Energy Community Platform Phase III

The work programme of the Energy Communities Platform 2025–2027 aims to further promote the development of community-based energy generation and consumption models in Austria. It builds on the successes of recent years, during which the number of installations and communities has risen significantly, and sets the target of establishing at least 10,000 projects by 2027, involving over 250,000 metering points, which will generate and consume around 0.3 TWh of electricity annually.

The continuation of the platform comprises four modules: project management, information dissemination, knowledge exchange, and innovation and market monitoring. A key focus is on the timely implementation of the amendment to the Internal Electricity Market Directive in order to take advantage of the new legal framework.

Support is provided by national and regional advisory networks, which are coordinated, among others, by the Austrian Coordination Office for Energy Communities (KS). The aim is to ensure practical advice, scientific analysis and the development of new models to collectively strengthen energy supply. In doing so, regional differences between rural and urban areas are to be taken into account in order to create tailored solutions and increase acceptance. In addition, the legal situation is continuously reviewed and adapted to ensure the legally compliant implementation of the models. Overall, the programme aims to establish energy communities as a central pillar of the future energy system, to actively shape the energy transition and to increase public acceptance.

Forschung Burgenland represents the province of Burgenland in this context and is primarily involved in Module 3 – Innovations, Market Monitoring, and Further Development of the Models.