Engaged Energy-Communities in Urban areas with Technology Integrated Energy Systems

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-05-12

Description

Description (EN):

Local Energy Communities (LECs) - cooperations of citizen energy cooperatives, local authorities, supported by businesses that collectively manage energy in neighbourhoods – offer opportunities by promoting renewable energy use, fostering local ownership and ensuring more equitable access to affordable energy. The development of LECs is hampered however by 4 common territorial challenges: 1) Lack of professionalization of citizen energy cooperatives and uncertain policy development; 2) Difficulty in reaching a broader participation within LECs; 3) Unavailability of integrated and proven technical solutions; 4) Legislative constraints for LECs. Confronted with these challenges, E2-CUTIES brings together 6 LECs in 4 cities (BE, FR, IE, NL), in which LECs are a core element of their energy transition strategy. The objective of E2-CUTIES is to empower existing LECs to implement integrated energy systems. The transnational partnership includes public, private and civic partners in 6 LEC pilot sites with different economic, social, technical and legislative context ensuring more diverse and robust results. E2-CUTIES will test different approaches for LECs in 6 pilot actions leading to 1 jointly developed Method to create LEC Investment propositions, including 4 toolboxes with validated solutions to address main challenges and a step-based roadmap for developing LECs. In addition, 2 integrated energy system concepts are tested in practice. The outputs are disseminated to LEC stakeholders throughout NWE through a capacity building program. The originality of the E2-CUTIES project lies in three aspects. First, the approach focusses on new public-civic partnerships connecting energy cooperatives and local public authorities. Second, the LECs involved work towards integrated energy systems using multiple energy sources. Finally, the replication approach goes beyond copy/pasting and offers a customization method for LECs to adapt the results to local needs and context.

Expected Achievements (EN):

To co-create 1 step-based roadmap with 4 toolboxes for empowering Local Energy Communities (LECs) to implement integrated energy systems. The 4 toolboxes each address a main territorial challenges of LECs: governance; inclusive community building; technical design and operations; and finance, business and legal frameworks. A tailoring template allows Local Energy Communities to translate the step-based roadmap and toolboxes to their local context and situation. To empower LECs in 6 pilot sites to realize 6 executable Investment Propositions for integrated energy systems. In 2 pilot sites, the Investment Propositions will be implemented leading to 2 operational integrated energy systems in operation by a LEC. Through synthesis of all pilot results a validated Method to Create LEC Investment Propositions, including step-based roadmap and 4 toolboxes, is delivered to NWE LEC stakeholders. To build capacities of stakeholders in LECs to use the Method to Create LEC Investment Propositions for integrated energy systems, with a step-based roadmap and 4 toolboxes. A Peer-2-Peer Community of Practice, EU wide self-learning training course and a local train-the-trainer scheme is developed. The activities aim to involve at least 150 people at citizen energy cooperatives, public authorities and energy agencies from both project partners and external stakeholders.

Project outputs: 6 jointly developed pilot actions testing different methods to empower Local Energy Communities to implement integrated energy systems(EN)
1 jointly developed Method to create LEC investment Propositions (EN)
2 jointly developed and tested integrated energy system solutions for Local Energy Communities in two different city-territories(EN)
Participation in E2-CUTIES joint training schemes (EN)
Website: http://e2-cuties.nweurope.eu

Thematic information

ICT and digital society Renewable energy

Priority: (VI-B_NWE_2) Smart and just energy transition

Priority specific objective: RSO2.1. Promoting energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 046 Support to entities that provide services contributing to the low carbon economy and to resilience to climate change, including awareness-raising measures

Partners (12)

Lead Partner: Gemeente Utrecht

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998300818

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL 0022.20.647.B01

Department: Urban Development - Energy Transition

Address: Stadsplateau, 3521 AZ Utrecht, Netherlands

Department address: Stadsplateau, 3521 AZ Utrecht, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.utrecht.nl

Total budget: EUR 1 176 393.58

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 705 836.14

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 470 557.44

GBER schemes / de minimis: General de minimis

Energie Samen U.A.

Name: Energie Samen U.A.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 893323635

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL858789723B01

Address: Australiëlaan, 3526 AB Utrecht, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://energiesamen.nu/

Total budget: EUR 218 011.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 130 806.90

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 87 204.60

Hogeschool Utrecht

Name: Hogeschool Utrecht

Department: Kennis Centrum Gezond en Duurzaam Leven Center of Expertise Smart Sustainable Cities Lectoraat Nieuwe Energie in de Stad

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 986208507

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL802172337B01

Address: Padualaan, 3584 CH Utrecht, Netherlands

Department address: Padualaan, 3584 CH Utrecht, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.hu.nl

Total budget: EUR 661 871.32

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 397 122.79

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 264 748.53

EBO Consult A/S

Name: EBO Consult A/S

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 934041034

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DK56816216

Address: Blytækkerporten - from 15. December: Hvidovrevej, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.eboconsult.dk

Total budget: EUR 210 464.10

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 126 278.46

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 84 185.64

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Energy Cities

Name: Energy Cities

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 966036484

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR55379716764

Address: Chemin du fort de Bregille, 25000 Besançon, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Other

Website: http://www.energy-cities.eu

Total budget: EUR 359 148.55

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 215 489.13

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 143 659.42

L’agence du Climat, le guichet des solutions

Name: L’agence du Climat, le guichet des solutions

Department: Energy efficiency department / EU project unit

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 888059445

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR37899818827

Address: AVENUE DE LA FORET NOIRE, 67000 Strasbourg, France

Department address: AVENUE DE LA FORET NOIRE, 67000 Strasbourg, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://agenceduclimat-strasbourg.eu/

Total budget: EUR 327 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 196 560.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 131 040.00

L’Eurométropole de Strasbourg

Name: L’Eurométropole de Strasbourg

Department: Direction transitions énergie climat

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 995380051

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR0C246700488

Address: Parc de l’Etoile, 67076 Strasbourg, France

Department address: Parc de l’Etoile, 67076 Strasbourg, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.strasbourg.eu/

Total budget: EUR 88 105.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 52 863.30

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 35 242.20

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, vertegenwoordigd door KU Leuven R&D

Name: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, vertegenwoordigd door KU Leuven R&D

Department: Department of Mechanical Engineering Division of Applied Mechanics and Energy Converstion (TME)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999991334

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0419052173

Address: Waaistraat, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Department address: Celestijnenlaan, 3001 Heverlee - Leuven, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.kuleuven.be

Total budget: EUR 594 785.81

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 356 871.48

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 237 914.33

Energie Coöperatie Oost-Brabant

Name: Energie Coöperatie Oost-Brabant

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 884540091

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0696887689

Address: Roeselveld, 3020 Herent, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: http://www.ecoob.be

Total budget: EUR 488 442.06

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 293 065.23

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 195 376.83

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Stad Leuven

Name: Stad Leuven

Department: Directory of Spatial Planning – Sustainability Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 993960068

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0207521503

Address: Professor Van Overstraetenplein, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Department address: Professor Van Overstraetenplein, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.leuven.be

Total budget: EUR 432 411.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 259 446.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 172 964.40

Comhairle Contae Fhine Gall

Name: Comhairle Contae Fhine Gall

Department: Environment, Climate Action, Active Travel and Sports (ECAATS)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 946320846

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 9509807N

Address: Main Street Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 X8Y2 Dublin, Ireland

Department address: Main Street Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 X8Y2 Dublin, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.fingal.ie

Total budget: EUR 202 982.50

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 121 789.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 81 193.00

Dublin's Energy Agency

Name: Dublin's Energy Agency

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 974602457

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 8263306O

Address: The Loft, 2-4 Crown Alley, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, D02 TK74 Dublin, Ireland

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://www.codema.ie/

Total budget: EUR 567 177.42

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 340 306.45

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 226 870.97

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Operation of strategic importance (OSI) or above EUR 5 million

Project name (EN): Engaged Energy-Communities in Urban areas with Technology Integrated Energy Systems

Project acronym: E2-CUTIES

Project ID: NWE0400543

Project start date: 2025-01-01

Project end date: 2028-06-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Horizon Europe 2022-2025 – SCCALE 203050 (EN) | E2-CUTIES will build on the EU Horizon project SCCALE 203050. For this project a toolkit was built for creating energy communities In E2-CUTIES more dedicated public-civic cooperations and the transition towards integrated energy systems in an urban context will be added. (EN), EU Energy Communities Facility (EN) | E2-CUTIES will align with the EU ECF, which provides EUR 7 million in grants to support Renewable Energy Communities and Citizen Energy Communities to develop sustainable energy projects. The EU ECF funding scheme will be promoted among the E2-CUTIES stakeholders and activities, to help support energy community initiatives.
E2-CUTIES will leverage insights and methodologies from the EU ECF’s training activities to help refine this project’s own training curriculum and Replication Strategy. Collaboration with the EU ECF’s network of national experts could also facilitate broader outreach and support, maximizing the impact of energy communities in NWE cities.
(EN), LIFE - LIFE LOOP (EN) | E2-CUTIES will leverage synergies with the LIFE LOOP project, which supports local authorities and regions in achieving their sustainable energy plans and strategies by catalysing new community energy partnerships and projects.
The LIFE LOOP community energy toolkit, accreditation scheme and the matchmaking tool, for connecting community energy groups and owners of sites with renewable energy potential, will be valuable for E2-CUTIES pilots and Replication Strategy. The LIFE LOOP's pilot projects and business model development for citizen-led initiatives, along with its accreditation scheme, will also inform E2-CUTIES' Replication Strategy. E2-CUTIES will use LIFE LOOP's findings to enhance its approach, training program and promote cross-project collaboration.
(EN), LIFE - SPARKLE (EN) | E2-CUTIES will make use of the comprehensive learning program developed in LIFE project ‘SPARKLE’ on SECAPs, which includes specific learnings on energy communities, to enrich its training curriculum and methods. E2-Cuties will also establish cross collaboration with SPARKLE and its large community (over 600 Local and Regional Authorities) to recruit participants from NWE region to the E2-CUTIES training program. (EN), INTERREG – ESPON TANDEM (EN) | E2-CUTIES will rely on the policy learnings from the Interreg project ‘TANDEM’ to inform the investment ready plans which will be developed in the project. The learnings and current policy developments from TANDEM will be integrated into the training curriculum of our training program. (EN), Energy Communities Repository (EN) | E2-CUTIES will collaborate with the EU Energy Communities Repository, to leverage the tools and materials available. These will be useful in the development of this project’s partners’ activities but also in the creation of the E2-CUTIES training program. (EN), Horizon Europe (2024-2028) SEEDS (EN) | E2-CUTIES can leverage on the modelling and optimization framework developed and tested in SEEDS to apply them to the E2-CUTIES pilots and serve as a basis for the life-cycle analysis of new cooperative renewable heat solutions. (EN), Community Energy Espresso Training – European Climate Foundation (EN) | As part of Energy Cities Local Transition Learning Centre there is the Community Energy Espresso course which is designed as a self-paced e-learning course for municipal employees and community energy leaders. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 5 327 393.34

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 3 196 435.98

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 3 196 435.98. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Synthesis of needs, challenges and opportunities of Local Energy Communities in E2-CUTIES
Toolbox GOV: Governance & organisation
Toolbox COM: inclusive community building
Toolbox TEC: technical design & operations
Toolbox F&L: Finance & legal
Step-based roadmap with integrated toolboxes for empowering LECs
Local Pilot Plan template to tailor step-based roadmap to local situation and context
Recommendations on legal aspects, business models and financing instruments for LECs
Joint Communication Strategy
Interreg NWE E2-CUTIES webpage
A3 poster (12)
Mid-term Communication Progress Report
Eight presentations in various workshops and events to disseminate the project’s key message
Video
Final event
LEC pilot site mapping and needs analysis for LEC Leuven
Local Pilot Plan for LEC Leuven
Intermediate report on pilot actions and communication activities in LEC Leuven
Investment- Proposition for LEC Leuven
Demonstrator: Heating-as-a-Service concept demonstrated in 2 sites in LEC Leuven
LEC pilot site mapping and needs analysis for LEC Strasbourg
Local Pilot Plan for LEC Strasbourg
Intermediate report on pilot actions and communication activities in LEC Strasbourg
Investment Proposition for LEC Strasbourg
Demonstrator: PV-plant and energy sharing tested on public roof in LEC Strasbourg
LEC pilot site mapping and needs analysis for LEC Dublin-Balbriggan
Local Pilot Plan for LEC Balbriggan-Dublin
Intermediate report on pilot actions and communication activities in LEC Dublin-Balbriggan
Investment- Proposition for LEC Dublin-Balbriggan
LEC pilot site mapping and needs analysis for LEC Utrecht-Oog in Al
Local Pilot Plan for LEC Utrecht Oog in Al
Intermediate report on pilot actions and communication activities in LEC Utrecht-Oog in Al
Investment Proposition for LEC Utrecht-Oog in Al
LEC pilot site mapping and needs analysis for LEC Utrecht-Noordoost
Local Pilot Plan for LEC Utrecht-Noordoost
Intermediate report on pilot actions and communication activities in LEC Utrecht-Noordoost
Investment Proposition for LEC Utrecht-Noordoost
LEC pilot site mapping and needs analysis for LEC Utrecht-Lunetten
Local Pilot Plan for LEC Utrecht Lunetten
Intermediate on pilot actions and communication activities in LEC Utrecht-Lunetten
Investment Proposition for LEC Utrecht-Lunetten
Monitoring-, Evaluation- and Learning Framework
Intermediate Evaluation- and Learning report after one year of pilot actions
Evaluation- and Learning report after two years of pilot actions
Policy recommendation for Local Energy Communities in Leuven
Policy recommendation for Local Energy Communities in Strasbourg
Policy recommendation for Local Energy Communities in Dublin-Balbriggan
Policy recommendation for Local Energy Communities in Utrecht
Synthesis report on Method to create LEC Investment Propositions
Video in interview vlog format
Learning needs assessment
Training framework
Learning monitoring framework
First update of training framework
Established online exchange environment for CoP and preliminary program of activities
First report and update on CoP activities
Final report summarising key learnings of CoP
EU-wide online training course e-learning story board & online registration page (cycle 1)
EU-wide online training course e-learning story board & online registration page (cycle 2 )
E2-CUTIES LEC pilot site Dublin e-learning story board & online registration page
E2-CUTIES LEC pilot site Leuven e-learning story board & online registration page
E2-CUTIES LEC pilot site Strasbourg e-learning story board & online registration page
E2-CUTIES LEC pilot site Utrecht e-learning story board & online registration page
E2-CUTIES EU Training Cycle 1 report
E2-CUTIES EU Training Cycle 2 report  
Train the trainers course manual
Communication and recruitment strategy LEC pilot site Dublin
Communication and recruitment strategy LEC pilot site Strasbourg
Communication and recruitment strategy LEC pilot site Leuven
Communication and recruitment strategy LEC pilot site Utrecht
Consolidation of 4 learning experiences

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR 1: Organisations with increased institutional capacity due to their participation in cooperation activities across borders, Measurement unit: Organisations

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-05-12

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

70 / 70 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

739 / 739 (100%)

Notes on the data

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Engaged Energy-Communities in Urban areas with Technology Integrated Energy Systems

Description

Thematic information

Partners (12)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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