Coimbra City Council wants to create renewable energy communities in social neighborhoods

The Coimbra City Council wants to create a renewable energy community, granting concessions for the roofs of social neighborhoods, envisaging the installation of 1,500 photovoltaic panels and a saving of 47% in energy costs.

The proposal, which will be discussed at Tuesday’s Executive meeting, proposes the opening of concessions for the roofs of buildings in the neighborhoods of Ingote, Misericórdia, Fonte da Talha and Parque Nómada, as well as municipal buildings in Algar and Pedrulha, he said. the municipality.

The project foresees the installation of around 1,500 photovoltaic panels and an investment of around 400 thousand euros by the concessionaire with the application of the system, which should ensure savings of 47% compared to the cost of grid energy, he highlighted.

The concession for the roofs will be for a period of 20 years, guaranteeing savings, from the outset, in the accounts of residents of these neighborhoods and consumers who will be part of the renewable energy community (CER), which benefits everyone who lives within a radius of two kilometers around the equipment to be installed, he explained.

The measure will benefit 370 families living in the aforementioned social neighborhoods, as well as Fonte do Castanheiro and Celas, neighborhoods of individual housing, where panels will not be installed, but which can be integrated into the CER and benefit from the advantages, as there will be panels less than two kilometers from those locations, explains the Municipality.

The company that wins the concession competition will have the obligation to develop the engineering project, license facilities, install panels and formally establish the CER, as well as carry out its maintenance.

According to the Coimbra City Council, with the implementation of the project, 32% of the energy consumed “will come from solar plants”.

In addition to the 370 families identified in the social neighborhoods, another 300 families will be able to benefit from a tariff approximately 12% lower than the current average market value.

Families in social neighborhoods should save around 30 thousand euros per year (100 euros per family), municipal buildings 10,500 euros per year and the remaining members of the CER 9,500 euros.