Tools that empower communities – how COMMUNITAS helps citizens take part in the energy transition

Creating an energy community is not only about technology – it is about people who come together to share resources, make decisions, and build a sustainable future.

To support this process, the COMMUNITAS project is developing a suite of digital tools that help citizens and community managers design, plan, and operate energy communities with confidence.
During the recent General Assembly in Cascais, partners presented and tested several of these tools, confirming that they are now entering their final validation phase.
Each of them focuses on a specific aspect of the community journey, from understanding the basics to making informed financial and technical decisions.

EC Management Platform – simplifying community operations

The Energy Community Management Platform provides the administrative foundation for every energy community.
It allows users to register new members, define roles and responsibilities, monitor shared assets, and manage day-to-day operations.

This platform acts as the bridge between citizens and system operators, ensuring that data about energy generation and consumption are exchanged smoothly and securely.
It is built on the same integration principles as the COMMUNITAS Core Platform, enabling a single sign-on and interoperability with other project tools.

Investment Advisor – guiding sustainable choices

One of the most anticipated solutions is the Investment Advisor, created by EDP NEW, RINA, and SEL.
Its main goal is to help households and communities explore different investment options in renewable technologies — from rooftop solar to shared storage — and understand which configuration offers the best return on investment.

The tool combines technical and financial parameters, analysing factors such as installation costs, expected energy yields, maintenance expenses, and environmental impact.
By presenting clear scenarios, it supports both individual citizens and community managers in making evidence-based, sustainable decisions.

EC Planning Tool – designing smarter communities

The Energy Community Planning Tool focuses on the early stages of community creation.
It models the energy demand and supply for groups of buildings or neighbourhoods and identifies the optimal configuration of generation and storage assets to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, energy costs, and fossil fuel dependency.

This tool has already been integrated into the COMMUNITAS Core Platform, where it exchanges data with pilot sites and other analytical modules.
It provides planners and consultants with a clear overview of technical possibilities before any real investment takes place.

Knowledge Base – learning made easy

While the tools above provide analytical power, the COMMUNITAS Knowledge Base, hosted within the Core Platform, ensures that everyone can access reliable, easy-to-understand information about how to start or join an energy community.
It gathers national regulations, technical guidelines, and best practices from all partner countries, helping citizens navigate administrative and legal frameworks.

During the Cascais meeting, partners confirmed that the Knowledge Base is now online and continuously updated with new content based on feedback from pilots and workshops.
It acts as the project’s open library – a living resource that will remain valuable beyond COMMUNITAS itself.

Explore COMMUNITAS tools