Spyros-Nikitas Tsamichas at Energymag – Energy Communities: Key proposal for tackling Energy Poverty

In an interview with energymag.gr, Spyros Nikitas Tsamichas, co-founder of Energon Green Solutions, notes that “in vulnerable and low-income households, energy communities can offer access to renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic systems”.

With energy poverty affecting over 41 million Europeans, the need for a systemic solution to reduce energy costs is more urgent than ever. This is what Spyros Nikitas Tsamichas, Legal Counsel, Co-Founder of Energon Green Solutions, says in an interview with energymag.gr, commenting on the latest developments in the energy sector.

As he notes, ‘energy communities all show that they offer an effective solution for alleviating energy poverty in the context of sustainable development, incorporating a cooperative model that allows, at sub-national level, local communities to produce, consume and manage their own energy according to their preferences.’

In particular, as Mr. Tsamihas notes, “in vulnerable and low-income households, energy communities can provide access to renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic systems. This access not only reduces energy costs, but also offers an economically sustainable future by reducing dependence on price fluctuations in the global energy market. Examples from abroad, such as the ‘WattSolidaire’ project in France, show how surplus energy from PV systems can be distributed to families in need, helping communities build a network of solidarity, strengthening their resilience.”

Indeed, Spyros Nikitas Tsamichas says that Greece is estimated to have the second largest share of photovoltaics in the EU (2019-2024), with a capacity of 8.93 GW, surpassing the ESDP target for 2025, while this growth has led to savings of €3.1 billion from reduced gas imports. “At the same time, the path for energy communities was widened by Law 5037/2023, which incorporated two European directives, introducing renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities. The new regulations limit traditional net metering to self-production projects and introduce net billing, where offsetting is based on the value of the energy produced and consumed, ensuring a more equitable distribution of energy resources.Note that Electra Energy, based in Athens since 2016, aims to facilitate the understanding of these regulations and promote the transition to a democratic, sustainable and participatory energy community system. By 2024, 1,742 active Energy Communities had been established, 1,685 of which are under the Law on Energy Communities. 4513/2018, while 40 Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) and 17 Citizens’ Energy Communities (ECCs) were established under the new institutional framework (Law 5037/2023), indicatively the energy community ‘Hyperion’, with 128 members, has built a 500 kW photovoltaic station in Stymphalia, while

Nevertheless, Energy Communities in Greece are facing serious problems due to the resistance of certain energy providers to issue settlement bills, so that their members cannot benefit from the virtual energy offsetting”, the Legal Advisor stresses, Co-Founder of Energon Green Solutions

In Greece, he notes, energy communities could follow this example, utilizing bio-photovoltaic systems to create a form of ‘smart’ green infrastructure in urban centers, for the benefit of less favored areas.

Greek representation at the European Youth EnergyForum ’24

In this context, interesting is the proposal submitted by Spyros Nikitas Tsamichas, who has specialised in Smart Cities and co-founder and was selected as a delegate of the European Youth Forum for Energy 2024 in Budapest. With his team they presented the proposal ‘Framework for University-Powered Energy Communities’ (UPEC), which seeks to tackle energy poverty in Europe through the cooperation between universities and local communities, providing sustainable energy solutions, especially for vulnerable households. The framework was successfully presented at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Azerbaijan. “Building energy communities combined with university resources is a necessary step towards energy independence and sustainable development of our cities. Incorporating technologically modern and inclusive practices offers a solution that is economically sustainable, environmentally beneficial and socially just, paving the way for a future where energy is accessible to all.” explains Spyros-Nikitas Tsamichas.

Through the UPEC initiative, students from various European universities have the opportunity to actively participate in the effort to tackle energy poverty by receiving practical training in real energy projects, putting into practice the knowledge they have acquired during their studies.The involvement of students in the development of energy communities and green systems, such as bio-photovoltaics, not only contributes to improving the living conditions of vulnerable groups, but also shapes a new generation of sensitive professionals.