Energy Communities excellence Hubs: catalyzing energy innOvation ecosystems

The world is facing a rapid shift toward renewable energy, but many regions still struggle with outdated infrastructure and limited access to sustainable solutions. Energy poverty remains a major issue, especially in rural and underserved areas. At the same time, fostering innovation in the energy sector is essential for a successful transition. To overcome these challenges, collaboration between local communities, governments and industries is key. In this context, the EU-funded ECHO project will set up energy community and energy services excellence hubs in Greece, Portugal and Turkey. These hubs will help speed up the energy transition by building innovation networks. ECHO will create pilot projects to demonstrate new energy solutions, focusing on community-driven models and sustainable practices.