IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v198y2025ics0301421525000217.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Navigating the rise of energy communities in Estonia: Challenges and successes through case studies

Author

Listed:
  • Meitern, Maarja

Abstract

This study explores the emergence and development of energy communities (ECs) in Estonia, emphasizing the challenges and successes encountered. ECs are integral to the European Union's Clean Energy Package, which aims to include citizens in the energy transition. Unlike countries with a longstanding tradition of ECs, Estonia faced a new empirical concept with the introduction of the European directives. Utilizing a comparative case study framework approach, this research combines desk research, stakeholder workshops, and case study interviews to analyze five diverse EC initiatives in Estonia. The findings reveal that the first successful pilots are essential for any wide-scale rise of ECs. Despite challenges, several successful case studies showcase the potential for ECs. Key success factors include strong local leadership, effective communication strategies, municipal support, and clear business models. The study underscores the importance of proactive roles from the state and distribution system operators and highlights the need for legislative improvements to support ECs. This research fills a critical gap in the literature by providing insights into the unique dynamics in Estonia. It offers practical recommendations for policymakers and stakeholders to enhance the scalability and sustainability of these initiatives, emphasizing the need to overcome structural barriers and foster collaboration.

Suggested Citation

  • Meitern, Maarja, 2025. "Navigating the rise of energy communities in Estonia: Challenges and successes through case studies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:198:y:2025:i:c:s0301421525000217
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114514
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421525000217
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2025.114514?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shoaib Ahmed & Amjad Ali & Antonio D’Angola, 2024. "A Review of Renewable Energy Communities: Concepts, Scope, Progress, Challenges, and Recommendations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-34, February.
    2. Maarja Meitern, 2022. "Does Access to Regulative Exemption Reduce Barriers for Energy Communities? A Dutch Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-13, May.
    3. Alessandro Sciullo & Gregory Winston Gilcrease & Mario Perugini & Dario Padovan & Barbara Curli & Jay Sterling Gregg & Osman Arrobbio & Erika Meynaerts & Sarah Delvaux & Lucia Polo-Alvarez & Chiara Ca, 2022. "Exploring Institutional and Socio-Economic Settings for the Development of Energy Communities in Europe," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Jenny Palm, 2021. "The Transposition of Energy Communities into Swedish Regulations: Overview and Critique of Emerging Regulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-15, August.
    5. Maksym Koltunov & Simon Pezzutto & Adriano Bisello & Georg Lettner & Albert Hiesl & Wilfried van Sark & Atse Louwen & Eric Wilczynski, 2023. "Mapping of Energy Communities in Europe: Status Quo and Review of Existing Classifications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-25, May.
    6. Maqbool, Amtul Samie & van der Waal, Esther & van der Windt, Henny, 2023. "‘Luctor et emergo’, how a community energy initiative survived the changing policy and technology landscape of the Dutch energy system?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    7. Dorian Frieden & Andreas Tuerk & Ana Rita Antunes & Vasilakis Athanasios & Alexandros-Georgios Chronis & Stanislas d’Herbemont & Mislav Kirac & Rita Marouço & Camilla Neumann & Esteban Pastor Catalayu, 2021. "Are We on the Right Track? Collective Self-Consumption and Energy Communities in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-26, November.
    8. Hoicka, Christina E. & Lowitzsch, Jens & Brisbois, Marie Claire & Kumar, Ankit & Ramirez Camargo, Luis, 2021. "Implementing a just renewable energy transition: Policy advice for transposing the new European rules for renewable energy communities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    9. Lowitzsch, J. & Hoicka, C.E. & van Tulder, F.J., 2020. "Renewable energy communities under the 2019 European Clean Energy Package – Governance model for the energy clusters of the future?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    10. Alireza Nouri & Shafi Khadem & Anna Mutule & Christina Papadimitriou & Rad Stanev & Mattia Cabiati & Andrew Keane & Paula Carroll, 2022. "Identification of Gaps and Barriers in Regulations, Standards, and Network Codes to Energy Citizen Participation in the Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-29, January.
    11. Simona Barbaro & Grazia Napoli, 2023. "Energy Communities in Urban Areas: Comparison of Energy Strategy and Economic Feasibility in Italy and Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, June.
    12. Meitern, Maarja, 2024. "Unlocking carbon finance: Empowering energy communities for mutual benefit," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    13. Brummer, Vasco, 2018. "Community energy – benefits and barriers: A comparative literature review of Community Energy in the UK, Germany and the USA, the benefits it provides for society and the barriers it faces," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 187-196.
    14. Busch, Henner & Ruggiero, Salvatore & Isakovic, Aljosa & Hansen, Teis, 2021. "Policy challenges to community energy in the EU: A systematic review of the scientific literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    15. F.G. Reis, Inês & Gonçalves, Ivo & A.R. Lopes, Marta & Henggeler Antunes, Carlos, 2021. "Business models for energy communities: A review of key issues and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Neska, Ewa & Kowalska-Pyzalska, Anna, 2022. "Conceptual design of energy market topologies for communities and their practical applications in EU: A comparison of three case studies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    2. Berka, Anna L. & Hoicka, Christina E. & Sperling, Karl, 2025. "The political economics of civic energy: A framework for comparative research," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 211(C).
    3. Maria Rosaria Di Nucci & Michael Krug & Lucas Schwarz & Vincenzo Gatta & Erik Laes, 2023. "Learning from Other Community Renewable Energy Projects: Transnational Transfer of Multi-Functional Energy Gardens from the Netherlands to Germany," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Michael Krug & Maria Rosaria Di Nucci & Lucas Schwarz & Irene Alonso & Isabel Azevedo & Massimo Bastiani & Anna Dyląg & Erik Laes & Arthur Hinsch & Gaidis Klāvs & Ivars Kudreņickis & Pouyan Maleki & G, 2023. "Implementing European Union Provisions and Enabling Frameworks for Renewable Energy Communities in Nine Countries: Progress, Delays, and Gaps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-29, May.
    5. Mehmet Efe Biresselioglu & Siyami Alp Limoncuoglu & Muhittin Hakan Demir & Johannes Reichl & Katrin Burgstaller & Alessandro Sciullo & Edoardo Ferrero, 2021. "Legal Provisions and Market Conditions for Energy Communities in Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Turkey: A Comparative Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-25, October.
    6. Haji Bashi, Mazaher & De Tommasi, Luciano & Le Cam, Andreea & Relaño, Lorena Sánchez & Lyons, Padraig & Mundó, Joana & Pandelieva-Dimova, Ivanka & Schapp, Henrik & Loth-Babut, Karolina & Egger, Christ, 2023. "A review and mapping exercise of energy community regulatory challenges in European member states based on a survey of collective energy actors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    7. Herenčić, Lin & Kirac, Mislav & Keko, Hrvoje & Kuzle, Igor & Rajšl, Ivan, 2022. "Automated energy sharing in MV and LV distribution grids within an energy community: A case for Croatian city of Križevci with a hybrid renewable system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 176-194.
    8. Luisa Losada-Puente & José Antonio Blanco & Adina Dumitru & Ioannis Sebos & Aggelos Tsakanikas & Ioanna Liosi & Stelios Psomas & Mariangela Merrone & Diego Quiñoy & Eduardo Rodríguez, 2023. "Cross-Case Analysis of the Energy Communities in Spain, Italy, and Greece: Progress, Barriers, and the Road Ahead," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-20, September.
    9. Inês Carvalho & Jorge Sousa & José Villar & João Lagarto & Carla Viveiros & Filipe Barata, 2025. "Optimal Investment and Sharing Decisions in Renewable Energy Communities with Multiple Investing Members," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-23, April.
    10. Giulia Taromboli & Laura Campagna & Cristina Bergonzi & Filippo Bovera & Vincenzo Trovato & Marco Merlo & Giuliano Rancilio, 2025. "Renewable Energy Communities: Frameworks and Implementation of Regulatory, Technical, and Social Aspects Across EU Member States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-32, May.
    11. Bekirsky, N. & Hoicka, C.E. & Brisbois, M.C. & Ramirez Camargo, L., 2022. "Many actors amongst multiple renewables: A systematic review of actor involvement in complementarity of renewable energy sources," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    12. Radtke, Jörg & Scherhaufer, Patrick, 2022. "A social science perspective on conflicts in the energy transition: An introduction to the special issue," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    13. D'Adamo, Idiano & Gastaldi, Massimo & Morone, Piergiuseppe & Ozturk, Ilhan, 2022. "Economics and policy implications of residential photovoltaic systems in Italy's developed market," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    14. Fioriti, Davide & Frangioni, Antonio & Poli, Davide, 2021. "Optimal sizing of energy communities with fair revenue sharing and exit clauses: Value, role and business model of aggregators and users," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    15. Jenny Palm, 2021. "The Transposition of Energy Communities into Swedish Regulations: Overview and Critique of Emerging Regulations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-15, August.
    16. Furmankiewicz, Marek & Hewitt, Richard J. & Kazak, Jan K., 2021. "Can rural stakeholders drive the low-carbon transition? Analysis of climate-related activities planned in local development strategies in Poland," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    17. Radtke, Jörg & Bohn, Nino S., 2023. "Mind the gap: Community member perceptions of shortcomings in diversity and inclusivity of local energy projects in Germany," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    18. Dorian Frieden & Andreas Tuerk & Ana Rita Antunes & Vasilakis Athanasios & Alexandros-Georgios Chronis & Stanislas d’Herbemont & Mislav Kirac & Rita Marouço & Camilla Neumann & Esteban Pastor Catalayu, 2021. "Are We on the Right Track? Collective Self-Consumption and Energy Communities in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-26, November.
    19. Kubli, Merla & Puranik, Sanket, 2023. "A typology of business models for energy communities: Current and emerging design options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    20. Palm, J. & Kojonsaari, A.-R. & Öhrlund, I. & Fowler, N. & Bartusch, C., 2023. "Drivers and barriers to participation in Sweden's local flexibility markets for electricity," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:198:y:2025:i:c:s0301421525000217. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.