The Telheiras Renewable Energy Community is a locally based energy project, managed by the people of Telheiras and Lumiar! It provides free advice on energy efficiency and aims to invest, produce, and share renewable energy with its  embers. This innovative project aims to contribute to a sustainable, fair, accessible, and democratic energy transition. The energy sharing will begin soon, with 17 members and the installation of the first solar photovoltaic system in a  public building managed by the Lumiar Parish Council. Future expansion is planned with the installation of more systems and participation of more families, companies, and associations.

 

Get to know our 10 Step Practical Guide on the development of renewable energy communities by citizens, associations and local governments, based on the experience obtained during the implementation of the pilot project of the Telheiras/Lumiar REC, by clicking HERE. 

 

Key information about REC Telheiras pilot project (already in implementation stage):

• What? Installation of solar photovoltaic panels and electricity sharing in a renewable energy community.
• Who is promoting it? Local Partnership of Telheiras and Lumiar Parish Council.
• Where? Pilot project on the South Roof of the Antigo Lagar da Quinta de São Vicente with 16 solar panels.
• Who can sign up for the pilot? Residents within a 2 km radius of the Lagar (13 membership spots are expected to be opened in this first project).
• Who are the other participants? The building itself (managed by the Lumiar Parish Council) and 3 social participants (vulnerable families supported by the project) – total of 17 participants.
• What are the benefits? Reduction in electricity bills, local investment with positive return, resilience in the face of price instability, decentralized production of renewable energy, reduction of the carbon footprint, social support for vulnerable families, active  participation, and community empowerment.
• How much is the initial investment? Estimated at around 400 euros for the right to enjoy one seventeenth (1/17) of the electricity injected into the grid by the photovoltaic system.
• How much do you pay per year? Between 8 and 25 euros as an annual fee for maintenance, insurance, and grid access tariffs (depending on the tariffs, which have varied in recent years).
• How much do you save per year? Between 100 and 130 euros per year (already discounting the annual fee).
• And what is the return on investment? Estimated between 5 and 7 years.
• How long does the project last? At least 25 years (useful life of the photovoltaic system).
• How is the project managed? Through the internal regulations of REC Telheiras, each participant has the right to one vote in decision-making at the general meeting.

 

This pilot project is being developed by the Local Partnership of Telheiras and the Lumiar Parish Council, with technical support from Coopérnico and CENSE NOVA-FCT within the scope of the European Energy Poverty Advisory Hub. The idea for REC Telheiras arose from the Network of Ideas process – a collection of ideas carried out by the Local Partnership with Telheiras residents in 2020 – and, since November 2021, a group of volunteers from the neighbourhood have been developing the project until it is ready for the Implementation.