Creating value for every stakeholder

For tenants: cheaper, cleaner, and more transparent

Energy costs have become a source of persistent concern for occupiers across all asset classes. Whether residential or commercial, tenants are increasingly aware not only of what they pay for electricity, but also of where that electricity comes from.

Energy communities respond directly to both expectations.

By consuming electricity generated locally, often through rooftop solar installations within the community, tenants can benefit from prices that are lower than standard market tariffs. The shared model also reduces unnecessary intermediaries, making locally generated renewable energy more accessible.

Beyond price, transparency is another key advantage. Under a traditional electricity supply contract, the origin of energy is often difficult to identify. Within an energy community, every kilowatt hour has a traceable local source. Tenants know that the electricity powering their offices, shops or healthcare facilities comes from solar panels on a nearby building, strengthening the connection between energy production and consumption.

For occupiers with their own sustainability commitments, or those simply looking to make more conscious choices, this creates both environmental and financial value. It also contributes to a stronger tenant experience through greater transparency and a genuine sense of community.

For real estate owners and investors: a stronger value proposition

In a market increasingly shaped by sustainability expectations and volatile energy prices, energy communities offer building owners a meaningful point of differentiation.

An asset that gives tenants access to lower cost locally generated renewable electricity becomes inherently more attractive. It addresses a growing topic in lease negotiations, supports higher occupancy rates and helps strengthen long-term tenant relationships.

Energy communities also align closely with the expectations of institutional investors. ESG performance is increasingly assessed at asset level, and participating in an energy community contributes directly to measurable environmental outcomes, including lower carbon emissions and verifiable renewable energy sourcing.

Perhaps most importantly, energy communities allow owners and investors to turn a common challenge into an opportunity. Many commercial buildings generate more renewable electricity than they consume at certain moments, while neighbouring buildings require additional energy. By sharing locally generated electricity across multiple users, owners can unlock greater value from existing rooftop solar installations and transform this mismatch between production and consumption into a genuine competitive advantage.

For PV investors: improving returns on solar assets

Anyone who has invested in photovoltaic capacity in recent years will be familiar with the challenge of injection tariffs. As solar generation has increased across Belgium and the wider European grid, wholesale electricity prices during peak production hours have fallen and, at times, even turned negative. Selling surplus electricity back to the traditional energy supplier is therefore becoming an increasingly unattractive option for many solar investors.

Energy communities offer a compelling alternative. Instead of injecting excess electricity into the grid, producers can sell it directly to community members at a price that better reflects the value of locally generated renewable energy. In practice, this price is typically higher than the injection tariff while remaining lower than the standard retail electricity price, creating a clear benefit for both parties. Community members gain access to more affordable electricity, while solar investors achieve a stronger return on the energy they generate.

This has a direct impact on the financial viability of solar projects. Investments that may struggle to deliver an attractive return under a traditional grid injection model become significantly more compelling when supported by a stable network of local off-takers within an energy community structure.

For owners of large rooftops with limited on-site consumption

Across Belgium and several other European markets, owners of large commercial buildings, such as logistics warehouses, often have limited opportunities to use their rooftops for anything other than solar panels due to permit and roof stability restrictions.

For buildings with low on-site electricity consumption, this has long created a dilemma. Installing solar panels makes good use of the available roof space and may even be required under PV obligations. However, activities such as warehousing typically consume relatively little electricity, making it difficult to use the energy generated on site. The surplus is therefore injected into the grid, often at low or even negative injection tariffs offered by traditional energy suppliers, limiting the financial value of the solar installation.

Energy communities offer a practical solution. The rooftop owner becomes an energy producer within a community: rather than exporting excess electricity to the grid, rooftop owners can supply it directly to nearby consumers within the community. Depending on the project structure, the rooftop owner may lease the roof to a PV investor or invest in the solar installation themselves and sell the electricity to the energy community.

In both cases, the rooftop becomes a productive asset, creating value for the building owner, the PV investor and the wider energy community.