The first three energy communities within the Masterpiece project have been launched in Täby, Bålsta, and eastern Gotland. Together with projects in nine other European countries, Masterpiece has received 60 million kronor from the European Commission. By monitoring and testing different types of housing and conditions in various countries, the Commission hopes to find an EU-wide solution that promotes energy communities.

In an energy community, energy is produced, used, and stored in collaboration with others in the local area. The community may consist, for example, of apartments, buildings, single-family homes, or businesses.

The Masterpiece project, which was launched at the start of the year, will run through June 30, 2026. Its purpose is to help find solutions to increase engagement in the local energy community and to eliminate any obstacles.

– In an energy community, it’s not just economics that drives the initiative; organizing locally provides a strong means of influence and reduces the strain on the power grid. In the future, these communities will be absolutely vital in helping to solve the challenges facing the power grid, says Joachim Lindborg, an architect for system integrations at the energy technology company Ngenic.

Together with the City of Uppsala and Sustainable Innovation, Ngenic is leading the Swedish component of Masterpiece. Ngenic is providing aggregator and power grid solutions designed to make it easier for participants to track their consumption, alleviate peak loads on the power grid, and, ultimately, help improve the financial situation of individual households within an energy community.

Single-family homes, mixed-use developments, and large apartment buildings are being tested

The three selected communities in Sweden that will now be interviewed by international stakeholders have different circumstances. In Bålsta, outside Uppsala, the energy community consists of four apartment buildings, each with ten apartments. In Östergarnslandet on Gotland, there is broad interest from 150 participants, ranging from single-family homes and vacation homes to village community centers, a church, and businesses, while in Täby, outside Stockholm, there are 800 apartments in a single community within one property. By monitoring and testing different housing types and conditions in various member states, the hope is to find EU-wide solutions for energy communities. Variations of neighborhood cooperation regarding energy use already exist throughout Europe, but different countries have implemented different regulatory frameworks, and the conditions vary.

“There are both policy and technical challenges involved in finding a common path forward, but I believe Sweden will have an advantage when it comes to implementing energy communities. We’re used to coordinating our efforts through community organizations, and we’re at the forefront of technology,” says Joachim Lindborg.

Interest is growing

Joachim Lindborg has noticed a growing interest in energy production on a smaller scale. In particular, there is increasing interest in solar cells and electricity management.

– The energy crisis is driving grassroots efforts to change people’s own situations, even when regulations haven’t caught up yet. Investing in solar panels on your own can be expensive, but when you do it together with your neighbors, the costs are easier to bear. If the community also manages consumption to avoid peak-load hours, it contributes even further to societal benefits.