Boosting Agri-food SMEs through Renewable Energy Communities

ongoing

AGRECs-BOOST aims to accelerate the green transition of agri-food and retail SMEs by integrating them into Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in Türkiye, Greece, and Italy. The project addresses SMEs’ high energy costs, limited renewable energy access and inefficiencies in self-consumption models. The project will develop a scalable REC model that enables SMEs to jointly generate, share, and optimize energy consumption. The model will facilitate long-term energy independence for SMEs and contribute to regional renewable energy strategies, sustainable economic and environmental benefits. Following EU RED II, RECs will integrate renewable energy solutions, potentially including photovoltaics, wind, or biogas, aiming to supply at least 30% of their energy needs from renewable sources and 20% energy cost reduction through optimized self-consumption and energy-sharing models. The project proposes the framework of an innovative Digital Voucher System (DVS) that allows REC members to trade excess energy credits and use them for purchasing agricultural inputs (e.g. feed, fuel, electricity) through a software-based mechanism. This ensures energy cost reductions, financial resilience, and increased sustainability for SMEs. The project will establish at least 10 RECs (4 in Türkiye, 3 in Greece and 3 in Italy) and support participating SMEs with technical guidance, legal advisory, and financial mechanisms for REC adoption. Capacity-building activities, policy recommendations, and best-practice exchange across Türkiye, Greece, and Italy will enhance REC scalability while supporting RED II goals on energy communities, REPowerEU, Fit-for-55 targets on emission reduction, and SME Strategy objectives for sustainable and competitive businesses. By fostering cross-border collaboration, innovative energy-sharing models, and sustainable financing approaches, AGRECs-BOOST will contribute to carbon-neutral energy solutions and enhance economic SME competitiveness in the green transition.