At Aiguasol, as part of the team led by the Cluster of Bioenergy of Catalonia and with the participation of Envolta Energia and Verdia Legal, we have developed the Guide to Bioenergy Communities. This guide is a strategic tool to promote new, more sustainable energy models, leveraging the potential of bioenergy as a key element in the transition toward resilient, locally connected energy communities.

This project has been made possible thanks to the 2023 Competitiveness Boost Initiatives, with the support of ACCIÓ and the Department of Business and Labor of the Government of Catalonia.

What are Bioenergy Communities?

Bioenergy communities are a type of energy community that actively integrates bioenergy as the main source of renewable energy, utilizing local resources such as biomass and biogas. This model:

• Reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
• Boosts the local economy, creating jobs and supporting sectors such as agroforestry.
• Improves territorial sustainability, contributing to the efficient management of natural resources and combating climate change.

A Practical Tool to Promote Concrete Projects

The guide provides a comprehensive vision of successfully creating and managing bioenergy communities. Key contents include:

1. Essential concepts on bioenergy and local energy communities.
2. Legal and regulatory framework to facilitate implementation.
3. Governance and participation models, prioritizing collaboration between citizens, businesses, and local administrations.
4. Inspiring case studies from national and international projects demonstrate this model’s viability and replicability.
5. Barriers and opportunities for developing bioenergy communities in Catalonia.

A Collaborative Effort to Transform Energy

The project has been made possible through the collaboration of four specialized entities:

• Cluster of Bioenergy of Catalonia: leading the project coordination.
• Aiguasol: contributing with our expertise in the technical and economic feasibility of sustainable energy models such as energy communities.
• Envolta Energia: experts in the development of energy communities.
• Verdia Legal: legal consultancy specializing in energy projects.

Why is this Guide Important?

The Guide to Bioenergy Communities is more than just a technical document; it is a roadmap to:

• Promote the use of bioenergy as a key renewable source.
• Facilitate the creation of democratic energy communities rooted in their territories.
• Strengthen local economies and reduce the carbon footprint.

Through this guide, businesses, local administrations, and citizens can join forces to harness their local bioenergy resources, generating renewable, sustainable, and community-based energy.