The main objective of the project CER.COOP – New Horizons is to develop 8 Rural Renewable Energy Communities (REC) led by agricultural cooperatives, offering the necessary tools to the people who are part of the Governing Councils of the cooperatives to facilitate the constitution of a REC and how to manage it, as well as to plan the investments for its development.

Under this premise, Aiguasol and SEBA, as part of the Batec group’s team and in collaboration with EMELCAT and the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives have led the legal analysis, the sizing of the RECs and their optimal business models. 

The study carried out by Aiguasol, contemplates the tariffs of the users of the RECs, from which a fiscal and economic balance of the Green Energy Community and of the self-consumption as a business unit has been created. The point of view of the users of the communities has also been prioritized, taking into account the main economic and financial indicators that imply being part of it, such as savings or fees.

The main objectives of the project are:

1. Design and drafting of legal solutions for each REC:

•  Proposal for the legal organization of the REC.

2. Characterization of energy consumption:

•  Characterization of the energy consumptions of the cooperatives, members’ farms and public and private equipment of the environment.

3. Identification of locations for photovoltaic installations:

•  Identification of potential locations for photovoltaic installations in agricultural cooperatives, buildings of member farms and surrounding entities.

4. Design of technological solutions and required investments:

•  Design of generic types of technological solutions for photovoltaic installations according to characteristics of each potential location.
•  Determination of the investments required for each type of installation.
•  Energy production control and management system.
•  System for the calculation of energy costs and prices within the REC and Feasibility Plan.

5. Financing and planning:

•  Identification of financing options for the identified and characterized investments.
•  Drafting of the economic Feasibility Plan for each REC.
•  Operations Plan of the REC.
• Drafting of Implementation Plans for each cooperative, with a list of investments in the installation of photovoltaic solar panels, with location and characteristics.

Among the 8 agricultural cooperatives, more than 6,000 people are grouped together, all of whom are eligible to participate in the respective RECs. The project will also improve the image of the agricultural cooperative movement, as a leading and dynamic agent of its social environment, approaching other people interested in cooperativism and in the democratization of energy production. 

In addition to the creation of new jobs derived from the RECs, and an optimization of users’ energy costs and consumption, the project will promote the energy transition as an economic driver and a generator of quality employment, especially with the impact of the energy crisis in Europe.

The results of the project were presented in Barcelona last Thursday, October 19. The event was also welcomed by the General Director of Social and Solidarity Economy, Juli Silvestre, the General Director of Energy, Assumpta Farran and the President of the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of Catalonia, Ramon Sarroca.