Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are becoming one of the most effective tools to accelerate the energy transition and achieve the goals set by the EU, MASE, and PNRR.

By enabling the sharing of renewable energy, citizens, businesses, and local institutions can lower energy costs, improve environmental sustainability, and strengthen the social fabric of local communities.

In Italy, there are already more than 200 active RECs with around 2,000 connected users, driven by state incentives such as the CER Decree 2024, which provides non-repayable grants of up to 40%. Most current configurations involve residential projects or small groups of self-consumers. The real challenge for the coming years is expanding to the world of energy-intensive companies, which can become key players in decarbonization.

Energy-intensive companies: sectors and potential

Energy-intensive companies are industries with very high electricity consumption, subject to specific regulatory thresholds, and play a strategic role in national competitiveness. Main sectors include:

• Steel and metallurgy
• Cement and bricks
• Paper and basic chemicals
• Glass, ceramics, and building materials
• Agro-food industry
• Data Centers and Cloud Service Providers (the new energy-intensive players of the digital economy)

These companies are highly exposed to fluctuations in energy prices, directly impacting the final cost of their products. Participation in an Energy Community allows them to:

• stabilize energy expenses,
• access state incentives,
• strengthen decarbonization and ESG reporting strategies.

Regulatory framework: how energy-intensive companies can join RECs

The legal framework has recently evolved with the CACER Decree and the Operational TIAD Rules (2023–2024), which define participation models for distributed self-consumption and RECs.

• Large companies can join a REC but cannot control it (governance is reserved for SMEs, local authorities, and associations).
• They can, however, play a strategic role as promoters by providing spaces, facilities, or land for renewable generation, or act as community managers through an internal ESCo or external partner.
• GSE incentives apply both to self-consumed energy and to energy fed back into the grid, and they can be combined with PNRR grants until June 30, 2026.

This framework enables energy-intensive industries to become active participants in Renewable Energy Communities, cutting costs, attracting investment, and enhancing their ESG reputation.

Neta Energy Community: the platform for REC management

The Neta Energy Community platform by Engineering was designed to make REC management scalable, transparent, and measurable.

Key features:

• End-to-end functionality: from community setup to daily operations.
• Real-time monitoring: intelligent allocation and tracking of energy flows among members.
• Measurable sustainability: CO₂ avoided, ESG KPIs, and automated reporting for sustainability plans and Agenda 2030 compliance.
• Digital engagement: portals and apps to actively involve citizens and companies with notifications and benefit simulations.
• Scalability and innovation: support for new business models, from cost optimization to participation in flexibility markets.

👉 Learn more on the [Energy Communities] page.

Use cases: Utilities and other market sectors

Renewable Energy Communities are a valuable opportunity not only for citizens and SMEs, but also for Utilities and energy-intensive industries.

Applications in the Utilities sector

• Water Utilities: lower pumping and distribution costs through renewable self-generation.
• District heating and cooling: self-consumption from renewable energy to power heat pumps and distribution plants.
• Waste treatment and waste-to-energy: energy from biogas, biomethane, or waste-to-energy plants can be fed into local RECs.

Applications in other industries

• Steel and metallurgy: installing solar panels on industrial rooftops for internal processes and sharing excess energy with the community.
• Cement plants: integrating renewables and storage systems to partially power high-energy production cycles.
• Data Centers and Cloud Providers: acting as renewable generation hubs, reducing operating costs and improving ESG KPIs.
• Agricultural consortia: sharing renewable energy for irrigation, storage, and food processing.

Conclusion: from civic projects to energy-intensive industries

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) are no longer just a civic or residential model—they are becoming a strategic competitiveness driver for large energy consumers.

With Neta Energy Community, energy-intensive companies can join an ecosystem that combines innovation, savings, and sustainability, strengthening their positioning in markets that increasingly value energy efficiency and environmental responsibility.