Energy communities development: a review of challenges and opportunities

Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) were created by the Renewable Energy Directives of the European Union; this permits participants to plan their joint involvement in the ECs market. This results in more distributed renewable sources in the electricity market, new forms of sustainability for citizens' participation, and democratic economies. Due to various national circumstances, the implementation of Energy Communities (ECs) varies among European countries. The act of developing ECs remains ongoing in Italy, among the most populous EU Member States. This review paper starts with an overview of the Italian regulatory framework for ECs and, subsequently, identifies challenges and opportunities for ECs development in terms of system operation, finance, and economics. This review paper is presented to offer driving factors for the development of ECs for scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders, which can accelerate their wider adoption and dissemination across all sectors.