Energy Communities (Energiegemeinschaften)

Energy Communities (Energiegemeinschaften)

Funds Austrian community energy initiatives through digital and membership expansion.

Energiegemeinschaften 2025 is a Klima- und Energiefonds grant program supporting already-operating Austrian renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities in two activity areas: membership expansion and awareness campaigns, and digitalization, automation, energy forecasting, and smart-grid flexibility improvements. The program carries a total budget of €5.3 million and is open on a first-come-first-served basis from January 20, 2026 (10:00) through July 16, 2026 (12:00), though early budget exhaustion can trigger closure before the deadline. Funded items are consulting services and supporting acquisitions rather than capital investment.

Eligibility is restricted to already-operating Austrian energy communities: Gemeinschaftliche Erzeugungsanlagen (GEA), Erneuerbaren-Energie-Gemeinschaften (EEG), and Bürgerenergiegemeinschaften (BEG). New or planned communities are not eligible — the community must already be in active operation. Over 6,500 renewable energy and citizen energy communities were operating in Austria at end-2025, making the eligible pool large relative to the available budget. Private individuals, businesses, municipalities, and other organizations may participate as members of eligible communities but the applying entity must be the community itself.

Because allocation is first-come-first-served, communities should prepare applications promptly and not wait until the July deadline. The coordination office at energiegemeinschaften.gv.at, run jointly by Klimafonds and AustriaEnergiegemeinschaften GmbH, is the primary contact point for program guidance. Program contact is Patrick Fuchs, Abteilungsleiter at Klimafonds (patrick.fuchs@klimafonds.gv.at). Applications and all documentation are in German only. Communities applying under the digitalization stream should focus proposals on concrete forecasting, automation, or smart-grid flexibility improvements with demonstrable operational outcomes.