The transformation to an energy system without central power plants requires an intelligent interplay of energy saving and efficiency with renewable energies and storage as well as the commitment of citizens, municipalities, business and politics.

At the municipal level, CCities supports energy municipalities and energy cooperatives in the Rhine-Main Region in setting up their own energy supply systems as energy cooperatives. An example is the EU Interreg project Blockchain4Prosumers. In the project, a trading system based on the principle of a peer-to-peer market is being developed on the basis of a decentralized blockchain. This will allow private customers or municipalities with photovoltaic systems and electricity storage to produce 70 percent of the energy they use themselves as well as “trade” surpluses with neighbors. The rest can be completed from a network of real and virtual storage as well as coupling with wind power plants. The goal is a complete energy supply from the community for the community.

This project is possible thanks to the collaboration of 9 knowledge institutions: Hogeschool PXL, University of Liège, Open Universiteit, HOWEST University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen), CAP Construction, Climate-Cities SPRL, Zuyd Hogeschool | Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, FH Aachen Institute NOWUM-Energy and Coöperatie TIORC U.A.

Why a B4P Solar Community?

• Solar power is already the most affordable generation technology available today;
• Once installed, electricity from photovoltaics provides power for over 25 years with marginal costs close to zero;
• Households can generate up to 100 percent of their own electricity with help in combination with the neighborhood, storage and controllable loads;
• As a community, solar power can be shared and traded;
• Because it’s not just a “green” image thing;

With the support of the Interreg Euregio Maas Rijn and the European Regional Development Fund. The European Union is investing in your future. East Belgium and Region Wallonio are also supporting this project through their co-financing.