ACcelerate energy CommUnities via local solar energy storage and heat

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North West Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-04-19

Description

Description (EN):

Achieving EU’s decarbonisation ambitions requires a transition to a distributed energy system with participation of citizens. Local energy communities (LECs) are an effective means of doing this. LECs are organisations bringing together citizens, businesses and local authorities to collectively own and operate distributed energy resources and services. The uptake of LECs is hindered by 1) technical challenges incl. storage, grid congestion and disbalance, 2) complex energy sector/planning regulations, 3) social-organisational challenges on starting and organizing LECs and 4) financial challenges incl. a robust business case. There are also multiple opportunities: >LECs can locally balance electricity demand in real-time and store locally generated solar energy surpluses. >When energy prices are volatile, LECs deliver heat and electricity for fair and reliable prices. ACCU accelerates the smart and just energy transition in NWE neighborhoods through LECs, realising a sustainable, affordable and resilient energy system for all. ACCU tackles technical, regulatory, social and financial challenges that LECs face when they integrate heat and electricity in smart energy systems and store local solar energy. ACCU goes beyond current practices by integrating local renewable electricity and heating in LECs. 11 organisations from the quadruple helix will set up 3 LECs (in ARN, BRG & FRM) in which technical, regulatory, social-organisational and financial solutions will be jointly tested and translated into an action plan. The solutions and training will be provided to citizens, authorities, energy cooperatives, housing corporations, energy companies and grid operators for new and better equipped LECs. Transnational cooperation is necessary to take on the LEC challenges in 3 representative (dense/high energy demand) and complementary (context/expertise) areas, and to provide flexible LEC models, applicable all across NWE.

Expected Achievements (EN):

Develop a Joint Strategy based on analyses of stakeholder needs and technical, regulatory, social, financial challenges for LECs. Evaluate pilots to develop LECs Solutions Report to tackle LEC challenges, to benefit new and better equipped LECs. The Joint strategy will be adopted and implemented by local governments, energy cooperatives, energy infrastructure operators and social housing corporations. Develop a Joint LECs Pilots Action plan, to test technical, regulatory, social-organisation and financial solutions in 4 thematic pilots in Arnhem, Bruges and Fourmies and exchange and validate jointly tested solutions in a Community of Practice. Build institutional capacity and provide training for local energy communities initiators (incl. citizens, local authorities and social housing organisations), for uptake of the Joint Strategy and pilot solutions.

Project outputs: Joint Strategy(EN)
Joint LECs Action Plan(EN)
Joint pilots on technical, financial, social and regulatory challenges(EN)
4 Joint technical, financial, social, regulatory solutions for Local Energy Communities(EN)
Participation in joint training scheme(EN)
Website: https://www.nweurope.eu/

Thematic information

Clustering and economic cooperation Energy efficiency

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

Priority specific objective: RSO2.2. Promoting renewable energy in accordance with Directive (EU) 2018/2001, including the sustainability criteria set out therein

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: 053 Smart Energy Systems (including smart grids and ICT systems) and related storage

Partners (11)

Lead Partner: Gemeente Arnhem

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 918116447

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL 001 850218024

Department: Strategie, Beleid en Regie (fysieke domein)

Address: Eusebiusbuitensingel, 6828HZ ARNHEM, Netherlands

Department address: Eusebiusbuitensingel , 6828HZ Arnhem, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.arnhem.nl

Total budget: EUR 2 108 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 1 264 920.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 843 280.00

Energy Cities

Name: Energy Cities

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 966036484

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR 55 379 716 764

Address: Chemin de Palente, 25000 Besançon, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Interest groups including NGOs

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

Total budget: EUR 224 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 134 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 89 600.00

Veolia Environmental Services NV/SA

Name: Veolia Environmental Services NV/SA

Department: Veolia Environmental Services NV/SA

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 940521895

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0403.316.397

Address: Poincarélaan, 1060 Sint-Gillis (Brussel), Belgium

Department address: Poincarélaan , 1060 Sint-Gillis (Brussel), Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: International organisation, EEIG

Website: http://www.veolia.be

Total budget: EUR 380 450.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 228 270.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 152 180.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

Vivendo BV

Name: Vivendo BV

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 876489673

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0406.062.883

Address: Handboogstraat, 8000 Brugge, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: https://www.vivendo.be

Total budget: EUR 1 324 427.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 794 656.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 529 770.80

Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

Name: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven

Department: Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999977269

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL001956218B01

Address: Groene Loper, 5612 AE Eindhoven, Netherlands

Department address: Groene Loper, 5612 AE Eindhoven, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.tue.nl/en

Total budget: EUR 852 363.96

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 511 418.37

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 340 945.59

Université de Picardie Jules Verne

Name: Université de Picardie Jules Verne

Department: Laboratoire des Technologies Innovantes (LTI)

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 998207116

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR22198013443

Address: Chemin du Thi , 80025 Amiens, France

Department address: rue Saint LEU, 80000 Amiens, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.u-picardie.fr

Total budget: EUR 559 986.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 335 991.60

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 223 994.40

Rijn en IJssel Energiecoöperatie

Name: Rijn en IJssel Energiecoöperatie

Department: REIJE working group on enhancing local initiatives in the energy transition

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 876975740

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL851667089B02

Address: Oude Kraan, 6811LL ARNHEM, Netherlands

Department address: Oude Kraan, 6811LL Arnhem, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://www.rijnenijsselenergie.nl/

Total budget: EUR 112 953.66

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 67 772.19

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 45 181.47

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

ENEDIS

Name: ENEDIS

Department: Direction Régionale Nord Pas de Calais

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 983130309

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR66444608442

Address: Boulevard de Tournai, 59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq, France

Department address: Boulevard de Tournai, 59650 Villeneuve d’Ascq, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Infrastructure and (public) service provider

Website: http://www.enedis.fr

Total budget: EUR 122 676.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 73 605.84

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 070.56

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

OpenRemote (InnoHub BV)

Name: OpenRemote (InnoHub BV)

Department: Research and development – Energy Management

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 936858593

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 851978277B01

Address: Kastanjelaan , 5616 LZ Eindhoven, Netherlands

Department address: Kastanjelaan, 5616 LZ Eindhoven, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: SME

Website: https://openremote.io

Total budget: EUR 830 620.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 498 372.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 332 248.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER Article 20

VILLE DE FOURMIES

Name: VILLE DE FOURMIES

Department: REV3 Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 881384778

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR 85 215902495 | 215 902 495 000 13 | SIRET (EN)

Address: Place de Verdun, 59610 Fourmies, France

Department address: Place de Verdun , 59610 Fourmies, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://rev3.fourmies.fr

Total budget: EUR 1 203 460.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 722 076.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 481 384.00

Stad Brugge

Name: Stad Brugge

Department: KLIMID

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 914720283

Partner’s ID if not PIC: Be0207.528.035

Address: Burg, 8000 Brugge, Belgium

Department address: Oostmeers, 8000 Brugge, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.brugge.be/

Total budget: EUR 276 948.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 166 168.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 110 779.20

Partners map

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

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

Project name (EN): ACcelerate energy CommUnities via local solar energy storage and heat

Project acronym: ACCU

Project ID: NWE0400487

Project start date: 2025-01-01

Project end date: 2028-12-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

Social Innovation Energy Transition 2 (SIE-2)
The SIE-2 project in North-Brabant (NL) looks into how to enable municipalities to deviate from ongoing transition pathways towards more just and inclusive heat (and electricity) solutions. SIE-2 is supposed to end in 2024, but the project is likely to be extended with one year. (EN) | ACCU's relationship with the initiative
ACCU and SIE-2 both aim to make the energy transition more inclusive through electricity and heat solutions. Project partner TUe is also located in North-Brabant and is involved in SIE-2 as action researchers, to both contribute to and learn about organising learning and knowledge sharing in the energy transition.
How does ACCU add to this initiative and accommodate synergies
TUe brings in insights from SIE-2 on integrated heat-electricity solutions (e.g. success conditions, prerequisites, business models, socio-organisational best practices), As such, insights from SIE-2 can both be disseminated to and validated in other contexts, thereby increasing the impact of SIE-2. (EN), NWO-MARET ORAKLE project
The ORAKLE project focuses on knowledge sharing and education on the energy transition in the Dutch Province North-Brabant. The project aims to facilitate knowledge between local authorities, research institutes and the private sector via a knowledge-sharing platform. The project will end in 2024. (EN) | ACCU's relationship with the initiative
Project partner TUe leads the ORAKLE project. Both ORAKLE and ACCU focus on energy transition knowledge exchange, cooperation and provide access to (existing) knowledge.
How does ACCU add to this initiative and accommodate synergies
Insights on organising learning and knowledge sharing in communities of practice will be used to stimulate collective learning within the thematic pilots (WP1 and 2) and beyond (WP3). (EN), LIFE TANDEMS
The LIFE Tandems project aims to encourage the development of energy communities as vehicles for energy transition through including citizens in every step, engage local governments and policy makers to support and invest in these communities as well as create replicable and informative strategies, which provide helpful guidance for future communal energy projects. LIFE Tandems has project sites in Belgium and in the Netherlands. The project will end in September 2025. (EN) | ACCU's relationship with the initiative
LIFE Tandems and ACCU have a similar scope, both aiming to facilitate the energy transition by developing and implementing LECs. TUe is involved as an external expert.
How does ACCU add to this initiative and accommodate synergies
The strategies that will result from LIFE Tandems will inform the activities part of ACCU. In particular, insights on how to engage local governments and policy makers to support the implementation of energy communities will be used in the social-organisation analyses (A1.5). (EN), Interreg NWE project CleanMobilEnergy (CME)
The project CleanMobilEnergy (2017-2022) focused on integrating various renewable energy sources, storage devices, electric vehicles and optimisation of energy consumption through one unique smart energy management system. The development of this intelligent Energy Management System (iEMS) aimed to increase the economic value of renewable energy and significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The iEMS was meant to assure the smart integration through interoperability based on open standards for data flows and analysis tools. The project ran from 2017-2022. (EN) | ACCU's relationship with the initiative
CME was led by ACCU's project lead ARN. The smart energy management system that was developed in CME by OpenRemote will be used in ACCU in the local energy communities in Arnhem, Fourmies, and Brugge.
How does ACCU add to this initiative and accommodate synergies:
In ACCU, this system will be extended with heating a storage application, and it will be tested in different types of contexts (building types and ownership) in the WP2 pilots, especially in the technical pilot A2.2. (EN), Interreg NWE project Community-based Virtual Power Plant (cVPP)
cVPP (2017-2020) focused on developing three community-based virtual power plants in IE, NL and BE. In these three communities, the socio-technical concept of a cVVP was tested. This resulted in a Mobilisation and Replication (MoRe) model to help 9 other communities developing their own cVPPs. Moreover, the project focused on the technical upscaling of the energy management system by adding assets and experimenting with trade and flexibility and the social upscaling of the business cases through connection of new target groups such as SMEs, industries and rental sector, and territories. (EN) | ACCU's relationship with the initiative
ACCU's focus on LEC implementation is complementary to that of the cVPP project. The cVPP project was led by TUE, with Alliander as partner (associated organisation in ACCU).
How does ACCU add to this initiative and accommodate synergies
The insights gained on e.g. the socio-technical concept of a community-based virtual power plant and the EMS will be included in the social-organisational analysis (A1.5) and technical EMS analysis (A1.3). ACCU will create a synergy with this project by extending the MoRe model, which was developed in cVVP, by adding heating and using it in different partnerships (A1.7 and A1.8). (EN), RESCHOOL
RESCHOOL improves the way energy communities operate by enhancing the technology and behaviour of their users. This will help to make these communities more efficient and effective in their use of energy. RESCHOOL aims to increase the active participation of communities in energy markets, enhancing and facilitating the management and trading of flexibility in cooperation with sectoral players. (EN) | ACCU's relationship with the initiative
RESCHOOL aims to optimise the coordination between generation and consumption of electricity with two goals: maximum self-consumption for the individual (lowest energy bill) and maximum self-consumption in the neighbourhood to prevent grid congestion (lowest grid costs). OpenRemote, also part of the ACCU consortium, is working out the business case with Alliander (also associated org. In ACCU) to be able to pursue both goals. In addition, they demonstrate that residents are intrinsically motivated to participate in large numbers and also sufficiently influence use at the neighbourhood level to prevent grid congestion.
RESCHOOL's functional and technical approach stimulates people at the resident level via real-time challenges to shift use at critical moments, as well as via the automatic switching of individual flexible assets (charging stations and batteries).
How does ACCU add to this initiative and accommodate synergies:
In ACCU, the consortium takes the major step towards the addition of heat (multimodal) and the possible exchange between the two via storage (battery / heat storage). The consortium also wants to expand the automation for the layering to both modalities at both the home and neighbourhood level. (EN), LIFE ACCE
The Access to Capital for Community Energy project (in short ACCE), supports community energy projects with financial tools. The project's approach builds on the existing Community Energy Financing Schemes (CEFs). ACCE is scheduled to end in October 2025. (EN) | ACCU's relationship with the initiative
Project partners in ACCU will be able to build upon the results of ACCE, which offers a series of effective and innovative financial tools for energy communities as deliverables of the project. The ACCE toolbox of which for example the ACCE best practice report, financial handbook and typology of Community Energy Financing Schemes provide a starting point for ACCU and its pilots.
How does ACCU add to this initiative and accommodate synergies
ACCU focuses on local energy communities that integrate local renewable electricity and heating and therefore goes a step further than most community energy projects have done so far. ACCU will develop financial tools for this specific category of LEC's and will therefore add new knowledge and practices to the tools that ACCE provides. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 7 996 085.02

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 4 797 651.00

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

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 4 797 651.00. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Infrastructure investments:

I2.3 - Collective heating with solar&geothermal in Bruges - EUR 374 990.50 - country: Belgique/België (BE), town: Bruges, street: Rijselstraat (1 of the 5 buildings), 245 , postal_code: 8200, Prov. West-Vlaanderen (BE25), Arr. Brugge (BE251)
I2.2 - Solar thermal powerplant in the City of Fourmies - EUR 220 000.00 - country: France (FR), town: Ville de Fourmies, street: The Les Verreries neighbourhood (in development), Nord-Pas de Calais (FRE1), Nord (FRE11)
I2.1 - Seasonal heat storage with heat net in Arnhem - EUR 315 000.00 - country: Nederland (NL), town: Arnhem, street: Infanteriestraat, postal_code: 6822 NH, Gelderland (NL22), Arnhem/Nijmegen (NL226)

Deliverables:

Knowledge base (literature - collection of practices)
Stakeholder and end-user needs assessment report
Technical analysis incl. Technical KPIs
Implementation guide for pilot A technical
Evaluation report on pilot A technical (midterm and final)
EMS analysis report: Asset types and integration mapping
EMS optimisation routines
EMS system integration tools
EMS adept existing end user app for heat and storage
EMS procurement and implementation guide for pilot A technical: EMS
Evaluation report on pilot A technical: EMS (midterm and final)
Report comparative analysis of regulatory context for LECs
Guide for adapting regulation for LEC implementation in pilot B regulatory
Evaluation report on pilot B regulatory (midterm and final)
Operationalisation of Energy Communities
Implementation guide for pilot C social-organisational
Report socio-organisational knowledge base
Scientific publications
Evaluation report of pilot C socio-organisational, midterm and final
Report analysis on business model practices
Financial implementation guide
Evaluation report on financial pilot (midterm and final)
Joint Strategy
LECs Solutions Report
Communication strategy
ACCU Start event
Blog posts on ACCU results and outcomes
News updates on ACCU events
Contribution to events/conferences of other relevant projects and programs
Public version LECs Solutions Report
Joint LECs Pilots Design Plan
LEC Pilots Design Plan per location
Community of Practice set-up and kick-off meeting
Follow-up meetings for pilot discussions
Pilot site visits
Technical feasibility study
Data management plan
Monitor user energy demand
Installation: putting the Energy Management System into place (ARN)
Installation: building the supplier infrastructure (ARN)
Monitor and store data from solutions and users
Pilot activity report
Installation: putting the Energy Management System into place (BRG)
Installation: putting the Energy Management System into place (FRM)
Installation: building the supplier infrastructure (BRG)
Installation: building the supplier infrastructure (FRM)
Analysis of pilot data
Report on the regulatory feasibility of LEC implementation
Pilot B activity report - final version
Workshops with regulatory influencers
Pilot B activity reports - version 1
Report on the social feasibility of LECs in different contexts
Local stakeholder meetings
Pilot C activity report - final version
Strategy agreement
Letter of Intent
Pilot C activity reports - version 1
Report on the financial feasibility of LECs in different contexts
Pilot activity report on results of implementation of financial solutions
LEC business model tool
Data collection regarding financial indicators
Roadmap on stakeholder participation and communication during the pilots
Kick-off event of Local Energy Communities ARN, BRG, FRM
Pilot videos
Public presentation on pilot results and solutions (A2.3-A2.6)
ACCU Learning Network
Member list ACCU Learning Network
Replication guideline (first version)
Replication guideline (final version)
Training plan
Training: physical and e-learning sessions
Training outline
Training evaluation report
Final ACCU conference - report
Local press release on results
Local/regional dissemination events
Project meetings - minutes

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 085 - Participations in joint training schemes, Measurement unit:

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 081 - Completions of joint training schemes, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, 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

2025-04-17

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

63 / 63 (100%)

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

654 / 654 (100%)

Notes on the data

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ACcelerate energy CommUnities via local solar energy storage and heat

Description

Thematic information

Partners (11)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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

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