In the heart of Osona, Spain, energy communities driven by a commitment to social impact are pioneering initiatives to combat energy poverty. Recently, La Tonenca Sccl, collaborating closely with local authorities, achieved a milestone by installing solar panels on public buildings to benefit vulnerable households in Tona, a town of approximately 8,000 residents. This collaborative effort exemplifies the synergy between energy communities, municipalities, and social services — a model championed by the Local Energy Agency of Osona (ALEO). As detailed in our recent article, similar initiatives within Osona are forging ahead, supported by ALEO's dedication to sharing knowledge and fostering inclusive solutions across the region.

Within Sun4All Community of Practice, the Regional Council of Osona collaborates with the energy community La Tonenca. La Tonenca Sccl aims to democratise and make locally produced renewable energy accessible. They identified 43 families needing support with energy bills through social services and initiated a project to install a 10-kW collective self-consumption PV system. Securing funding thanks to the SUD Coopera award, they plan to share energy with seven vulnerable families and a local solidarity pantry.

In addition to energy distribution, La Tonenca intends to train families in optimising energy use. They successfully negotiated a collaboration agreement with social services, defining criteria to assist families and covering membership fees. They also secured a suitable roof owned by the bishopric through collaboration with OECoop, a second-level cooperative.

In conclusions, lessons learned from the participation of Osona to Sun4All Community of Practice include the importance of local stakeholder cooperation, navigating administrative challenges, and leveraging existing legal frameworks for collective self-consumption. Recommendations include enhancing collaboration templates and planning resources for project replication in other communities.