Abstract
This paper proposes a Local Energy Market using a P2P blockchain-powered marketplace where agents bilaterally trade energy after the consumption and production period, and not before, as usual in electricity market design. The EU and MIBEL regulatory framework for Renewable Energy Communities potentially creates space for such a market, but some improvements in the settlement procedures and agent's participation must be met. © 2020 IEEE.

Abstract
Energy communities and self-consumption are considered as major drivers to achieve the decarbonization of the power sector, contributing to further increase the penetration of renewables, and empowering end consumers by turning them more active and flexible regarding electricity consumption. Considering the relevance of this topic and given that the corresponding legislation is recent, this paper summarizes the European Regulation on self-consumption and renewable energy communities and describes, analyses and compares its transposition to the Portuguese and Spanish national regulations. The main regulatory barriers for renewable energy communities' rollout are identified and regulatory improvements are proposed to overcome them.

Abstract

Abstract
Building renewable energy communities (REC) involves investments on generation facilities (such as PV panels), technologies to provide flexibility (such as batteries), management platforms and ICT systems, as well as integrating other flexibility sources such as thermal storage or electric vehicles. The way investments are made by the REC's members and other third parties is in close relationship with the governance models of the REC in terms of energy, flexibility and costs and benefits sharing, which, in the end, constitute the overall REC's business model. This works provides a revision of the main financing mechanisms to invest on and build a REC, and of the associated governance and business models that result from the investments mechanisms selected and its implications on its day by day operation. © 2022 IEEE.

Abstract
This paper proposes a real time Walrasian based market design for local electricity trading, considering the roles of the different players, the settlement procedures, and the necessary balance responsibilities with the wholesale market under collective self-consumption rules. A Walrasian mechanism based on consecutive auctions for very short delivery periods is proposed, where the auctioneer defines a price for each of these delivery periods to which peers react by generating and consuming accordingly and informing if they trade with the auctioneer or with their retailer or aggregator. This market has no energy purchase contracts, and energy is billed based on each peer's generation or consumption for each delivery period with the price defined by the auctioneer. © 2022 IEEE.

Abstract
Integrated local energy communities (ILECs) introduction involves a set of challenges for the existing energy infrastructure. As a result of the development and research performed in projects on this topic, several guidelines and recommendations are formulated. This chapter recaps major problems of the implementation of ILECs identified in the reviewed literature and provides recommendations to overcome them by covering five dimensions. In the technical dimension, the implementation of strategies to avoid the grid reinforcement as well as coordination between system operators become crucial for the development of ILEC-related technologies. In terms of regulations, tax exemptions, additional financial funding, and simplification of paperwork for projects should be introduced backed by a clear EU strategy. In the environmental dimension, ILECs boost the transition toward decentralized renewable generation contributing to the gradual replacement of fossil-fuel generation plants and this benefit can be maximized by performing deeper environmental assessments. Additionally, there is a need of cost-effective financial tools for planning and management as well as the development of suitable economic incentives. Lastly, the implementation of strategies to increase the social acceptance of the ILEC paradigm through the organization of engagement activities between citizens, stakeholders, and other actors arises as the key action. © 2025 WILEY-VCH GmbH. Published 2025 by WILEY-VCH GmbH. All rights reserved.