

Absztrakt (kivonat)

In this project work, preconditions influencing the emergence of renewable energy cooperatives and the impact which RECs bring to the community were investigated. There were conducted 6 interviews: 4 interviews with vice-presidents and presidents of the RECs, 2 interviews with experts from the field. In Chapter 2 the table of deployment of RECs in the EU was elaborated, visualized and analyzed. A decent part of Chapter 2 was devoted to the analysis of the preconditions influencing RECs. Also, the impact assessment tool was designed. In Chapter 3 Italian experience in RECs was studied. In Chapter 4 four case studies were presented and analyzed. There were chosen: historical REC in Italian Alps, biogas CRE in Italy, new wave REC with an innovative business model in Italy, solar REC in Ukraine. Such a set was chosen to demonstrate a variety of types of energy communities, that were recently recognized in the EU law. The outcome of the impact assessment was presented in the visualized form and discussed. In Chapter 5 research questions were finally answered: the first hypothesis was partially accepted, second - fully.