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BACKGROUND

The Challenge of Renewable Energy Communities

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are central to Europe’s ambition for a cleaner, more democratic, and sustainable energy system, enabling citizens and organizations to generate and share renewable energy locally. They promise cheaper, greener, and more socially responsible electricity, but their implementation is far from simple.

Despite their potential, RECs face significant challenges:

  • Complex legal processes
  • Technical hurdles for non-experts
  • High costs for external services
  • Lack of reliable tools for managing community photovoltaic (PV) systems

These barriers limit REC growth and slow down the energy transition.

OUR MISSION

INNO-TREC (INNOvative Transactive Renewable Energy Communities) was created to overcome these limitations and lay the foundations for a new generation of energy communities: efficient, inclusive, and sustainable.

The project contributes directly to Europe’s goals of carbon neutrality and energy system democratization by:

  • Validating innovative community models for real-world impact
  • Developing new mechanisms for energy transactions and value creation
  • Strengthening community engagement, autonomy, and profitability
  • Contributing directly to Europe’s goals of carbon neutrality and energy system democratization
WHAT WE OFFER

Free Tools for Every Community

INNO-TREC will provide free, user-friendly, web-based tools to help communities:

  • Set up RECs (member engagement, PV system sizing)
  • Operate efficiently (performance monitoring, predictive maintenance)

These tools will reduce dependency on third-party services, lower costs, and make REC management accessible to all.

Energy Credits

A New Way to Exchange Value

At the heart of INNO-TREC is an energy credits platform. Energy credits are digital utility tokens, designed for internal use within RECs. They:

  • Enable secure, decentralised transactions
  • Act like vouchers, not currency
  • Allow members to share energy, donate to energy-poor households, and access community features

This mechanism promotes fairness, inclusivity, and social equity while creating a community-centric energy ecosystem.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

What INNO-TREC Will Build

01

Develop an open-source reference architecture for secure data exchange between community members and systems.

02

Create AI-driven decision support tools to optimise energy flows and management within RECs.

03

Design simulation and modelling tools for PV systems, enabling accurate energy flow forecasting.

04

Build a blockchain-based energy credits platform for transparent peer-to-peer transactions.

05

Foster community engagement, social innovation, and energy literacy across all pilot sites.

06

Validate flexibility mechanisms and economic models that ensure profitable, sustainable RECs.

Our Approach

Three Dimensions of Impact

Technology

Technological Dimension

INNO-TREC develops open-source, web-based tools to simplify the management of community PV systems—the most practical renewable technology for RECs. These tools reduce dependency on third-party services, lower costs, and make REC management accessible to all. Advanced features include AI-driven decision support, blockchain-based energy credits, and predictive maintenance for optimal performance.

Economics

Economic Dimension

The project introduces innovative transaction models and digital platforms that turn electricity into a tradeable commodity within RECs. By creating internal markets and aligning them with external price signals, INNO-TREC ensures financial sustainability, supports investment remuneration, and enables flexibility trading. This approach boosts profitability and resilience while reducing overall costs

Community

Social Dimension

INNO-TREC strengthens community engagement and promotes social equity. Through co-creation of rules, social tariffs, and energy credits donations, the project addresses energy poverty and fosters inclusivity. Educational initiatives improve energy literacy, while participatory decision-making empowers members to actively shape their energy future.

THE BIG IMPACT

Results that matter most

Lead with outcomes people care about: lower emissions, lower costs, and smarter energy use.

CO₂ emissions

Cleaner communities through smarter local energy decisions.

Cost Reduction

Less waste and better value from local generation and trading.

Energy efficiency

More output from existing assets through optimisation.

Self-consumption

Use more local renewable energy where it’s produced.

Pilots Across Europe

INNO-TREC will demonstrate its innovations in six pilot RECs across Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Ireland, UK, and Italy, covering diverse climates, typologies, and social contexts.

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WHY IT MATTERS

More Than Technology — Community Empowerment

INNO-TREC is more than a technological project, it’s a community empowerment initiative. By combining advanced digital tools, innovative transaction models, and social engagement strategies, INNO-TREC sets a new standard for renewable energy adoption, driving Europe toward a cleaner, fairer, and more democratic energy future.