The recent webinar presenting the COLOUR project, aimed at the Regional Energy Transition Offices (OCTEs), served to introduce a strategic initiative designed to strengthen the role of Energy Communities (ECs) in Catalonia by facilitating their involvement in collective energy renovation projects.
Faced with an aging housing stock and the urgent need to accelerate the energy transition at the local level, COLOUR was created as a comprehensive support service to help communities overcome one of the main identified barriers: moving from the idea stage to the actual implementation of projects.
What is the COLOUR project and who is behind it?
COLOUR is a comprehensive support service fully funded (100%) by the European Union, designed to provide technical, organizational, and strategic assistance to Energy Communities seeking to promote collective energy renovation projects.
It is a strategic alliance led by:
- FundaciĂł Europace, specialized in energy renovation.
- OECOOP (Osona Energia Cooperativa), a leading second-tier energy cooperative.
- IREC (Catalonia Institute for Energy Research), contributing technical and research expertise.
- In collaboration with ICAEN, the institutional reference body for energy in Catalonia.
The goal is clear: to equip communities with the tools and support they need to become active agents in transforming the residential building stock toward greater energy efficiency and sustainability.
Comprehensive support to prevent projects from stalling
One of the key messages of the webinar was that many Energy Communities have the willingness, but often lack the structure or necessary support to tackle complex processes such as collective energy renovation.
For this reason, COLOUR offers a service structured around four main pillars:
1. Technical support
It includes support from the initial phase through to the completion of the works:
- Energy assessment of the building.
- Technical studies and feasibility analysis.
- Identification of certified local professionals.
- Comparison of quotations.
- Final verification of project execution.
The aim is to reduce technical uncertainty and ensure the quality of the process.
2. Administrative and legal support
Administrative complexity is one of the main barriers for communities. The project offers:
- Support with procedures and permits.
- Contract review.
- Advice on financing agreements.
- Reduction of legal and administrative risks.
3. Social and financial training support
COLOUR is not limited to the technical sphere. It also addresses the social and organizational dimension:
- Support in collective decision-making processes.
- Mapping of grants and financing opportunities.
This comprehensive approach aims to consolidate communities and strengthen their governance.
4. Training support and network building
COLOUR goes beyond direct support by equipping Energy Communities with tools that enable their long-term development:
- Specialized training for citizens, professionals, municipal technicians, and Energy Communities.
- Development of a “toolkit” with practical resources.
- Regular organization of events, workshops, and activities to foster synergies and knowledge sharing.
The strategic role of OCTEs
During the webinar, special emphasis was placed on the key role of the OCTEs as local agents within the territory.
The Regional Energy Transition Offices (OCTEs) can:
- Identify potential within their territories.
- Detect communities capable of evolving toward energy renovation projects.
- Act as local ambassadors of the COLOUR service.
- Multiply the project’s impact thanks to their in-depth knowledge of the local context.
The collaboration between COLOUR and the OCTEs helps build a stronger territorial ecosystem, where information, support, and trust flow more effectively.
Main questions raised during the webinar
The Q&A session provided an opportunity to delve deeper into practical issues that concern communities and local technical staff. Below is a summary of the main questions addressed.
1. Is the renovation only aimed at multi-family buildings?
The main focus of the project is collective renovation in multi-family buildings — due to their economic advantages and scalability — and both multi-family buildings and single-family homes can participate, provided they are integrated within a joint strategy.
The emphasis is on a collective approach and on achieving a transformative impact at the community level.
2. Are current Energy Communities prepared to undertake renovation projects?
It was noted that many Energy Communities are very recent (4–5 months old) and are primarily focused on photovoltaic self-consumption projects.
The response was clear: renovation can actually be an opportunity to consolidate the community.
Promoting building energy improvement projects makes it possible to:
- Broaden the social base.
- Involve more diverse profiles (not only technical ones).
- Address real needs within the neighborhood.
- Complement self-consumption with a comprehensive energy efficiency strategy.
3. Is it necessary to be legally constituted in order to access COLOUR?
Ideally, the community should be formally constituted. However, if there is a driving group with a clear idea that is in the process of being established, the project can provide support to facilitate the creation process.
The approach is enabling rather than exclusionary.
4. Is the service free of charge? Until when?
The support service is completely free of charge until September 2027, thanks to European funding.
Beyond that date, the consortium will explore additional funding mechanisms to ensure the continuity of the service.
5. Will there be communication materials available?
Yes. Interested participants can receive updates and materials by selecting the corresponding option in the webinar satisfaction survey.
In addition, the project website already features a dedicated resources section to support communication and technical work.
6. Does the project provide support with drafting statues and legal registration?
Although the main objective is energy renovation, if interest in the formal creation of the community is identified, the project will not withhold support and can provide guidance to facilitate its establishment.
7. Is assistance provided with grant applications?
Yes. COLOUR provides support in managing procedures specifically related to the energy renovation component, including access to any grant schemes that may be available.
8. Can municipalities with public energy community models participate?
No. Public models based on photovoltaic installations on municipal rooftops and the allocation of energy to citizens through fees or local charges are not within the scope of the COLOUR project. COLOUR is aimed at entities that, in accordance with Royal Decree 244/2019 (in its original framework) and Royal Decree-Law 5/2023, qualify as:
- Renewable Energy Community (REC): A legal entity based on open and voluntary participation, which is autonomous and effectively controlled by shareholders or members located in the proximity of the renewable energy projects owned and developed by that entity. Its primary purpose is to provide environmental, economic, or social benefits to its members or to the local areas where it operates, rather than generating financial profits.
- Citizen Energy Community (CEC): A legal entity based on open and voluntary participation, effectively controlled by members who are natural persons, local authorities (including municipalities), or small enterprises. Like RECs, their main objective is not financial profit, but to deliver benefits to their members or to the local community.
An opportunity to scale up energy renovation from the local level
The webinar made it clear that COLOUR is not just a technical service, but a strategic tool to strengthen the energy transition ecosystem in Catalonia.
By combining technical support, legal, administrative, and financial assistance, as well as a strong social dimension, the project aims to help Energy Communities evolve from initiatives focused solely on self-consumption toward more comprehensive models capable of transforming the residential building stock and generating structural impact.
In this context, collaboration with the OCTEs will be decisive in unlocking territorial potential and turning opportunities into real projects.
Ultimately, COLOUR represents another step toward a more collective, structured, and replicable energy transition.