The new Dutch Energy Act, adopted in December 2024, formally introduces energy communities as recognized players in the energy market. This is a significant step in the Dutch energy transition and aligns with European directives such as the 2018 Clean Energy Package. The law is set to come into force on January 1, 2026. At the same time, new EU regulations are already in development, which the Dutch law will have to comply with again as of January 17, 2026. This makes the regulatory environment complex, dynamic, and for many, quite confusing.
Duurzaam Heiloo is a member of Energie Samen Noord-Holland, an association dedicated to supporting the creation and growth of energy cooperatives. With funding from the Province of North Holland, the association launched a support program for its members. This inspired Duurzaam Heiloo to engage with questions that emerged from its Reformers project—questions that triggered a broader discussion.
What Are Energy Communities?
Energy communities are collaborations between citizens, local governments, and small enterprises that jointly generate, share, and sell renewable energy. These communities can take different forms, such as energy cooperatives, where members invest in projects like wind turbines or solar panels. They can also exchange energy peer-to-peer—for example, by using solar panels on their rooftops including supporting technologies like batteries, as envisioned in the Reformers project.
Benefits of Energy Communities
- Local Ownership: Enhances community engagement and control over energy production and consumption.
- Social Value: Brings social, economic, and environmental benefits to the local area.
- Decentralized Generation: Reduces dependence on large commercial providers and contributes to a more resilient energy system.
Active Users
Active users are individuals or groups who generate, store, and consume their own energy. This includes people with solar panels or those involved in energy communities using shared battery systems.
Their Role:
- Self-Consumption: Using their self-generated energy helps reduce energy costs.
- Energy Sharing: Sharing surplus energy within the community leads to more efficient renewable energy use.
- Market Services: Participating in services like demand response—adjusting consumption based on market prices—helps stabilize the electricity grid.
Looking Ahead
The new Energy Act makes it easier for energy communities and active users to play a larger role in the energy transition. Their local, democratic, and non-commercial nature offers an alternative to large market players, contributing to a fairer, more sustainable, and more resilient energy system.
The Reformers Project in Heiloo
Duurzaam Heiloo, with its Reformers project—including 10 home batteries, 5 thermal storage units, and a neighborhood battery—is navigating in this complex and rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. The neighborhood battery, combined for economic reasons with a commercial battery, adds a layer of complexity to the project.
A project plan has been developed in which the components will be installed at selected households. In collaboration with energy market partners Withthegrid and Repowered, the project will explore how these systems perform in practice, also in trading in the energy market. This trial phase will provide valuable insights during the first half-year leading up to January 2026.
If it proves beneficial, a cooperative structure may be established. This reflects Duurzaam Heiloo’s vision: residents should make informed decisions based on the knowledge they gain, rather than being subject to top-down implementation based solely on technical efficiency. A similar participatory process will be followed for the neighborhood battery.
Planning and Collaboration in North Holland
The initial plan is to gather experience in the first six months with the installed components. After that, evaluations will take place every six months using data from Withthegrid to explore improvements. This phased approach ensures ongoing community engagement throughout the four-year project period. Ultimately, the goal is to enable the community to continue independently after Reformers’ involvement ends.
Regarding Energie Samen Noord-Holland: the first session was a success. Most of the questions submitted by Duurzaam Heiloo on behalf of the Reformers initiative were answered as far as current knowledge allows. Because the number of registrations far exceeded the available spots, a second and a follow-up session is being planned.
Of course, many questions remain as the project progresses. Duurzaam Heiloo looks forward to working together with Energie Samen Noord-Holland to find the right solutions for the challenges ahead. We are committed to a responsible and sustainable approach.
https://energiesamennoordholland.nl