Cooperativa de Energie: Romania’s first national energy cooperative

Cooperativa de Energie, Romania’s first citizen‑owned energy cooperative, is emerging as a catalyst in the country’s energy transition, demonstrating how community ownership, democratic governance, and innovative financing can convince people to become part of a movement.

Founded in 2019 by 15 citizens frustrated by the country’s centralised and opaque energy market, Cooperativa de Energie has grown into a national actor supporting hundreds of members. The cooperative supplies 100% renewable electricity and enables communities to co‑own and co‑finance solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on residential buildings, public facilities, and multi‑apartment blocks.

A core innovation driving this transformation is the Community Energy Financing Scheme (CEFS), developed under the EU‑funded ACCE project. CEFS allows citizens to collectively invest in local solar energy projects using cooperative financial instruments. This approach directly addresses one of the biggest obstacles to citizen‑led renovation in Romania: the lack of affordable upfront financing.

Beyond project delivery, Cooperativa de Energie is shaping Romania’s broader energy community ecosystem. As a co‑founder of the Energy Community Coalition, the cooperative collaborates with NGOs, technical partners, and local authorities to support emerging community initiatives through knowledge exchange, technical assistance, and joint advocacy.

This ecosystem-building approach aligns closely with the CLR Initiative’s mission. Although Cooperativa de Energie is primarily focused on renewable generation rather than renovation alone, its financing model and governance structure offer a transferable blueprint for community‑driven renovation projects—ranging from rooftop solar deployment to energy efficiency upgrades of public and residential buildings.

Why the cooperative’s model matters for CLR

• Citizen leadership at every stage: Members act as co‑owners, co‑investors, and decision‑makers, not passive beneficiaries.
• Trust‑based governance: Transparent communication and one‑member‑one‑vote structures build long‑term engagement—critical in a context of historically low institutional trust.
• Innovative financing replaces bank dependency: CEFS lowers financial barriers and spreads risk across a wide base of citizen investors.
• Ecosystem approach: Coalition‑building accelerates replication and strengthens national support structures for energy communities.

Growing environmental and social impact

Community‑owned solar installations contribute directly to Romania’s renewable energy targets, which, according to the European Environmental Agency, remain challenging under current trends. At the same time, the cooperative strengthens energy literacy, local economic value creation, and democratic participation.

Key lessons for emerging energy communities

The Cooperativa de Energie experience shows that successful citizen‑led renovation begins not with technology, but with people. Early steps should focus on building community trust, shared governance, and energy literacy before moving to technical implementation. Small pilots, transparent financial models, and strong partnerships help reduce risk and encourage growth.

The case also highlights the need for national‑level regulatory support and recognises the important role of municipalities in facilitating permits, hosting installations on public buildings, and acting as trusted intermediaries.

Find the full case study here.