Energy communities are a key element in the transition towards a decentralised, sustainable and participatory energy model. Thanks to regulatory changes driven by the European Union and their transposition into Spanish law, citizens can now generate, share and consume renewable energy collectively with full legal support.
But which law exactly governs an energy community? What are the requirements to create one? What is the difference between a REC and a CEC? This guide answers all these questions with the regulatory framework updated for 2026.
If you are looking to understand what a REC is and how it differs from a CEC, see our dedicated article: What is a Renewable Energy Community (REC)
European Regulations: The Two Key Figures
The European framework governing energy communities is based on the EU Clean Energy Package, which distinguishes between two models with different scopes and requirements:
| Figure | Directive | What it involves | Who can participate |
|---|---|---|---|
| REC — Renewable Energy Community | EU 2018/2001 | Production and consumption of local renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass) | Natural persons, SMEs and local authorities close to the project |
| CEC — Citizen Energy Community | EU 2019/944 | Broader management: production, consumption, storage and sale of energy | Citizens, municipalities, SMEs and small businesses |
RECs are focused exclusively on renewables and require geographical proximity between the installation and the members. CECs offer a broader range of activities and greater territorial flexibility.
Spanish Regulations: Updated Legal Framework
Spain has progressively adapted EU directives into its national legislation through the following milestones:
| Regulation | Year | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| RD 244/2019 | 2019 | Regulates collective self-consumption: neighbours or businesses can share a solar plant. Main basis for savings in RECs |
| RD-Law 23/2020 | 2020 | Introduces the REC figure into the Electricity Sector Law |
| RD-Law 20/2022 | 2022 | Extends to 2 km the maximum distance between the installation and associated consumers |
| Order TED/1446/2021 | 2021 | Creates the CE Implementa programme: grants for energy community pilot projects |
| Draft RD MITECO | 2023 | Proposed flexible framework for RECs and CECs. Under development |
| RD-Law 5/2023 | 2023 | Introduces the legal definition of CECs into the Electricity Sector Law |
| Order TED/764/2024 | 2024 | New CE Implementa programme bases (5th and 6th calls) |
Legal Definition of REC (RD-Law 23/2020)
“Renewable energy communities are legal entities based on open and voluntary participation, autonomous and effectively controlled by shareholders or members located in the proximity of the renewable energy projects that are owned or developed by those legal entities, whose shareholders or members are natural persons, SMEs or local authorities, including municipalities, and whose primary purpose is to provide environmental, economic or social benefits for their shareholders or members or for the local areas where they operate, rather than financial profits.” — Law 24/2013 of the Electricity Sector, amended by RD-Law 23/2020
Legal Definition of CEC (RD-Law 5/2023)
“Citizen energy communities are legal entities based on voluntary and open participation, the effective control of which is exercised by shareholders or members that are natural persons, local authorities, including municipalities, or small enterprises, and whose primary purpose is to provide environmental, economic or social benefits to their members or shareholders or to the local areas where they operate, rather than to generate financial profit.” — Law 24/2013 of the Electricity Sector, amended by RD-Law 5/2023
What the Regulations Mean for Citizens and Municipalities
In practical terms, the current legal framework allows:
- Sharing solar energy from a community plant even if it is not on your roof, provided it is within 2 km of your supply point.
- Joining a community in which neighbours, your local council or a local SME participate.
- Reducing electricity bills legally and with the same rights as any individual self-consumption installation.
- Accessing specific grants for pilot projects through the CE Implementa programme of the IDAE.
- Installing on industrial zones or public rooftops and linking the supply to nearby homes thanks to the 2 km extension.
Types of Energy Communities in Spain
Under current regulations, the following models can be established in Spain:
1. Collective Self-Consumption (RD 244/2019) The most widespread form. Several people share a solar installation and distribute the generated energy according to agreed coefficients. Does not require setting up a new legal entity if participants are already associated.
2. REC — Renewable Energy Community (RD-Law 23/2020) An independent legal entity (cooperative, association, limited company…) focused on renewables. Requires territorial proximity and democratic control by the members. This is the most common figure in municipal or rural projects.
3. CEC — Citizen Energy Community (RD-Law 5/2023) A more flexible framework that allows managing energy beyond renewables and includes distribution and supply. More suited to complex urban projects or those with multiple energy activities.
Examples of Energy Communities in Spain
Projects in Catalonia and Girona
- Sant Miquel de Campmajor (Girona): 3.5 kWp photovoltaic installation supplying residents and municipal buildings. One of the first examples of rural collective self-consumption in the province.
- Tossa de Mar: 4.3 kWp community distributing energy to public buildings and local homes.
National References
- Som Energia: Spain’s leading energy cooperative with over 80,000 members, producing and selling 100% renewable energy.
- Barcelona Energia: a municipal public company allowing citizens to consume 100% renewable electricity from local generation.
- Pamplona: pilot projects combining self-consumption, storage and shared electric mobility.
Requirements to Create an Energy Community
To set up an energy community with legal backing in Spain, the following is required:
- Legal personality: cooperative, association, limited company or other recognised form.
- Open and voluntary participation: any neighbour, SME or public administration can join or leave without discrimination.
- Effective control by members: decisions and benefit distribution are managed by the members themselves, not by third parties with a majority commercial interest.
- Non-profit purpose: the primary objective is social, environmental and economic benefit for the members and local community, not financial return.
- Territorial proximity (for RECs): installations must be close to the associated supply points (up to 2 km under RD-Law 20/2022).
How to Create an Energy Community Step by Step
Meeting the legal requirements is the starting point, but the actual process of creating a REC involves several concrete steps that are worth knowing before you begin.
Step 1 — Set up the legal entity The first step is choosing the appropriate legal form: cooperative, association or limited company. The cooperative is the most common in neighbourhood projects because it facilitates democratic governance and the easy entry and exit of members. It is set up before a notary and registered in the corresponding registry.
Step 2 — Identify the installation site or rooftop You need to find a suitable rooftop or plot of land for the photovoltaic installation, whether publicly owned (sports centre, town hall, school) or private. The installation must be within 2 km of the members’ supply points.
Step 3 — Carry out the technical and economic study Before proceeding, a load calculation is essential to analyse members’ consumption, the orientation of the rooftop and the required capacity. This study also determines the energy distribution coefficients among participants.
Step 4 — Process permits and register with the distribution network The installation must be registered as a collective self-consumption installation with the relevant electricity distributor (Endesa, Iberdrola, etc.). Municipal licences may also be required depending on the type and location of the installation.
Step 5 — Configure the distribution coefficients Each member receives a percentage of the energy generated according to the coefficients agreed in the bylaws. These coefficients are communicated to the distributor and determine the discount on each member’s bill.
Step 6 — Apply for available funding Once the community is established and the installation designed, funding can be requested through the IDAE’s CE Implementa programme or other regional calls. In Catalonia, specific grants from the Generalitat are also available for collective self-consumption projects.
How to Join an Existing Energy Community
If you don’t want to create a community from scratch but join one that is already up and running, these are the most common ways:
- Contact your local council: many municipalities, especially in Catalonia, have or are developing local energy communities. The town hall is the first point of contact.
- IDAE community map: the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving maintains a directory of pilot projects funded through the CE Implementa programme.
- Som Energia: Spain’s leading energy cooperative allows anyone in the country to become a member. They offer both renewable energy and participation in local generation projects.
- Local networks: in many municipalities, neighbourhood associations or citizen platforms are organising energy communities. A search on social media or the local council’s website often turns up results.
If you are in the Girona region and want to explore whether there is a project in your municipality or how to start one, contact us and we will guide you with no commitment.
Available Subsidies and Funding
The main funding programme for energy communities in Spain is the CE Implementa programme by IDAE, backed by Next Generation EU funds. It finances singular pilot projects that serve as a reference for scaling the model.
Other compatible funding lines:
- Regional grants from the Generalitat de Catalunya for photovoltaic installations in collective self-consumption.
- ERDF funds for energy efficiency projects in municipalities.
- Income tax deduction for installing self-consumption systems in a primary residence.
Regulations and funding calls are constantly evolving. Before starting any project, it is recommended to verify the current bases and consult an authorised installer.
How Fotovol Can Help
At Fotovol, we support citizens, SMEs and local authorities throughout the entire process of creating and launching an energy community:
- Technical and legal analysis of the project
- Design of the photovoltaic installation
- Management of CE Implementa grant applications and regional calls
- Registration with the distribution network and configuration of energy sharing
- Support in setting up the legal entity
We work across the Girona region and all of Catalonia: Gironès, Baix Empordà, Alt Empordà, La Selva, Ripollès, Garrotxa and Cerdanya. See energy community service,
