Citizen consumers and energy producers at the same time. The latest technological innovations related to sustainable consumption of energy from renewable sources seem to make it possible!
Energy produced on site in Magliano Alpi
A Cuneo, and more specifically at the Municipality of Magliano Alpi (Majan in the Piedmontese language, population 2,184 halfway between the Langhe and Monregale but with an enclave 50 km from the main site in the Ligurian Alps, the result of ancient grazing and administrative rights) the local community inaugurated the first national Energy Community. Officially opened on Friday, March 12, 2021 but already active since December 2020, the community allows much of the energy produced to be consumed on site, providing energy to all its members and countering energy poverty. In addition, the process makes the rural community independent of large energy suppliers.
Definition of Energy Community
According to the definition provided by the GSE, a renewable energy community is a legal entity that:
- It is based on open and voluntary participation, is autonomous, and is effectively controlled by shareholders or members who are located in the vicinity of production facilities held by the renewable energy community;
- It is composed of shareholders or members who may be individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), local governments or authorities, including municipal governments, provided that, for private enterprises, participation in the renewable energy community is not the main commercial and/or industrial activity;
- It has as its primary objective the provision of community-based environmental, economic or social benefits to its shareholders or members or to the local areas in which it operates, rather than financial profits.
This measure, along with “collective self-consumption,” was introduced in December 2019 through the Milleproroghe Decree, becoming a reality following the implementing decree signed on September 15, 2020 by the Minister of Economic Development (at the time Stefano Patuanelli).
The commentary
The mayor, Marco Bailo, considers it “a great satisfaction to achieve this goal and be the first. The idea,” he continues, “was born last year at the end of the lockdown. Our municipality with its photovoltaic system, 20 Kwp, installed on the roof of the town hall shares its produced clean energy proposing itself as coordinator of the ERC as well as producer and consumer. Since December, the association has been officially recognized and incorporated. Now of course the goal is to expand and collaborate in this regard also with neighboring municipalities such as Carrà with whom we are already collaborating.”
Gianni Pietro Girotto, chairman of the Committee on Industry, Trade and Tourism at Palazzo Madama, commented, “This is a model that combines sustainable work and environmental protection, as well as important economic savings on energy bills.” The senator further added, “The experience of the community of Magliano Alpi is the cornerstone of the revolution underway, one that allows the energy pyramid to be overturned from a structure with large operators and large power plants to configurations that, from the bottom up, see citizens, public entities and small companies come together to form collective self-consumption groups and energy communities. Exactly what has happened here in Magliano, thanks to the forward-looking partnership between citizens, the municipality and local utilities, with the technical and scientific support of the Energy Center of the Polytechnic University of Turin.”
The municipality of Magliano Alpi is thus pioneering a revolutionary new course in Italy.
