The Brussels municipality of Ixelles has set up an energy community that will share the locally produced energy from solar panels among residents.
The project, called "Courant Alternatif", now means that Ixelles has its own energy community near Place Fernand Cocq. It concerns the French-speaking Royal Atheneum of Ixelles, Etoile Du Berger primary school and CEFA. If the schools produce more electricity than they consume, they will no longer automatically sell the surplus to the grid.
"Now, 14 local residents and a company now have the opportunity to purchase the surplus electricity of three schools at a lower price," Audrey Lhoest, city councillor for Energie told Bruzz.
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The electricity will instead be reused in the energy community, made up of residents who do not have the means to install solar panels themselves.
The energy community is registered and recognised by Brugel, the body that regulates energy in Brussels. The residents involved will now share energy for a purchase price of €0.18/kWh, compared to €0.30 with a traditional energy supplier.
“We want to support citizens in choices that are beneficial for the environment, but at the same time also in lowering their energy bills,” said Lhoest.
