26 Ιαν INNO-TREC to foster innovative and inclusive energy communities across Europe
The INNO-TREC (Innovative Transactive Renewable Energy Communities) project aims to transform Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) into efficient, inclusive, and economically viable actors in Europe’s energy transition. By combining digital innovation with social engagement, the project seeks to make community-led energy production accessible to all citizens while supporting Europe’s carbon neutrality.
Despite their potential, RECs face legal, technical and financial barriers as well as a lack of reliable tools for managing community photovoltaic (PV) systems. INNO-TREC addresses these challenges by developing new business models, energy credit mechanisms, and user-friendly digital platforms to support planning, operation, and peer-to-peer energy transactions.
“Our mission is to lay the foundation for a new generation of energy communities –efficient, inclusive and sustainable– directly contributing to Europe’s carbon neutrality and energy democratisation goals”
INNO-TREC’s main objective is to enable citizens and communities to design, implement, and scale inclusive and transactive energy models, while monitoring their economic, social, and environmental impacts on local energy resilience.
The project will demonstrate its impact through six pilot communities across Portugal, Greece, Belgium, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Italy. These pilots cover diverse climates, social contexts and community types, testing blockchain-based energy credit systems, social reward schemes, and decision-support tools.
The consortium, coordinated by Universidade do Porto (UPORTO, Portugal), brings together 20 partners from across Europe, namely: Cleanwatts Digital SA (CWD, PT), Fondazione LINKS (IT), Politecnico di Torino (POLITO, IT), DOMX (EL), Cluster Viooikonomias Kai Perivallontos Dytikis Makedonias (CluBE, EL), Energeiaki Koinotita Vlastis (ECV, EL), Universidad de Castilla – La Mancha (UCLM, ES), Akkodis High Tech SAS (AKKO, FR), Elektroinstitut Milan Vidmar (EIMV, SI), Vlaamse Instelling Voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO, BE), Klimaan (KLIMA, BE), Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT OY (VTT, FI), EPRI Europe DAC (EEU, IE), University College Cork (UCC, IE), Mol Teic DINGLE (IE), DCSix Technologies Limited (DCS, IE), Electric Corby Community Interest Company (ECORBY, UK), Cranfield University (UCRANF, UK), Energise Barnsley Limited (EBARNS, UK).
INNO-TREC officially started on 1 January 2026 and will run for 42 months. Its results will provide tested pathways, tools and policy recommendations for inclusive and scalable energy communities, which will be widely disseminated across Europe to inspire citizen-driven renewable energy initiatives.
Contact
Coordination: Universidade do Porto (UPORTO)
Joao Catalao, [email protected]
https://www.linkedin.com/company/inno-trec/posts/?feedView=all
Project information
Grant Agreement ID: 101230578
Full title: Innovative Transactive Renewable Energy Communities (INNO-TREC)
Budget: €5,360,894
Maximum EU Grant: €4,999,994
INNO-TREC is supported by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme under agreement 101230578. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.