ELECTRICITY SHARING: AN ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL SOLUTION

The Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation (ILR) and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) launched the "WeShareEnergy" website. Electricity sharing allows people to consume renewable electricity when it is available, thereby avoiding the costs of supplying it from the grid. The website provides a wealth of information on the basics of electricity sharing.

Consumers are increasingly being called upon to participate in the energy transition, notably through electricity generation, self-consumption and now electricity sharing. Such a concept offers producers the opportunity to share their surplus electricity production with consumers who wish to benefit from locally-produced renewable electricity, even if they do not have the means to install solar panels themselves.

weshareenergy.lu - An information website dedicated to electricity sharing

ILR and LIST presented the different ways in which electricity can be shared as part of collective self-consumption and energy communities. All the information on the different types of sharing group and on the keys for distributing electricity production can be found on the new weshareenergy.lu website, specially designed by the ILR. Visitors can also find links to the contractual documents, an explanatory video and the "WeShareEnergy" software developed jointly by LIST and ILR. The tool enables citizens to simulate the distribution of the electricity produced between the various participants in the sharing scheme. The software can be downloaded free of charge from the dedicated website.

Harnessing Collective Power

Producers can share their surplus electricity production in two different ways:

• Sharing with other consumers in the same building or in the immediate neighbourhood, by means of a "self-consumers of renewable energy acting collectively" (AC) agreement, to be signed with the distribution network operator.
•  Sharing with other consumers located :
  • either in the same neighbourhood, with a maximum distance of 300 metres between connection points connected to the low-voltage network,
  • with other consumers throughout the country.

For this type of sharing, however, users need to set up an energy community with its own legal personality and sign an "energy community" (EC) agreement with the distribution system operator.

As with individual self-consumption, electricity sharing is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, as it allows users to consume renewable electricity when it is available, thereby avoiding the costs of supplying it from the grid. In this way, people become less dependent on grid supply and the vagaries of market prices.

Joining forces to drive energy transition

ILR and LIST have completed an important step in strengthening their collaboration in energy transition. As part of a new agreement, both parties have committed to pursuing a global agenda to promote progress in sustainable energy practices.

Several key objectives are at the heart of their collaboration, including exchanging views and strategic programmes, facilitating a deeper understanding of the complexities of the energy sector and identifying opportunities for mutual support and innovation. In addition, the parties will explore opportunities for joint research projects, drawing on their respective expertise to drive initiatives that have an impact on the pursuit of a more sustainable future. This partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to meeting the challenges of energy transition while harnessing the potential for technological innovation and societal progress.