The COMANAGE project has developed three key tools to support Renewable Energy Communities (RECs): the REC Assistance Kit, training programs, and the Decision Support System (DSS). All project outputs, including the REC toolkit known as the ECGT (Energy Community Governance Toolkit), can be accessed on the COMANAGE Open Platform (COP).

These tools are divided by area to address the most relevant aspects of RECs: social, legal, financial, technical, and dissemination-related fields.

Among these, the legal area tends to be the most challenging and complex, given the novelty of RECs and the difficulty of addressing energy matters within a legal framework. Moreover, it’s the area that varies most significantly across countries, which is why each of COMANAGE’s three pilot countries has developed a series of tools tailored to their respective national contexts.

The Italian legal toolkit offered by COMANAGE was created by the Italian pilot ANCI in collaboration with a legal consultant and AISFOR. This material was designed for those approaching the topic of energy communities for the first time and who need guidance in navigating the legal landscape of RECs. In this context, the tools provided include answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), templates for necessary documentation, and practical guides on the legal structures available for establishing energy communities.

In terms of FAQs, the legal expert has addressed the main questions of those entering the REC sector for the first time. The templates, which can be downloaded, include essential legal documents as examples, which should be customized with data specific to each REC. These include templates for articles of association and a customized statute for each legal form, a general internal regulation model, and soon, a rooftop leasing contract for Renewable Energy Communities. The practical guides include five documents focused on each legal form for RECs, with general information and explanations (explanatory section) as well as a step-by-step guide to processes such as the formation and dissolution of the legal entity (procedural section). Additionally, there is a “navigator” sheet to aid in understanding the other materials.

These foundational tools are designed to offer step-by-step, concise, yet practical guidance to simplify understanding of complex topics. The ultimate goal is to enable the formation of new energy communities or the addition of new participants to existing ones.

These tools, along with all COMANAGE project outputs, are free of charge and undergo continuous improvement thanks to direct user experimentation, which can be conducted independently or during workshops organized by the project’s pilot teams. During these workshops, participants are invited to share feedback. 

But the development of legal tools doesn't stop there! ANCI and AISFOR are currently developing a new toolkit designed specifically to support those who will be the managers or promoters of RECs.

This new toolkit has been made possible through collaboration with SCENARIO B, a social promotion association that participates in or promotes projects related to energy transition, energy communities, urban regeneration, social inclusion, and energy poverty reduction. With their extensive experience in the field, they have been able to identify the main issues faced daily by REC managers and address those needs with specific resources that are accessible, comprehensive, and—naturally—free of charge.