Energy communities in Sweden - a legal focus

Karlstad Municipality, Karlstads Energi AB and Region Värmland own several energy facilities, such as combined heat and power boilers and energy storage units. These are currently used optimally by each party, but they could also be utilised to provide energy services in a broader context. The parties wish to form an energy community, but the regulations in this area remain unclear.

The project aims to map the legal aspects of establishing an energy community agreement in line with the Renewable Energy Directive. A steam boiler plant is used as an example case to identify legal barriers and propose solutions, although other suitable examples may also exist. The project is primarily carried out by legal experts.

The goal is to gain a clear understanding of the legal obstacles and uncertainties that exist, and—where possible—propose solutions related to energy communities involving municipalities, municipal companies, and regional authorities. Dissemination of results is central to the project and will take place within the participating organisations as well as nationally, where the SKR has expressed interest in receiving the outcomes for broader distribution and knowledge sharing.