This white paper is part of a series on broadening the ownership of renewables. The Community Energy Toolkit: Best Practices for Broadening the Ownership of Renewables is developed by IRENA Coalition members who are part of the Working Group on Community Energy

The participation and ownership by citizens or members of a defined community in a renewable energy project creates local socio-economic value and helps foster more positive attitudes towards renewables. This, in turn, increases citizen support for the energy transition, which further contributes to accelerating a just and inclusive transition.

Using a case study approach, the paper analyses 11 renewable energy initiatives from across the world, showcasing best practices and the various socio-economic impacts to societies. Drawing learnings from the case studies, a checklist with key questions across seven dimensions is intended to help communities to take the first steps towards identifying their needs and developing their vision in line with their core values while accounting for the environment they are operating in.

Read the GWNET-led case study “Sosai Renewable Energies: Empowering women through renewables in Nigeria” on page 40