Renewable Energy Communities: a new opportunity for Pantelleria
In recent years, there has been increasing talk of Renewable Energy Communities, the so-called CERs. The term may sound technical, but the basic idea is simple: citizens, families, businesses, associations and local authorities can come together to produce, share and enhance energy from renewable sources, creating economic, environmental and social benefits for the territory.
In a CER, those who produce renewable energy — for example through a photovoltaic system — can virtually share the value of the energy produced with other members of the community. It is not a question of selling energy directly to the neighbor, but of participating in a regulated system, recognized by the competent bodies, which rewards the energy produced and consumed within the same community.
For an island like Pantelleria, this issue is of particular importance. We live in a fragile, precious territory, not interconnected to the national electricity grid, where the cost of energy, security of supply and protection of the landscape are central issues. Talking about energy, here, does not just mean talking about bills: it means talking about autonomy, sustainability, the future of the island and quality of life.
An Energy Community can be a useful tool for reducing dependence on traditional energy models, encouraging local production from renewable sources, supporting energy efficiency interventions and allocating part of the benefits also to social purposes, such as combating energy poverty.
Of course, for a CER to be really useful to the territory, it is not enough that it is “renewable” on paper. It must also be transparent, participatory and consistent with the landscape of Pantelleria. The plants must be carefully thought out, avoiding unnecessary land consumption, incompatible visual impacts and solutions that can alter the delicate balance of the island.
This is why The Dammuso Circle looks at this issue with interest. Our association was created to give a voice to those who love, live and protect Pantelleria and its dammusi. Energy, landscape and community are not separate themes: they are part of the same vision. A well-done energy transition can help the island; a poorly governed transition, on the other hand, risks producing new critical issues.
Our approach will therefore be constructive but prudent. We believe it is important to have a good knowledge of how CERs work, to assess their real benefits, to understand the allocation criteria, the management costs, the role of the contact person, the location of the plants and the guarantees of environmental and landscape protection.
In this perspective, The Dammuso Circle can play a useful role: informing its members, encouraging serious discussion, asking for transparency and contributing to a collective reflection on how Pantelleria can face the energy transition without losing its identity.
Precisely for this reason, we believe it is useful to propose the organization of an information meeting with the contact person of the Energy Community being established, so as to allow members to directly understand the functioning of the project, ask questions, clarify doubts and evaluate with greater awareness any opportunities for participation.
The CER should not be seen as a simple technical formula, but as a possible opportunity for community. If well built, it can become a tool to produce cleaner energy, strengthen social cohesion, reduce some fragilities of the island and accompany Pantelleria towards a more autonomous and sustainable model.
This is why we believe that the issue deserves attention, study and participation. Not to uncritically adhere to any project, but to understand if and how an Energy Community can really be at the service of the island, its inhabitants, those who love Pantelleria, its landscape and its community.