Energy is key to the future of local communities. And in a small village at the foot of the Central Apennines, this awareness is turning into an ambitious action plan.
Antrodoco, a municipality in the province of Rieti with just over 2,000 inhabitants, has been working towards establishing a citizens’ energy community with the support of CLR. Supporting the municipality in this transition is the consultant EnGreen, acting as the technical partner responsible for assisting the local administration in shaping the concept and, in parallel, in laying the groundwork for the future Renewable Energy Community (REC).
Its goal is to bridge the gap between political ambition and the technical, financial, and social feasibility of energy transition initiatives.
The Project: Energy Efficiency, Renewables, and Community
The project in Antrodoco is driven by a clear vision: to reduce energy consumption, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and develop a local model of sustainable development based on shared energy and community participation.
This ambitious goal is being translated into an integrated set of interventions designed to deliver environmental, economic, and social benefits in both the short and long term.
At the heart of the initiative is the energy retrofit of public buildings. Schools, gyms, sports facilities, and municipal offices will undergo targeted upgrades, including thermal insulation, the replacement of outdated systems with high-efficiency HVAC technologies, and the installation of automation and energy monitoring tools. These improvements will significantly reduce energy demand while enhancing comfort and quality in spaces used daily by students, public employees, and residents.
A second core area of action focuses on renewable energy production, particularly the installation of photovoltaic systems on municipal rooftops. With a planned capacity of approximately 300 kW, the systems will not only meet the energy needs of public buildings but also support collective self-consumption and energy sharing, paving the way for the establishment of the future REC.
To complete the infrastructure plan, the municipality plans to construct a biomass-powered district heating network—a strategic choice that promotes both environmental sustainability and the enhancement of local natural resources. The controlled, certified use of locally sourced biomass—mainly derived from local forest management—offers a renewable alternative to natural gas, activates a local supply chain, creates jobs, and contributes to active landscape management. In doing so, the project combines climate targets with sustainable forest management goals, delivering additional benefits such as increased biodiversity and reduced hydrogeological risk.
Yet the project’s true strength lies not only in its technical solutions but in its community-focused approach. It aims to build a participatory energy ecosystem, engaging citizens, businesses, schools, and associations in a shared transition process. The creation of the REC will provide a real-world opportunity to experiment with new ways of producing, consuming, and managing energy, grounded in the values of mutual support, solidarity, and inclusion.
The project also seeks to generate positive economic impacts for the region by creating new jobs in sustainable construction, energy system installation, and energy management. At the same time, it fits into a broader strategy to promote sustainable tourism: positioning Antrodoco as a zero-emissions model community could attract environmentally conscious visitors and boost local businesses.
In short, the project offers an integrated local energy transition model, combining infrastructure upgrades, technological innovation, responsible resource use, and civic engagement—a clear roadmap toward a low-emissions, more resilient, and people-centred future.
Details
- Publication date
- 18 June 2025
- Author
- Directorate-General for Energy