Rural Energy Communities LV

The project Rural Energy Communities^LV – Catalysing and building capacities for renewable energy communities in rural Latvia aims to enhance the development of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), especially in rural areas of Latvia. It aims to facilitate dialogue, knowledge transfer and cooperation between policy makers and other relevant stakeholders in Schleswig-Holstein and Latvia. It also aims to strengthen networking and capacity development in Latvia. The project started on 1 January 2024 and will run for 21 months.

The main activities include a German-Latvian policy dialogue on the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II/RED III), in particular the provisions for energy communities, energy sharing and the role of the Citizens' Energy Fund in Schleswig-Holstein as a possible model for Latvia. Other priorities include a study visit by Latvian decision-makers and experts to Schleswig-Holstein, the compilation of relevant good practice examples, regional awareness-raising, networking and capacity development measures in the planning regions of Latvia, the establishment of regional task forces and ambassadors for energy communities as well as train-the-trainer workshops. In addition, the project aims to initiate the development of an energy community in a rural pilot community in Latvia (Sece).