The Spanish Photovoltaic Union (UNEF), in collaboration with the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha, is organising the second edition of the Energy Communities Summit. This event, set to take place on Wednesday 24 September at the “El Greco” Conference Centre in Toledo, aims to establish itself as the leading forum for the sector.

It will be a space for dialogue featuring key discussion panels that will address the role of Energy Communities in the energy transition, political perspectives on these disruptive entities, and the various community models that can be deployed across Spain—models that provide not only technical but also social value.

This second edition builds on the success of the inaugural Summit, from which emerged the Manifesto in Favour of Energy Communities and Energy Self-Sufficiency. The manifesto was created with the aim of strengthening ties between all energy communities and promoting coordinated action in the defence of their interests and in shaping their structure.

Energy Communities are formed by members or partners who join forces to harness renewable resources or carry out energy-related activities. The environmental and socio-economic benefits generated are reinvested into the community or the local area where it is based.

According to data from ECODES, there are currently 679 Energy Communities in Spain. Toledo is home to one of the finest examples: the first energy community located within a historic city centre, which includes individuals, businesses, convents, and Toledo City Council itself. This community delivers environmental, economic and social benefits to its members through the clean energy it generates using photovoltaic technology, while reinvesting the profits back into the community.

This and other examples will be showcased at the Second Energy Communities Summit in Toledo, along with other topics of particular interest to those involved in their development, such as regulation, governance and permitting.