Le comunità energetiche in Europa

This chapter examines the emergence and consolidation of energy communities both as social and technical innovations within the broader framework of the urban climate transition in Europe. Starting from their informal development as grassroots pilot initiatives, the analysis traces their institutional recognition in European policy frameworks and explores the enabling legislative instruments that have supported their expansion – albeit with significant asymmetries across member States, with a specific attention to the Italian context. To critically evaluate current practices, a comparative overview of selected Eu- ropean case studies and EU-funded research is provided. The critical analysis high- lights the diversity of organizational models, technologies employed, and governance arrangements; the importance of social cohesion, local engagement, and inclusive participation, beyond mere technological or financial efficiency; the role of innovation projects in developing digital tools, knowledge-sharing platforms, and enabling environments for the replication and upscaling of community-based energy systems. The chapter reflects on three main dimensions: the centrality of collective agency and community governance; the role of digital and organizational innovations in supporting energy citizenship; and the persistent structural barriers, regulatory, social, and knowledge-related, that continue to shape the trajectory of energy communities across Europe.