A recent policy brief from the SERENE, LocalRES and SUSTENANCE cluster – a coalition of EU-funded projects – lays out essential actions to speed up the adoption of renewable energy technologies across Europe.

The cluster, which unites the SERENE, LocalRES, and SUSTENANCE projects, focuses on fostering community engagement, overcoming regulatory obstacles, and delivering scalable solutions to drive clean energy adoption.

Tackling barriers to renewable energy adoption

The SERENE brief identifies significant barriers to the adoption of renewable energy technologies, especially in smaller and isolated communities.

These communities often face societal resistance rooted in misinformation, a lack of technical knowledge, and concerns over upfront costs. Limited access to transparent information has further slowed the acceptance of sustainable technologies.

To address this, SERENE advocates for community-focused training programmes that can clarify the benefits of renewable technologies and promote local buy-in.

Outdated infrastructure hinders technological integration

The SERENE cluster report highlights that Europe’s ageing energy infrastructure remains a substantial obstacle to renewable integration.

Outdated systems, coupled with data scarcity, make efficient energy management challenging, particularly in remote areas.

Regulatory obstacles compound these issues by limiting collaboration with Distribution System Operators (DSOs). SERENE’s recommendations include aligning EU and local regulations to streamline the transition to renewable energy.

Supporting small businesses to drive innovation

In addition to societal and technological challenges, the policy brief emphasises the industrial hurdles in the renewable energy sector.

These include a growing skills gap, a lack of standardised technologies, and the dominance of large corporations that can create mistrust in local communities.

To overcome this, SERENE suggests that small businesses and start-ups receive more funding to become competitive players in the energy market.

By fostering trust and competitiveness, the report argues that small companies can drive more localised, scalable solutions.

Key recommendations for accelerating renewable energy technologies

The SERENE policy brief offers eight major recommendations aimed at overcoming these barriers:

• Recommendation 1 – Training Tools and Workshops: Provide structured training for communities to raise awareness and acceptance of renewable energy solutions.
• Recommendation 2 – Align EU and Local Regulations: Streamline policies between EU and local governments for easier adoption of energy projects.
• Recommendation 3 – Scalable Energy Solutions: Develop plug and-play technologies for simpler adoption by citizens and communities.
• Recommendation 4 – Funding for Start-ups: Allocate EU and national funds to support small companies and start-ups in renewable energy.
• Recommendation 5 – Simplify Procedures: Speed up administrative processes for energy projects, especially for smaller communities.
• Recommendation 6 – Interoperability and Standardisation: Create EU-wide standards for renewable technologies to ensure compatibility.
• Recommendation 7 – Promote Energy Sharing: Implement flexible legal frameworks to enable communities to share surplus energy.
• Recommendation 8 – Combat Misinformation: Launch awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the benefits and debunk myths about renewable energy

SUSTENANCE final results

In addition to the policy brief, the SUSTENANCE project, has also released its final results video, which can be found below:

A vision for Europe’s renewable future

The SERENE cluster’s policy brief underscores the need for a multi-faceted approach to transition Europe toward a clean energy future.

By focusing on regulatory alignment, community education, and support for innovation, SERENE’s policy brief provides a clear path forward.

With these strategies in place, Europe can enhance its role as a leader in renewable energy technologies and accelerate its progress toward a sustainable, resilient future.

For more on the SERENE cluster’s projects and insights, visit SERENE, LocalRES, and SUSTENANCE.